Ballast Filling Tires

art · Aug 19, 2000

Before we load tires it is important to make sure you have had the right air pressure in the tires. Adding weight to a tractor if not needed is a waste of fuel and tires. Yes tires, with out liquid you only have one meidian in the tire to move when going over irregularities. With water or what ever you now have two and they cannot displace as quickly as just air so in effect you will lose some traction depending on conditions. How ever we do nrmally find some kind of rear ballast for tractors with loaders. Calcium does give the most pounds available for the volumn in a tire I know of and we do use it in 95% of the time we look for ballast on compact tractors where often suitable cast iron weight is not available for some tire combinations. Do you get a smoother ride? Only after steamrolling all your lawn during wet conditions with your new fatter tractor.

Mike H · Aug 19, 2000

Jim: Beat Juice is the liquid squeezed from sugar beats. Although most of our processed sugar (the white stuff we buy in 5 lb bags at the grocery store) comes from sugar cane in the sugar plantations far South of us, some of the 'sweetness' in things like juice concentrates comes from sugar beats. Another of the primary uses for sugar beats in our area (Michigan) is as bait for deer. Pure speculation on my part, but I'm guessing with limitations on baiting deer, there was an impact on demand for sugar beats. Somebody must have discovered that the freezing point of this liquid is below what we need in Michigan and, presto, a new market.

I'm not sure if my tires are tubed or not. I never asked the dealer, and I don't know how to tell looking at the stem. By the way, I just had tubes put in my fronts - I've had slow leaks pretty continuously. Dirty lawn problem (thorns, sticks, even found a nail). I've got the Industrial tires and the rears never had a problem - good thing since they're filled!

richh · Aug 20, 2000

JimBimMI, their is some stuf called RIM gaurd that is out now and they HQ. down by you. IM at the UP state fair now when I get home I will post the ph. # of the guy. Looks like good stuff IM waiting for them to get it up here, so I can get some!
Rich

richh · Aug 20, 2000

Jim heres the name, Agri-Indutrial Sales Inc. P.O. box 4012 East Lansing, Mi. 48826 Phone 517-351-6470. They say that the Rim guard is non-toxic and can be feed to animals??? weighs 10.7 to 11.3 LBS. per gal. good to -35 below and is non-corrosive. I read the haz mat. sheet and it confirmed this. Trouble now is finding it in your area. Cost, I have heard 1.10 to 2.00 a gal. to me its worth more.
Rich

MarkV · Aug 21, 2000

Jim,

Does anyone up your way use water and anitfreeze? I filled my tires, myself, with a drill powered pump, for the antifreeze (the safe stuff) and a valve stem adaptor for the water. The pump and adaptor cost under $25, antifreeze depends on how much you need and it took about an hour. May just be to cold to use that set up where you are. Made a huge differnce in traction but I couldn't tell that much differnce in ride. I am running stiff R4s.

richh · Aug 23, 2000

Re: Filling Tires More weight

Jim did you ever fill your tires with any thing???? Or check out the rim guard?? I would think it would be easy to find in your area. Any body else out there heard of this stuff good or bad???
Rich

JimBinMI · Aug 23, 2000

Re: Filling Tires More weight

RichH,

I'm back to work this week and classes start on Monday so it's pretty busy right now. Haven't acted yet. I'm going to try to call the number you gave me and see what I can find out. Will also try to get comparative weight of "beet juice".

Thanks for the info, JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

JimBinMI · Nov 18, 2000

Re: Filling Tires More weight

richH,

My dealer in Coldwater fills with "Rim Guard" same thing as beet juice. Will take my rears down to my dad tomorrow and he'll take them to the dealer Monday morning and get them filled. Price right around $100. I'll let you guys know exactly how much, my tires are 29 x 12 - 15, 4pr r3, turfs.

JimBinMI