Ballast Filling Tires
- Thread starter fyrewil
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firemanpat2910
Platinum Member
water, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, or commercially sold alternatives. Filling is easy, TSC or many other places sell a tire filling adapter that hooks on a water hose. you also need a tool to remove the inner part of the valve stem.
(having a spare inner part is a great idea before you get started) turn tractor tire till stem is at 12:00 position. remove inner core of stem. use caution the part is small and will have air pressure behind it. when pressure is done releasing hook up tool to water hose. I live in fla so I use plain water, one of them yankees will have to splain how to put antifreeze in
as you are filling with the hose turn the water off every so often an press the relief valve on the tool to bleed the air out of the tire. I fill mine to where the water is level with the 12:00 stem. reinstall the center core or the new one if you dropped the other one and cant find it in the grass and air your tires to proper setting. Forgot to put on your shopping list an Air/liquid tire pressure gauge. Now go play and be amazed at the improved traction and stability of your ride. Edited for spelling and to add Have plenty of adult beverages on hand, it takes a while and listening to the hose sure makes you thirsty!!!!
(having a spare inner part is a great idea before you get started) turn tractor tire till stem is at 12:00 position. remove inner core of stem. use caution the part is small and will have air pressure behind it. when pressure is done releasing hook up tool to water hose. I live in fla so I use plain water, one of them yankees will have to splain how to put antifreeze in
as you are filling with the hose turn the water off every so often an press the relief valve on the tool to bleed the air out of the tire. I fill mine to where the water is level with the 12:00 stem. reinstall the center core or the new one if you dropped the other one and cant find it in the grass and air your tires to proper setting. Forgot to put on your shopping list an Air/liquid tire pressure gauge. Now go play and be amazed at the improved traction and stability of your ride. Edited for spelling and to add Have plenty of adult beverages on hand, it takes a while and listening to the hose sure makes you thirsty!!!!Gamemaster
Silver Member
Do some searching..much input here about tire filling..straight water will rust your rims.Freezing conditions need to be considered for the future. Rim-Guard seems popular.windshield washing fluid, calicum-chloride ( heaviest for weight) and different types of filling pumps..hand or drill-driven. I would advise having tubes installed to protect your rims, personal preference, some think it isn't necessary. Do some searching and reading and determine what best suits you usage.
Z-Michigan
Veteran Member
Most people use some variation of dihydrogen monoxide.
I have rimguard in my rears, which I think is one of the best current options. No worries about freezing or corrosion, and heavier than "windshield washer fluid".
Depending how much weight you think you need, I would also take a look at wheel weights.
I have rimguard in my rears, which I think is one of the best current options. No worries about freezing or corrosion, and heavier than "windshield washer fluid".
Depending how much weight you think you need, I would also take a look at wheel weights.
daTeacha
Veteran Member
Filling also changes the "give" in your tires as you drive over obstacles because you have a smaller volume of air to compress when that rock gets under the tire. You will find the ride harsher and might want to drop your pressure down from what it was unfilled. I run about 9 psi in the rears without having them filled.
Unless you are in the mountains where it gets below freezing, you can use mostly water. Add in 1 gallon of antifreeze per 10-15 gal of water. Firestone Agricultural Tire Divison :: Choose Language & Connection Speed has a page that shows the fill volume of common tires. Put the antifreeze in first. Drill a hole in the cap, force a hose thru the hole to the filler gizmo. Also, put the rear of the tractor on jack stands so the tire sidewall don't get hurt. Adjust the jack stand so there is about 1/2 inch of clearance to the bottom of the rear axle, then deflate the tires. The tractor will settle on the stand. When done filling, air up the tire and it will raise the tractor off the stand.
Note, the antifreeze is more to protect the rim from rust than from freezing, but will probably keep it slushy down to 15-20F.
jb
Note, the antifreeze is more to protect the rim from rust than from freezing, but will probably keep it slushy down to 15-20F.
jb
Woody_NH
Silver Member
fyrewil said:OK...
I have read about filling tire's to get extra traction... But what do you fill them with? Water? How do you (I) go about doing it and with what?
Thanks
Willie
I had mine filled with Rimguard when I bought the tractor. A little more expensive than other options but a good product. A beet juice derivative.
See:
Rim Guard - Liquid Tire Ballast
VistanTN
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Justa couple of cautions/comments:
CaCl has two drawbacks -- eats the rims as already mentioned and if you get a leak or break the bead, it kills all plant life.
Regular antifreeze has one drawback -- get a leak or break the bead and you have a fluid that is tasty but poisonous to many animals (dogs and cats for sure).
Windshield washer anitfreeze and RV antifreeze are safe, but fairly expensive options and hard for self installation.
RimGuard is also relatively problem free, but difficult to find in some areas.
My tire guy filled mine with a methanol/water mixture -- safe if it leaks, kills nothing and not as expensive as some of the proprietary products, but it doesn't inhibit rusting rims -- tubes are the best answer for that I think.
CaCl has two drawbacks -- eats the rims as already mentioned and if you get a leak or break the bead, it kills all plant life.
Regular antifreeze has one drawback -- get a leak or break the bead and you have a fluid that is tasty but poisonous to many animals (dogs and cats for sure).
Windshield washer anitfreeze and RV antifreeze are safe, but fairly expensive options and hard for self installation.
RimGuard is also relatively problem free, but difficult to find in some areas.
My tire guy filled mine with a methanol/water mixture -- safe if it leaks, kills nothing and not as expensive as some of the proprietary products, but it doesn't inhibit rusting rims -- tubes are the best answer for that I think.
RoyJackson
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Filling the tires helps to a degree, but adding several hundred pounds of ballast to your 3PH really helps. Both, IMHO, are best.
You might want to consider buying or building a ballast box.
My tires are filled, but to me, that's more to help stability. I did get my greatest boost in traction when I got the ballast box.
You might want to consider buying or building a ballast box.
My tires are filled, but to me, that's more to help stability. I did get my greatest boost in traction when I got the ballast box.