Ballast Filling tractor tires

[furnacebrook]

I have a question about filling the back tires on my Case580CK. Checked with my dealer and looks as if I need about 47 gallons each to fill them to 75%. Problem is the Rimguard stuff they use is $2.75 a gallon and that does not include getting it there. It's getting expensive as you can see. Now I have read that some use washer fluid and others are using anti freeze........I'd rather not go the cloride way event though it probably is the cheapest. I have the tire adapter and would rather do it myself.The weather here can go well bellow zero in the winter so whatever I use has to be 20 below at least. The washer fluid is that number to start and is going for $1.99 a gallon here at my TSC store. While I was there I noticed they have RV anti freeze going fo $3.15 a gallon and its good for 50 bellow. I don't need it that far down but if I mix it 50/50 with water will this stuff not dilute past minus 25 or so? It says not to on the bottle but thats for the intended use not for tires. It is glycol based and I'm not sure if it behaves like regular anti freeze. I'd save about 40 bucks if I went this way instead of the washer fluid.
Thanks for any input,
Scott

 

[Deerlope]

I just paid 3 bucks a gallon for rim guard. My tire took 47 gallons. Do yourself a favor and Google Rimgard then read what some sites have to say. Washer fluid is good to -20 and Rimgard it good to -35 and will not solidify at -50. When using tubeless tires on the rear if you do get a flat just bring the puncture up to 12 clock and plug it. Then re air.

 

[Rara Avis]

If you drop 47 gallons of anti-freeze...you better hope no one hears of it...because that amount would qualify for a HAZMAT Cleanup Team to respond...digging up the dirt, placing said dirt in container, then shipping said containers to approved disposal site, et cetera...

Drop 47 gallons of Rim Guard...you are just out the money for 47 gallons of Rim Guard...NO HAZMAT INCIDENT...

 

[coobie]

I have a question about filling the back tires on my Case580CK. Checked with my dealer and looks as if I need about 47 gallons each to fill them to 75%. Problem is the Rimguard stuff they use is $2.75 a gallon and that does not include getting it there. It's getting expensive as you can see. Now I have read that some use washer fluid and others are using anti freeze........I'd rather not go the cloride way event though it probably is the cheapest. I have the tire adapter and would rather do it myself.The weather here can go well bellow zero in the winter so whatever I use has to be 20 below at least. The washer fluid is that number to start and is going for $1.99 a gallon here at my TSC store. While I was there I noticed they have RV anti freeze going fo $3.15 a gallon and its good for 50 bellow. I don't need it that far down but if I mix it 50/50 with water will this stuff not dilute past minus 25 or so? It says not to on the bottle but thats for the intended use not for tires. It is glycol based and I'm not sure if it behaves like regular anti freeze. I'd save about 40 bucks if I went this way instead of the washer fluid.
Thanks for any input,
Scott

For the extra 76cents per gal.I would go with the rimguard.I would do some shopping between rimguard dealers.When I had my tires filled with rimguard last winter some dealers were 50cents per gal.higher than others,with that said I have had rimguard in my last 2 tractors and have been very happy with it.coobie

 

[tomd999]

Hiya,

You may want to call around to truck/industrial tire shops. I found a huge price difference between tractor dealer and tire dealer. The tire place that I send my wheels to filled the last set with citris (balistar equivalent) for 1.18/gal US. The tractor dealer I buy from quoted 3.40/gallon.

Course you have to pull them off, drive them down and back and then put them on. Not an easy task but I saved myself a couple hundred bucks for about 30 minutes labor, better return than I get at work....

Tom

 

[dknarnd]

I have had the washer fluid in for two years now without any problems; and yes it is rated for -20. I figure 45 gallons inside a tire it would have to be at -20 for a extended period to freeze.

I bought two 55 gallon drums of washer fluid and paid $90 per drum. Instead of going tubless I also installed tubes inside the tires but you probably don't have to do that and as posted above if you get a leak you could probably plug a tubless where as with the tube your looking at having someone come out and replace it.

 

[n8586m]

I had my tires filled last May. Smaller tires than yours but the cost and be compared. My 33x12.5x15 took a total of 44 gallons of rim guard. Total job took 3 hours and the final bill; 44 gallons of Rim Guard, 103 bucks, 14 bucks for valve stems, and labor to fill, remove tires and break them down to install the new valve stems 20 bucks for a total of 144 including tax. How cheap is that.

If I had used washer fluid, it would have been 88 bucks plus tax and Gemplers filler tool plus some type of pump for the washer fluid. Where is the savings by DIY?

 

[Mr. Green Jeans]

If you drop 47 gallons of anti-freeze...you better hope no one hears of it...because that amount would qualify for a HAZMAT Cleanup Team to respond...digging up the dirt, placing said dirt in container, then shipping said containers to approved disposal site, et cetera...

Now, I can't say for certain what is required in Vermont, but antifreeze is pretty safe and very widely used in heavy equipment. I really doubt that you would be calling a HAZMAT team for antifreeze. Outside of recycling, the recommended disposal method for antifreeze is flushing it (although not 47 gallons).

See the World Health Organization's report (link below) where they verify that it is "readily biodegradable." What you are probably thinking about is one of two things: 1. the toxicity to those who consume it or 2. the heavy metals that it picks up over the course of a number of years in an automobile cooling system. Neither of those are an issue in this case.


https://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/en/cicad22.pdf

 

[mikescruggs]

I am in VT as well. Check around for washer fluid with a lower rating. It is available. I am going to do a combination of the lower (-35 or -30) and the standard (-20). I figure if it is minus -20 it is not snowing and I don't need to start my tractor. Also I can pull the tractor out into the sun and the tires will warm up relatively quickly. I just have to figure how much fluid is needed.

Mike

 

[PAB_OH]

I'm planning to do my rears with wwf. No way in he!! I'm paying more per gallon than gas to fill my tires. You're obviously concerned about money, like most of us are. I'd go with the cheapest method you feel will get you the protection you need.

 

[PAB_OH]

I just have to figure how much fluid is needed.

Mike

Ask and ye shall receive...
Liquid Tire Ballasthttp://www.tractorsmart.com/Farm_Tractor_Liquid_Tire_Ballast.htm

 

[KML]

I know pricing is regional but my WalMart had -20 ww fluid yesterday for $.99/Gal. Might be worth a look as that would save some money at 47 Gal per tire.

As far as antifreeze goes if you operate near any streams, rivers, or lakes I would think twice.. A small residential chemical spill becomes a whole different animal if it gets into water, even a little crappy creek. Ask me how I know.....

I've been running washer fluid in two sets of garden tractor tires for 3 years now with no problems. The only thing I've noticed that I assume would be the same with any fluid in the tire is that when we have a cold night and it warms up in the morning the tires condense at up to the fluid line.
It doesn't cause any problems at all but the first time a saw it I thought it was leaching through the sidewalls!

 

[AndyMA]

I've got calcium in a 20 year old Ford 2120 and have had to heave the rims welded, RimGuard in my TN75. I've had flats with RimGuard and the mobile service guy was able to save most of it. I know many of you like to fool around and get the cheapest way out (I do too), but I wil be using RimGuard until something better comes along. It is just too good a product. The ride is also cushioned by the thickness of the molasses like characteristics of RimGuard.

Andy

 

[furnacebrook]

Well..........sorry for taking so long to reply to everyones posts, life goes by too fast. I appreciate all the input and there are some very good points made. The most important one for me here was cost and second was getting it done as easy as possible. Both actually have been accomplished. There is a buddy of mine that owns an auto repair shop here in town and was just waiting for someone to take 50 gallons of used ( still good ) anti-freeze he would have had to pay to get rid of. I just happen to be able to do just that, now it was not quite enough so a few well placed " I'm looking for this" and there's another 50 gallons. Well I know this is not the most environmentally correct option but it was free for the taking and it's plenty heavy in my tires..............pretty heavy in the barrels too!!. Got one of those drill pumps from Tractor supply and burned it up after about 40 gallons......I'm on my second one now but bought the homedepot one instead, seems heavier than the other. So so far all this has cost me has been about 18 bucks. Not too bad for an old "Do it the practical way" Yankee. And yes, I'll watch out for any flats............

Thanks again boys, Scott

 

[KubotaSam]

I filled my rear tires with windshield washer fluid. I put an old boat bilge pump in the bottom of a 5 gal pail. Connected the hose to the tube adapter. Poured the fluid into the pail. Connected the wires to my tractor battery. It worked great. I don't see the harm in using antifreeze. Next time I would look for some used supply for free!!