Ballast Finished filling tires last night..WHEW!

bbse · Aug 5, 2009

I want ever to that again. I bought a 55 gallon drum and ten 1-gallon jugs of -20 WW fluid, and I had a fill valve from years ago when I did a lawn mower. First time I have done a tractor tire and that was a chore. The right one went well but I had a hard time keeping the drill pump primed. It took me a couple hours from start to finish. I just got started good on the left one and it started leaking badly from the bead. I went to air it up to reseat the bead and it would not take air. So, I had to take a tie down and wrap it around the center of the tire and compress it. Got it going and re-seated bead. Then my drill motor started to act up, had to dig out my 1/2" drill and finally got it finished. Took a lot longer as the larger drill motor turns slower. Tire bead still leaked some and I had to take it way up to get it to stop squirting tiny streams of WW fluid. Beat it with a rubber hammer also.

As I said, next time, I will hall it to a tractor shop and have them do it. Saved a couple hundred bucks but had to work hard all night and spend too much time playing with and in the WW fluid.

jas67 · Aug 5, 2009

Pumping it in is the hard way. When I did mine (both the B7610, and the previous B7100), I just let the air out, broke one bead, wedged a piece of 2x4 between the tire bead and rim to hold it open, and poured the WWF in. Once I was done, I pulled out the 2x4, put a ratchet tie-down around the tire, and put the air in.

I found it safest to let most of the air back out, after the bead is sealed, before removing the strap, and then re-inflate.

Of course, you can always use the starter-fluid method of sealing the bead (just remember to hand your beer to a friend, and say, "Hold my beer, and watch this!"). Search youtube for "starter fluid tire mounting" for several videos on the topic.

HCJtractor · Aug 5, 2009

I filled my tires on a 70 hp Kubota fairly easily. Mine have tubes, so pumping was the only option. I filled up a large plastic trash container with 50 plus gallons of water and antifreeze mix, and used a small Honda gas pump and hose to draw and fill, using the cheap valve stem adapter readily available. Then cranked it up and let it run, occasionally releasing the pressure with the pressure relief button on the adapter. Only problem was the weight of the liquid popped a bead, but when I pressured it back up to 30 pounds or so, it reseated with a loud pop. I would never pay someone to do this! You just need a better pump. Maybe one of those little electric or 12 V pumps from Northern would work, but this Honda gas pump is much more powerful.

RobJ · Aug 5, 2009

Hooked mine up to the garden hose, done in 15 minutes. Nice to live down south however I would think in TN, it would take a lot of cold to freeze a tractor tire...especially if you keep it in a barn or garage.

bbse · Aug 5, 2009

Have had the tractor out just playing with it. World of difference. A lot tighter on the hills and filled the loader up let it bounce around, much better now.

You are right on the pump. Plus, I need a better air compressor that can put out a higher volume of air in case I nee to seat a bead. I like the lay it on the side method you described. I hope this is my last tractor but who knows. I may have a chance to try that.

As to air pressure, I took each rear to 24 lbs, I usually run 16 in rears but the beads scared me. I have had no fluid leaks so far. What shocked me was the fronts were at 50...I usually run those at 35. I dropped them to 40.