Good eye, I checked it out tonight, valve stem had a slow and I'm guessing intermittent leak that had probably gone on for a while. The tool end of the cap had rotted off and the calcium chloride must have occasionally leaked out through the hole, it was dry on inspection. I pulled the removable core, wire brushed everything and replaced the core assembly. Rim had rust scale on the outside around the stem, but seems solid after I got the scale off. Glad you noticed it!! That's the beauty of this forum and sharing!!
View attachment 462948 The culprit
Having bought several older tractors I am quite attuned to the CaCl problem.
It would be a good idea if you make a plan to have your rear tires removed from the rims for inspection.
Your rims have likely had at least 26 years for that CaCl to do it's destructive work on them.
I think you will find that the rust is quite severe all around the outer edge of that particular rim.
My suggestion would be to sand blast the inside of both rims, and then apply two coats of two part epoxy paint.
If you don't like that idea, just save up some money, because in 3-5 more years you will likely be buying new rims.
Whatever you do, I would get that **** CaCl out of there.
I would also suggest replacing the tubes (about $45 each).
I have found windshield washer fluid to be the most economical freeze proof tire ballast.
Last fall I picked up 80 gallons of windshield washer fluid at the Home Depot in Hyannis.
$1.50 /gal. including tax. That was a good deal for the Cape (Probably the same in Wareham, or Plymouth).
"Rimguard" is the best, and you can get that in Carver, but it is VERY expensive, and they will charge you PLENTY to put it in ($430 total for 2 - 13.6 x 24 tires)
You can put windshield washer fluid in yourself, with a $10 fill attachment from TSC.
What are you using for tire ballast in all your other tractors? (nice collection !!!)
