Ballast How much air with tire ballast

[Pks]

To those of you who run ballast in your tires, how much air pressure do you use? In other words, if the typical psi is 40, would you use this much psi even with tire ballast?

 

[GlueGuy]

You don't need to change the pressure from what you normally would run. Just be sure the valve stem is on the top , and that you blow out any liquid that is in the stem before you check.

This is the reason you normally only fill 75%. Leaves that 25% as air, which is compressable. Water, and most other fill liquids are not compressable. I have no clue about gel. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[Charliebrn]

When they put in the Gel, they completely fill the tire, removing all of the air. No more worries about the valve stem getting knocked off or leaks in the tire....

 

[rbargeron]

But the important advatages of water fill are (1) lower center of gravity with water up to top of rim only, and (2) zero addition to rotational inertia of wheels - easier on entire mechanism during gear changes, clutching, braking.

 

[Pks]

I plan to buy tubes that properly fit the R4 tires I have and then fill them with a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. I had a thought about contacting a couple of automobile service garages asking for their used antifreeze. That way I could avoid $4 a gallon for something that won't need to be chemically perfect living inside a tube. I wouldn't want to accept rusted antifreeze though.

 

[skent]

I agree with your using tubes. I've seen what calcium can do to metal (slow leak inside a 15.5X38 Ag tire) destroyed a rim on my Case SC. It was weeping enough to keep the rim wet, but not really leak to the point of a puddle. As it is now I need to replace the valve cores every year (else they rot away).

I'd be inclined to use the Antifreeze too, despite the environmental hazzards. I really don't want to be looking around for replacement rims in 10 years. Down side is with the size of the tires on my B7300, (15.5 X 15) how many gallons would fit and would I realy be gaining anything?

Steve

 

[rbargeron]

15.5 x 15? Maybe 18 gallons each - maybe 240 lb of cacl solution each. Definitely worth doing.

Leaks aren't all that common on filled tires - it does happen, but not to everyone. I'd go for the weight of cacl. For peace of mind have the tubes removed first and checked for condition - then throw some talc inside the tire before putting the tubes back in. Reduces friction and abrasion of the tubes.

 

[krager]

I just purchased an L3710 with backhoe and FEL. I wanted to stay away from the potential corrosion of Calcium Cloride. The tire dealer said they had to stop using Automotive Antifreeze (Ethlyene Glycol Base) because of OSHA requirements and toxic waste contaminations potential with tire leaks. They had no problem using Propylene Glycol based antifreeze, so I ran all over town and found 75 Gal of the Non/Low Toxic Automobile/RV antifreeze. It is more expensive. It ran about $7 per gallon. Tire dealer claims they put 55 gal of 60/40 mix in each R4, 17.5 X 24 rear tire. I don't know about anything else but you can tell you have a heavier load on the trailor. Tire guy said he used slightly lower air pressure with the ballast than without.

 

[Pks]

krager,

I'd forgotten about RV Antifreeze. We use it to close the cabin for the winter. I've gotten it at Murray's Discount Auto (in Michigan). It's orange.

Does anyone know if the tubes, used with liquid ballast, need to be of a special type (thinker I suppose)?

 

[rbargeron]

If all you're after is a low freeze point and don't care about the weight advantage of cacl - why not just use windshield washer fluid - 99 cents a gallon and environmentally friendly - put it in straight.