Leaking methanol at tire plug

[familyman]

I had my tires filled with methanol the other day and now I see a plug repair that's oozing. This stuff wasn't cheap, and I want to fix this asap. I assume that if i keep the tire rotated with the plug facing upward I could replace it somehow, but with what, and how?

 

[DieselPower]

Ok, my dumb question for the day. Why would you fill your tires with a flamable, explosive, poisonous fluid? We are talking about the same Methanol right? The same stuff used in top fuel dragsters and race cars? If it's leaking I would highly recomend leaving the tractor outside. The last thing you want is the fumes to explode when you turn on the lights.

As far as plugging I don't even know if you can. I would think the Methanol would disolve most adhesives. I could be wrong.

 

[PBinWA]

Maybe he meant Nitrogen?

 

[Egon]

Your best bet is to take the tire back to the shop and have them do a proper repair where the plug is. There are different plug repair types with some being better than others.

 

[familyman]

I asked Neil Messick to fill the tires, and he said they use methanol.
You're right Egon, I've got a good shop down the road and I could just call them. I like to do things myself though, and I thought others might educate me. The methanol question is bugging me. Maybe he said ethanol?

 

[RichNJKubota]

I'm sure it's a small percentage of methanol in the water. Just enough methanol to keep from feezing in the winter.

 

[Egon]

To fix the leak properly the tire has to come off.

 

[DieselPower]

I'm sure it's a small percentage of methanol in the water. Just enough methanol to keep from feezing in the winter.

Now that would make sense. I can see a mix where they only use enough Methanol (alcohol) to prevent the water from freezing.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm guessing when they say methanol.. thy mean windshield washer fluid.. IE low %.. just to keep from freezing.

This is a prime reason why i don't like loading tubless tires...

Soundguy

Ok, my dumb question for the day. Why would you fill your tires with a flamable, explosive, poisonous fluid? We are talking about the same Methanol right? The same stuff used in top fuel dragsters and race cars? If it's leaking I would highly recomend leaving the tractor outside. The last thing you want is the fumes to explode when you turn on the lights.

As far as plugging I don't even know if you can. I would think the Methanol would disolve most adhesives. I could be wrong.

 

[Charolais]

I'm guessing when they say methanol.. thy mean windshield washer fluid.. IE low %.. just to keep from freezing.

This is a prime reason why i don't like loading tubless tires...

Soundguy

The methanol used in this area (and with this thread seems to be used in other areas as well) is pure Methanol right out of a 55 gal drum. It's the same methanol used in Go-Cart racers. I remember the 50's and 60's all that was used here was CC. In the 70's some started mixing antifreeze in water. The price went up on antifreeze and for years Methanol was the low cost. I can't remember how much Methanol is mixed per 55 gal of water but it was the cheapest mix for years. May still be. Right off the top of my head I can think of 6 tractor tire service shops and road service around me and they all use methanol.

There's not enough methanol in the mix to cause alarm for fire. I've never had a tire to get ice slush in it like the mix with antifreeze. I've had a few punctures over the years with methanol mix and it doesn't kill the grass or remove paint. I've seen the antifreeze mix and CC kill grass and that was many years ago.

The Methanol is safe when mixed with water.

 

[Soundguy]

Remember.. methanol is probably a polar solvent... it should mix real well with water..

soundguy

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Just some thoughts,

Alcohol is not as weak a solvent as people may think.

Some rubber compounds that resist gasoline OK seem to absorb, swell and weaken when exposed to alcohol.

Sealants like Permatex gasket sealant designed to resist gas or diesel will dissolve easily in alcohol.

In noncommercial use tractor tires may last for many years so you might want to ask the manufacturer if filling them with methanol will weaken them.

Good luck

 

[skipmarcy]

The methanol used in this area (and with this thread seems to be used in other areas as well) is pure Methanol right out of a 55 gal drum. It's the same methanol used in Go-Cart racers. I remember the 50's and 60's all that was used here was CC. In the 70's some started mixing antifreeze in water. The price went up on antifreeze and for years Methanol was the low cost. I can't remember how much Methanol is mixed per 55 gal of water but it was the cheapest mix for years. May still be. Right off the top of my head I can think of 6 tractor tire service shops and road service around me and they all use methanol.

There's not enough methanol in the mix to cause alarm for fire. I've never had a tire to get ice slush in it like the mix with antifreeze. I've had a few punctures over the years with methanol mix and it doesn't kill the grass or remove paint. I've seen the antifreeze mix and CC kill grass and that was many years ago.

The Methanol is safe when mixed with water.

Same thing here in Tenn., alot of shops use the methanol. Our county Co-op has been installing it for almost 50 years. I had my rears done with it over 5 years ago. It's pure methanol from a 55 gal. drum. They have a chart that tells how much to add to what size tire and for what protection. My rears are 17.5x24 R4 and I think it was right at $100 worth to do both tires. The mix is non-flammable. Mine is good to -10 F. If I'm not mistaken, loading the tires added 580 lbs. to each one. They are filled 3/4 full. My tractor has been outside all it's life and has weathered 0 F several times with no slush. The guys at the Co-op never plug a tire, they break it down & patch from the inside. They have patches that have a plug made as part of it and they pull the plug thru and glue the patch portion on the inside of the tire. In alot of cases they will also install a tube when a substantial repair is made on a loade tire.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Methonal tire fill is mixed with water. It keeps the water from freezing, its in low enough concentrations to be non-toxic, and its not nearly as chrosive as any of the salt based tire fills. The only down side that I can really think of its that its not the heaviest thing out there.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Years back, I replaced the original tires on my Deere 2440 with GoodYear DynaTorque II's. (IMHO, a mistake) They're not real big on traction, and they seem to puncture when other tires don't. It may be pure coincidence, but they just seem to have more flats that the tires they replaced or other brands I have on other tractors. I got tired of killing hayfields, pastures, and my yard when dealing with leaks. (I always used ca/cl) I decided to swap out the fluid with windshield washer fluid. It's a mild solution of water, blue dye, and methenol. Just enough methenol to keep it from freezing. This tractor has 16.9X30 rears. It takes over 70 gallons to fill them to top of rims. Almost 1200# of fluid in both tires totalled. The tractor was adaquately ballasted with 1000#. Ca/cl mix would weigh over 1400#, both tires combine weight. Methenol mix was plenty heavy, didn't kill everything when there was a leak, and it hasn't caused any trouble with tubes/tires in 15 years. If methenol/water mix is of sufficient weight, it is a safe(r) alternative to corrosive/bio-unfriendly ca/cl fill.

I still use ca/cl mix in 2 other tractors. They make good use of the additional weight (over Methenol/water mix)

Me and SouNdguy are on the same page with tubeless tires and fluid not being compatable. In fact, I'm not a fan of tubeless tires, front or rear on tractors, or farm implements in general.

I won't give up on a tube just because of a patch or 2. If the tube is old, it gets replaced. If it's in decent shape, it gets patched. In 15 years, I've probably dealt with 6 or 8 flats on the Deere with methenol fill. I've NEVER had a patch to fail. If a patch or plug is properly installed, I don't believe a relatively mild solution of methenol will contribute to a tire/tube repair failure based on my experiences with it.

JMHO, and worth every bit as much as you paid for it.

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto! Agree on both points... the WW fluid / blue water/methanol is WAY easier on the grass than CACL.. AND I insist on my ballasted tires to have tubes.. and prefer tubes on all my tractor tires in general.

Soundguy

If methenol/water mix is of sufficient weight, it is a safe(r) alternative to corrosive/bio-unfriendly ca/cl fill.
...
Me and SouNdguy are on the same page with tubeless tires and fluid not being compatable. In fact, I'm not a fan of tubeless tires, front or rear on tractors, or farm implements in general.

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