Liquid ballast in CK rear tires

[vtsnowedin]

calcium Chloride is a very aggressive alkali solution. It will continuously attack any and all materials until it can escape. it's not a matter of if but when. Go with diluted windshield washer fluid. In an ideal world all tires would be operated dry and external bolt on cast weight would be used.

People have used calcium chloride successfully for years using inner tubes to keep it away from the rims. It's heavy ,doesn't freeze , and is cheap. I've moved on to name brand beet juice so the tubes are no longer necessary. Washer fluid will work but up here where it gets forty below I wouldn't dare dilute it much.

 

[tman1020]

I put much time and research into it if I fill them it will definitely be beat juice. I was just more concerned with if anyone noticed a substantial improvement of performance of the tractor with the added weight. Like snowplowing loader work that sort of thing. My tractor performs well now just was wondering if it was worth the hassle of having liquid in the tires. All the other tractors I've had that I've added liquid ballast I was 100% sure I needed it when I did it. And then noticed a huge improvement in performance afterward. With this tractor I'm not so sure, it performs well without it but I just can't help thinking how much better could it be with the added weight.

 

[buickanddeere]

People have used calcium chloride successfully for years using inner tubes to keep it away from the rims. It's heavy ,doesn't freeze , and is cheap. I've moved on to name brand beet juice so the tubes are no longer necessary. Washer fluid will work but up here where it gets forty below I wouldn't dare dilute it much.

Walking through tractor salvage yards with a majority of rims corroded through and ruined .

 

[vtsnowedin]

I put much time and research into it if I fill them it will definitely be beat juice. I was just more concerned with if anyone noticed a substantial improvement of performance of the tractor with the added weight. Like snowplowing loader work that sort of thing. My tractor performs well now just was wondering if it was worth the hassle of having liquid in the tires. All the other tractors I've had that I've added liquid ballast I was 100% sure I needed it when I did it. And then noticed a huge improvement in performance afterward. With this tractor I'm not so sure, it performs well without it but I just can't help thinking how much better could it be with the added weight.

There is always somebody out there that takes the different path but on this I think he is going to be a lonely dude. The difference is like day and night with the beet juice in the tires especially when your pushing into a pile with the loader bucket. Less tire spinning, less tire scuffing while you spin.more stability with the load raised to loading height etc. You will be glad you filled them.

 

[vtsnowedin]

One other thing. When snowplowing you still need chains, as weight is no help on smooth wet ice.

 

[ritcheyvs]

By all accounts, beet juice (e.g.Rim Guard)is the most dense (heavy) and least corrosive fill medium. But I can't say from personal experience; my DK came with ethylene glycol so I haven't changed it.

 

[tman1020]

Using the loader today with the box blade on the back I would run out of power on the hydrostat before I ran out of traction. But it was nice and dry and that's without anything in the rear tires.

 

[haroldy]

I have ck30 with front mounted snow blower and r4 tires
Last winter had terrible time with traction
I just had tires loaded with beet juice last month and today grooved my tires
My last tractor had turfs and were loaded .it had great traction on snow and ice so hoping this will be the same now

 

[tman1020]

Would love to hear how it does but hopefully it won't be for a while before we see any snow.

 

[oosik]

I have my rears loaded with beet juice. The added weight gives a noticable increase in traction. I do not have to put the tractor in 4WD as often to get the job done. I can plow the driveway ( one mile long) snow without chains. It lowers the center of gravity and aids in preventing roll over.