Loaded Rear Tires Without Loader

[Verticaltrx]

And your reply brings up another question. Considering Calcium will cause damage to the wheels long term, then why the heck does Kubota recommend using it... This is straight out of the manual..

"Water and calcium chloride solution provides safe and economical ballast. Used properly ,it WILL NOT cause damage to tires,tubes or RIMS. The addtion of calcium chloride is recommended to prevent the water from freezing. Use of this method of weighting the wheels has the full approval of the tire compaines"..yada yada yada.....

Interesting.

They are suggesting calcium chloride because it is dirt cheap, heavy, safe (won't burn), and they want to sell you a new set of rims several years down the road.

All of our tractors have methanol in the tires. It obviously is very flammable, but once in the tires I've never heard of anyone having any trouble. It does weigh considerably less than ca.cl. (about half, IIRC) but it's what almost all the dealers around here use. From what I've read Rim Guard is a good choice but expensive.

I'll also say, that every tractor we own (both 2wd and 4wd) have fluid in the rear tires, and most of them have cast iron wheel weights as well. The only downfall to extra weight is it will slow the tractor down some going up big hills and it can be a concern if you are trailering a lot. Otherwise, a tractor is going to preform better in almost every situation with filled tires, more stability and more traction.

 

[aczlan]

If you have enough fluid in the tire to completely cover the rim it WILL NOT RUST unless it starts leaking. Rust requires air and if the fluid is above the top of the rim, there is no place insid ethe rim for it to rust.

Aaron Z

 

[kubotacres]

I think I've made up my mind that this weekend I'll load the rear and try it out. Ive had other tractors loaded and it seems the overall perfomance was good...

 

[chim]

I'm assuming you don't have a loader because you didn't mention it.. Good Info... I do very little bushogging in the winter, and plan to do none this winter. Even without loaded rear tires, I still rut in wet places(common senese). Either way i will cause ruts IF I decide to go places that are wet, which I try to avoid it possible.

I do have one but take it off when it's not in use

(.............. filled before the dealer delivered it, so I can't cite the differences between filled and non-filled tires. My tractors are mostly used for mowing grass. The loader is never mounted unless I'm using it...........

 

[LD1]

Count me in the camp that dont see the harm in loading the front tires. I know the manual says not to do it, but I dont see it being any harder on things than the alternatives. An extra 100lbs in each front IMO is not as hard on components as having 200# of weights. Cause in the tires, the extra weight isnt being carried by the tire, wheel, bearings, and axle.

That said, I have never loaded mine simply because I dont see enough of an advantage. Not enough weight. With a small tire, I am looking at MAYBE 60# a tire at most. If I am to the point that I NEED ballast up front, I dont think 160# is going to cut the mustard. I'll throw the loader on.

 

[arrow]

If you have enough fluid in the tire to completely cover the rim it WILL NOT RUST unless it starts leaking. Rust requires air and if the fluid is above the top of the rim, there is no place insid ethe rim for it to rust.

Aaron Z

Scientifically you are correct. Execution wise is another story. I may be kidding myself but If i'm using calcium (and I am) I'd want the extra barrier of the tube to cover any abnormalities of execution such as age cracks that may weaken an area of the tire for penetration, bent rim etc,etc. Once CC has an air source, it acts like acid and as I cannot guarantee the lack there of, I feel safer with a tube. There is another aspect that I discovered while filling with CC. One needs to bleed out air as the tire fills. This shoots calcium. I noticed some moving to the base of the valve stem. I caulked around the stem so as to reduce the aspect of getting any calcium between tire and tube. Anything would work here such as putty. Valve failure is another thing to look out after and it would be wise to replace stem valves every 5 years or so. Next to water, CC is about the cheapest alternative to fill tires. Even if the worst happens and it does leak and goes unnoticed and puts a hole in the rim, the rim can be repaired for next to no money. Calcium is not necessarily a put it in and forget it entity and I would reckon that for people's rims that were so destroyed as to be irreparable that indeed their leaks went unnoticed or unheeded. Calcium indeed is a cheap, safe and effective method of tire loading and people have been using it for years without any or at least minimal damage.

 

[scrappy isb67]

in my opinion, the reason that they don't recommend fluid in the fronts is that the front axle was not designed to support that much weight HANGING from it when you pick up the frontend with the loader.

 

[LD1]

in my opinion, the reason that they don't recommend fluid in the fronts is that the front axle was not designed to support that much weight HANGING from it when you pick up the frontend with the loader.

Now who does that:confused3:

You do make a good point though, BUT, they dont usually specify about the loader. Instead, it is just a broad "do not load the front tires". So what about a tractor without a loader?

 

[kubotacres]

I actually had time this morning to work on the tractor. I managed to load both rear tires without any problem. Used a old Milton adapter we had from years ago and a hand transfer pump for the antifreeze. Went well and the overall result was as expected ,Great! I done a little "boxblading" and was surprised at how much more traction I had than previously(in 2wd). Overall I'm happy.

 

[scrappy isb67]

Now who does that:confused3:

You do make a good point though, BUT, they dont usually specify about the loader. Instead, it is just a broad "do not load the front tires". So what about a tractor without a loader?

there are still instances that a tire can be unloaded even without a loader