loaded tires rust rims faster

[Gary Fowler]

One hazard with the liquid fill is if you were to travel too fast with the tractor, it will induce a bounce in the tires that could cause you to loose control of the vehicle, so don't put the thing in neutral and think you can coast down a steep hill real fast, that would be a really bad move.

I believe this to be an old wives tale. I have ran liquid ballast (water) in farm tractor tires all my life and never had any bounce at high speed due to the water. This with 18.4x38 and larger tires and speeds 25+ MPH. For the CUT owner whose tractor top speed rarely exceeds 15 MPH, there is no way for the tire turn fast enough to outrun the water falling inside the tire.

If you have encountered bounce in your tractor, is it more likely the bounce encountered is from a flat spot in the tire from setting in one spot too long.

 

[LD1]

I believe this to be an old wives tale. I have ran liquid ballast (water) in farm tractor tires all my life and never had any bounce at high speed due to the water. This with 18.4x38 and larger tires and speeds 25+ MPH. For the CUT owner whose tractor top speed rarely exceeds 15 MPH, there is no way for the tire turn fast enough to outrun the water falling inside the tire.

If you have encountered bounce in your tractor, is it more likely the bounce encountered is from a flat spot in the tire from setting in one spot too long.

never heard of that either never experienced it here.

 

[Trials]

Actually the bouncing wheel advice was given to me by my now deceased father-in-law, so that makes it an old father-in-law story but he offered that advice from first hand experience, and he was a slightly crazy but extremely talented guy with heavy machinery, he also had an interesting enough life that he didn't need to make up stories, so I'm inclined to take that advice in good faith without personally testing the theory. Also there are plenty of very long steep township roads with hills including turns in them all around the area where he lived, so it's not unbelievable to me. I did specifically state "don't put the thing in neutral and think you can coast down a steep hill real fast" which is probably still good advice regardless of the details and considering that most tractors only have brakes on the rear wheels.

 

[aczlan]

I believe this to be an old wives tale. I have ran liquid ballast (water) in farm tractor tires all my life and never had any bounce at high speed due to the water. This with 18.4x38 and larger tires and speeds 25+ MPH. For the CUT owner whose tractor top speed rarely exceeds 15 MPH, there is no way for the tire turn fast enough to outrun the water falling inside the tire.

If you have encountered bounce in your tractor, is it more likely the bounce encountered is from a flat spot in the tire from setting in one spot too long.

That or you have too much weight on one end and not enough on the other to balance it out (creating a "teeter totter" effect).

Aaron Z

 

[oosik]

I've had two tractors in the 30+ years out here. The rear tires were loaded with CaCl on the first tractor and it was a NIGHTMARE. The salt solution ate thru the valve stems annually requiring yearly replacement. My new tractor has Rim Guard in the rears and I've not had a moments problem.

I know that Rim Guard is more expensive but the savings in time, expense and aggregation have been all worth it.

If you want to see what CaCl will do to your rims - just look what rock salt use on the roads does to cars. Slightly different product - similar results.

 

[oldpilgrim]

My previous tractor, a 1952 Ferguson, came to me with cacl in the tubes. I ran it 20 years. Who knows how long it was in there before i got it.

When the tires cracked and split enough to need replacing, the rims were perfect. i got new tires and tubes. i did not refill the new tubes with cacl or anything as i had a bh on it and that was plenty heavy for my snow and other uses and it made trailering easier.

When i got my new Mahindra last year, I added tubes and filled with cacl. The dealer did it, and it's the only fill material he uses.

I'll be surprised if i have different results.

 

[MMagis]

I think it was already mentioned once or twice, but if you have rust from cacl it’s because there was a leak that wasn’t fixed. Rust can’t form without oxygen.
I can’t say what causes it, but my tractor occasionally bounces when traveling down the road at “high” speed. I can promise my tractor doesn’t sit long enough to get a flat spot. It barely has time to cool.

 

[RickB]

I think it was already mentioned once or twice, but if you have rust from cacl it’s because there was a leak that wasn’t fixed. Rust can’t form without oxygen.

Exactly. If the tube isn't neglected, the rim won't rust.

 

[BKTBlaine]

Another thing to keep in mind is the ratio of calcium to water, depending on where you live, the ratio of water to calcium will change (colder temps=more calcium, warmer = less), if nothing else, this saves you money on calcium!. When your tire tech is on site for a repair or replacement, make sure they are cleaning off the wheel assembly with at least a wire brush, or better yet a pneumatic wire wheel. Ensure they a clean rag to wipe off any remaining debris from the wheel. The most important thing to remember has already been said...keep oxygen out of the assembly.

 

[RandyT]

The latest thing they are doing is filling tubeless tires with Calcium chloride. If you totally submerge the rim in CaCl it won't rust the rims. A small leak could lead to big issues if not fixed immediately.