Quick easy ballast fill

[Btown]

I guess the modern day solution would be to use nitrogen rather than air to inflate. I gather that nitrogen is the current rage for hi ticket cars, presumably most major tire shops would offer that service.

Air is 78% nitrogen. Unless when they mount the tire and set the bead, they remove all air space and fill with nitrogen, you will have air in your wheel. I think they just like to up charge people. I don't see an advantage for N2 in your tire.

 

[CalG]

Air is 78% nitrogen. Unless when they mount the tire and set the bead, they remove all air space and fill with nitrogen, you will have air in your wheel. I think they just like to up charge people. I don't see an advantage for N2 in your tire.

Think of it as dilution.

Air contains 21% Oxygen at atmospheric pressure, and registers "Zero", on a pressure gauge. A tire filled to 15 psi with N2 equals a dilution to 50%, so that 20% is then 10% oxygen. That's 1/2. 'Might be important, might not.

For the automobile, the benefit of N2 is in the DRYNESS of Nitrogen fill gas. Water vapor changes pressure dramatically with temperature. Dry "air" not so much. For my money, Fill car tires in Arizona. ;-)

Dry air and filled tractor tires are at odds, but the reduction of available Oxygen by filling with N2 or CO2 or even Neon or Argon can't hurt on the corrosion aspect.

 

[ovrszd]

I have tube's in my tire's and the calcium is in the tubes, why wont that work?

It will work fine as long as there are no leaks. Pay particular attention to the stems. Corrosion will work on the stem core and can cause seepage.

 

[buickanddeere]

I have tube's in my tire's and the calcium is in the tubes, why wont that work?

Just wait a while and get back to us.

 

[ovrszd]

Just wait a while and get back to us.

Actually there are owners that have ran corrosive ballast for decades successfuly. Just hafta be diligent about seeps.

 

[oldpilgrim]

It will work fine as long as there are no leaks. Pay particular attention to the stems. Corrosion will work on the stem core and can cause seepage.

I had a tractor for 25years with cacl. Who knows how long it was there before I got it. The valve stems/cores never had a problem.

Make sure you have tubes.

 

[buickanddeere]

The tractor salvage yards are full of evidence that CaCl is a powerful corrosive.

 

[roadhunter]

Still baffled as why people still use corrosive calcium in steel wheels. Sorry just not my cup of tea..

I agree. For 2 pounds per gallon it seems like a lot of downside as far as hurting rims. I guess you could use tubes.

I wanted weight and I hate fixing flat tires so I kill 2 birds with 1 stone by foaming. It's more expensive but I added up the cost of having a few flats over the life of the tires and it was cheaper in the long run to do this. Being down for a day or more to have a tire repaired, tubed, and re filled was pretty expensive IMO and it never seems to happen at a good time for me. There are numerous nails and screws in my tires and I always laugh when someone is out and they show me the nails.

 

[CalG]

I agree. For 2 pounds per gallon it seems like a lot of downside as far as hurting rims. I guess you could use tubes.

I wanted weight and I hate fixing flat tires so I kill 2 birds with 1 stone by foaming. It's more expensive but I added up the cost of having a few flats over the life of the tires and it was cheaper in the long run to do this. Being down for a day or more to have a tire repaired, tubed, and re filled was pretty expensive IMO and it never seems to happen at a good time for me. There are numerous nails and screws in my tires and I always laugh when someone is out and they show me the nails.

Just a point of reference

I've got a 1952 Fordson that I bought in '78 Tires weren't new, but not bad.
They are filled with chloride/water.

Never a leak, never a problem, no signs of rust on the outside.

When will the troubles start? I can hardly wait ;-)

 

[ovrszd]

I agree. For 2 pounds per gallon it seems like a lot of downside as far as hurting rims. I guess you could use tubes.

I wanted weight and I hate fixing flat tires so I kill 2 birds with 1 stone by foaming. It's more expensive but I added up the cost of having a few flats over the life of the tires and it was cheaper in the long run to do this. Being down for a day or more to have a tire repaired, tubed, and re filled was pretty expensive IMO and it never seems to happen at a good time for me. There are numerous nails and screws in my tires and I always laugh when someone is out and they show me the nails.

I agree foam has it's place.

How is tire replacement performed?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I agree. For 2 pounds per gallon it seems like a lot of downside as far as hurting rims. I guess you could use tubes.

I have done tests with CaCl added to distilled water. 5# added to a gallon makes a solution that weighs 10.6# per gallon. 6#/G yields an 11#/G solution

7#/G gives 11.4/G but some of the salt precipitates out at 0F. Bottom of tire will be a little slushy with salt until it warms back up.
larry

 

[farmeratheart]

I have done tests with CaCl added to distilled water. 5# added to a gallon makes a solution that weighs 10.6# per gallon. 6#/G yields an 11#/G solution

7#/G gives 11.4/G but some of the salt precipitates out at 0F. Bottom of tire will be a little slushy with salt until it warms back up.
larry

Since a gallon of distilled water weighs in at 8.34 pounds, I am confused by your numbers ...

 

[CalG]

If 5# of CaCl is put in a one gallon vessel, and then enough water is added to fill to one gallon, the gallon of mix will weigh 10.6 pounds. The gallon being a volume measure, a gallon of water AND 5# of CaCl won't both fit at the same time. So less than a gallon of water goes into the mixed volume.

Clear as the slush at the bottom of the wheel? ;-)

 

[oldpilgrim]

Just a point of reference

I've got a 1952 Fordson that I bought in '78 Tires weren't new, but not bad.
They are filled with chloride/water.

Never a leak, never a problem, no signs of rust on the outside.

When will the troubles start? I can hardly wait ;-)

don't hold your breath!

I gave up waiting and gave the 52 Ferguson to my son. he's doing the waiting for me.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If 5# of CaCl is put in a one gallon vessel, and then enough water is added to fill to one gallon, the gallon of mix will weigh 10.6 pounds. The gallon being a volume measure, a gallon of water AND 5# of CaCl won't both fit at the same time. So less than a gallon of water goes into the mixed volume.

Clear as the slush at the bottom of the wheel? ;-)

,,, :thumbsup: This essentially. ... But note that each gallon of solution contains less than 5# CaCl. At room T you might get your example to go into solution - it would be dense. I did make some 12#/G solutions, but anything more than 11.4 just didnt seem realistic.

,,,,,,,Also note that regular water having solutes already will not dissolve as much CaCl and hold it to as low a T.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have had two tractors with Calcium. Both a nightmare.

First was a 8N. 2 new rims, new tires, new tube station, 3 tri axles of soil contaminated cost about $2500 all said and done.

Next was a 961 Ford. $1500 later.

Never again. WWF only!.

Chris

 

[ovrszd]

I won't debate whether corrosive ballast can be used without corrosion problems.

I will say if there is ever leakage you will have less collateral damage if the ballast used is non-corrosive.