Ballast Self filling of tires with washer fluid practical?

Anonymous Poster · Jul 31, 2002

HI,

I saw windshield washer fluid on sale at a place that is going out of business, looks cheap at 80 cents per gallon.

How hard is it to fill one's own tires? I am getting a Kubota B2910. Any idea how much ww fluid I need to do two rear tires? I know I saw a table listing this info somewhere...perhaps in the faq. I will check...

Should I or shouldn't I? Is a pump needed or will gravity work?

Anyone only fill tires up to the axle to maximize the downward shift of the center of gravity? Would doing so be a bad Idea? I probably would not do this, but...

All input greatly appreciated!!!

RoyJackson · Aug 1, 2002

Click on this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=genoperating&Number=134657&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>thread</A>. I think it'll help you out.
Loading your tires isn't that much...you'll have to purchase a few items (explained in the thread).

Anonymous Poster · Aug 1, 2002

Hi Roy and everyone,

Thanks for the reference to that thread. I remember reading it in the past...part numbers very helpful.

Will gravity work easily. Or is some pressure needed to get the liquid into the tire in a reasonable time frame?

Thanks for the help!

Bill

Steelfan · Aug 1, 2002

Macher, I did the rear tires on my TC21D. With the help of my cousin, who is a tire man, I put 15 gallons of fluid in each tire. We let the air out of the tire, and broke the bead on one side. After that we just poured the fluid a place where we put a gap between the tire, and wheel. It acted like a funnel. We then put air back in the tire, and put it back on the tractor. The job was done, and cost me about $25-$27, and about an hour returning the favor to my cousin. One thing you need to be careful of is that you have an air compressor that has enough pressure to reset the bead on the wheel. It takes some decent air pressure. Also the wheels will be pretty heavy, when you're done. You will probably need help putting them on. Good Luck. I hope this helps you. Kent

Anonymous Poster · Aug 1, 2002

Steelfan,

That is an interesting approach! But well beyond my capabilities. Only have a small air compressor...I would be afraid to undertake the bead breaking, as I just KNOW where it would lead me! Don't want to go there...

Thanks for the alternative idea!

Bill

beenthere · Aug 1, 2002

I would agree with Steelfan's procedure as being quite easy, with the help of extra hands. One addition that helped me set the bead, was to place blocking under the rim when laying the tire down before letting the air out for filling (hold the rim high so the downside of the tire drooped allowing the topside bead to open for filling and to keep the lower bead from breaking loose). Then after filling the tire, remove the center blocking and allow the steel rim to drop, closing up the topside bead for filling with air. A bit of lifting on the tire where the air would escape was all that was needed on my R-4's to seat the bead.
I put in about 30 gal. in each rear tire.

RoyJackson · Aug 1, 2002

"Will gravity work easily. Or is some pressure needed to get the liquid into the tire in a reasonable time frame?"

I picked up a small drill powered pump for about 6 dollars. It worked quite well, but it is a bit slow. I got it at Wal-Mart I believe.

GSS · Aug 1, 2002

I've been wanting to do my own. My only problem has been finding a place who sells the fluid in bulk. Even if the fluid is on sale, buying that many gallon jugs just does not seem practical, or economical! Any ideas? Thanks.

beenthere · Aug 1, 2002

Around here, the price by the gallon is cheaper than the price per gallon in 55 gallon drums. Go figure. Your conclusion should be right, but I learned differently while checking into this a month ago. Check out a NAPA store or other auto parts supply store.

Mike_Dumond · Aug 1, 2002

I went down to the local car dealers, asked them if they could save the old anti-freeze they drain from cars. Then used my submersible sump pump with adapters to fit a short lenght of garden hose then an adapter to fit the tire. This adapter has a bleeder valve on it.

First, block the rear axel, to keep the weight off the tire. Then I hit the bleeder to remove some air, then plugged in the pump and started filling the tires. Every once in a while, you need to bleed off some more air. you can tell when they're filled when air doesn't come out, only liquid. Then top it off with the correct air pressure.

With the valves on top, you get as much liquid in a tire as possible. The rust inhibitors in the anti freeze keep the rust off the rim. And you can do this with the tire left on the tractor. Filled many tires for friends and family using this technique.

GSS · Aug 1, 2002

That's a great idea. Too bad there's no such thing as used wiper fluid!

GSS · Aug 1, 2002

Interesting. I'll look into that. Thanks!

Anonymous Poster · Aug 1, 2002

Hi GSS and all,

A local establishment [Pharmor] is going out of business here...felt kind of funny with me and the wife both pushing shopping carts nearly overflowing with gallon jugs of windshield wiper fluid to the check out. I bought a totol of fifty gallons at 71 cents per gallon. Figure what is left over will go into the car and van...

Also got one of those little drill pumps for under $6. Now I am wondering if I need one of those filling valve devices. Seems to me I could just rig up something where a thin tube goes in the tire valve stem, with some space around it to let out air as the fluid goes in. The rear wheels would naturally be up off the ground, I think I could use the backhoe stabilizers to hold the rear wheels off the ground while filling the tires.

Maybe I will do a trial run and fill the tires on the back of my little MTD garden tractor tomorrow! Yes, that is a great idea, I have been wanting to put more weight on the back of that thing anyway. Great test to see whether I need to buy one of those special valves. Hope I can find some tubing that will be small enough!

By the way, fifty gallon jugs is a lot. I have a van so it was no problem, but in a regular car...hope the trunk is a big one or you may have to make two trips. No big deal though.

Then again, all you tractor guys probably drive pickups...so there should not be any problem at all!

Will let you know how the test fill goes tomorrow if I do it...

Bill

Bird · Aug 2, 2002

<font color=blue>where a thin tube goes in the tire valve stem, with some space around it to let out air</font color=blue>

I'll be very surprised if you can find a tube thin enough, and if you do it'll be so small that it would take forever to get any liquid through it; personal opinion. My recommendation would be a tube just big enough to fit over and onto the valve stem, pump in some liquid, remove the tube to let out air, and repeat until fluid comes out when you let out the air.

GSS · Aug 2, 2002

[censored], that is a really good idea! Just got off the phone with the wife, so hopefully she'll hit the motherload at the local PharMor... Thanks!

I already bought one of those fluid valves from Gempler's, so since you are in the area, you are welcome to borrow it. No need to spend the cash and time waiting for it when you already have the fluid and are ready to go. I'll be treking around a little bit tomorrow (Sat), so let me know and I'd be happy to meet you somewhere.

- Gerald

GSS · Aug 2, 2002

Wow, I didn't realize dam (with an n) would get censored. Sorry if I offended anyone...

Bill, you rule! I just went to PharMor at lunch and they had a boat load of it left. Picked up 100 gallons, so I can do all 4 wheels. Thanks a lot for the great tip. If you want to use my valve thingy, please do not hesitate to call me. I'll email you my phone number.

I am in your debt...

- Gerald

beenthere · Aug 2, 2002

No offense here, but it wasn't needed to tell us what you wanted us to know. I like the fact that our posts don't have unnecessary words.

GSS · Aug 2, 2002

No, it wasn't needed. But I like to convey emotion in what I write so it's not the same ole boring spew... Some people use smileys; I use interjections.

I disagree. At least a quarter of the posts in these threads are shootin' the breeze, matter-of-fact comments and "unnecessary words".

That's all I am going to say about that.

dgood1 · Aug 2, 2002

I think that "unnecessary" might have been the wrong word to use in your case. Politically correct might be more appropriate.

Don

GFB · Aug 2, 2002

Below is the info from a post I made a few months ago. I have a BX1800 so I didn't need as much fluid but the process is the same:

Thought I'd share the procedure I used to fill my rear tires with 10 Gal each of windshield washer fluid. I drilled a small hole in the cap and inserted plastic tubing, then used hot glue gun to seal. Plastic tubing runs to a metal tubing inserted into tire valve. Plastic jug is then inverted and a hole cut out the bottom and obviously must be higher than the tire. Make hole big enough to pour the fluid into this jug as it becomes empty. Metal tubing needs to be 1/8" outside diameter, plastic tubing just large enough to slip over the metal tube. Jack tractor up just enough to take weight off wheels. Takes about 25 minutes per gallon. Including the tool to remove the valve core the cost is about $3 plus washer fluid @ 84 cents/gallon.