Tire Ballast--again. Sorry.

[N80]

Well, here's how it went. Bought the antifreeze. Parked the tractor. Applied the brakes and locked them. Jacked the rear wheels 1/2" off the ground. Started with the right tire. Unscrewed the valve top and guess what? A geyser. I couldn't get the valve back in but I could stop the geyser by holding my finger over the valve. So there I am with my finger in the dike. I realized all I had to do was to rotate the tire until the valve was at the top.....but the brake was on. Invision Curly in the plumber skit, standing in the tub trying to hold the water back with his hand. That's what I felt like. Fortunately my niece happened by and released the brake (the bucket was down and front's chocked) and I rotated the tire until only air was coming out.

I was pretty ticked off. I'd specifically asked the dealer if the tires were filled and they told me they were not. I'm not sure what is in them. It was clear. It had a bit of an acrid smell, and since I got a fair dose in my mouth I could tell that it tasted a little sweet and it was a little sticky, so I'm assuming it is antifreeze.

Anyway, I hooked the air/fluid valve to the valve stem, hooked up the hose and topped it back off with the valve at about 2:30 (for 75% fill). It didn't take much to top it off but when it was spewing out it seemed like a it was going to empty in a second. I put the valve stem back on and pressured back up to spec.

So, much ado about nothing I guess. Which really even makes me madder. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had started with the valve stem in the right position but I really had no reason to expect or suspect that they were already filled. The other disappointment is that I was expecting some improved handling and traction. It was never bad, pretty impressive in fact, but better is better. Live and learn. I'll probably be able to laugh about it tomorrow. I guess I'm just glad no one but my niece witnessed me getting soaked. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'll take the $50 of unopened antifreeze back to Advance Auto Parts tomorrow and hope they'll take it back.

 

[willfick]

Sorry I took so long to get back - 12 hour days this weekend.
Even sorrier you don't have a video of your adventure of discovery.
Just to know, mine does have tubes. When I was a kid one of my jobs was to fill the tires on new tractors at my grandfather's tractor dealership. We always used plain water, but that was in Walterboro where it only sometimes got below freezing at night and never stayed below all day. And I'm guessing that forty years ago all the tractor tires had tubes.
I do know many modern tractors that have calcium filled tires don't have tubes and rely for what rust prevention they need on keeping the fill level above the top of the rim.
If it were what I think of as the nasty calcium stuff you wouldn't think it was "a little sweet," but if it were me I'd at least let the dealer know you were on to their game, and ask what was in there.
Edit to add PS
I know it's counter-intuitive, and I don't want to tax my limited facilities to do the cyphering, but according to the authorities( http://www.firestoneag.com/tiredata/info/info_hydro_2.asp )75% is to the top of the rim, fullto the valve with the valve at 12:00. Not only covers the rim to help with rust, but having the fluid nearly full helps to prevent destabilizing sloshing at higher speeds.
Wm

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Only after reviewing the firestone chart I am second guessing my local tire dealer since according to the chart each 12.4 - 38 tire will take 46 gallon so that means 2 drums. And after reading this topic get me thinking that $97 for 50 gallon is expensive, guess a call is in order Monday morning. )</font>

Mix it 50/50 then.. will still be freeze protected ..

Soundguy

 

[willfick]

OK, here it is. That business of 75% full being to the top of the rim has always bothered me. It seems at first (or umpteenth) look that 75% would be half way between half way and the top.
So I drew it out, and looks have once again deceived.

Adding tangents to divide the tire into four equal sections, I see that only the small yellow area would have to be added to the yellow shaded top section to make 1/4 of the tire as air space.
So, call it 80%.
Wm

 

[N80]

I put 2:30 in my last post, I meant 1:30 (as in a clock face), which basically equates to 45 degrees from. I have no idea what the actual percent is but that's what it shows in my manual.