Tire filling

[ModMech]

DHD,

Your weight explanation was good, THANKS!

I view it a little simpler, sprung vs unsprung weight. That is: Weight on the tractor, and weignt not on the tractor.

Adding wheel or tire weight is UNsprung weight and greatly benefits stability but also is no good for the yard as it greatly increases total vehicle weight and consequently soil compaction.

Adding a 3pt weight is "sprung" weight because it's carried BY the tractor just as loader weight is. The nice thing about it is it's easily removeable so you can effectively manage total tractor weight for mowing. The bad, it does not add stability but on the flip side, you don't need near as much 3pt weight as you do rear tire/wheel weight because it sits behind the rear axle and is that much further from the front axle pivot point (loader use).

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I had mine filled with Rim Guard from new. This is THE best way to lower the Center of Gravity.

 

[johnk]

I also did the rimguard fill and am mad I didn't do it sooner. VERY noticeable difference!

 

[Barry Bowen]

Here is a link for the professional tools for servicing fluid in tractor tires. You can see why the shops charge what they do for the service. This is the stuff you need to use to get the job done properly.

Liquid Ballast Supplies, Tires & Supplies - Outdoor Work Supplies

You do not let all the air out of the tire to ad fluid. The pumps have a guage on them that read suction and pressure. These pump for pulling the fluid out will actually collapse the tire down on the rim. When you are putting in the fluid you have to have properly seated the bead and the tube and KEEP SOME PRESSURE IN THE TIRE. Pump in some fluid till the pressure build up to the limit of the tire, often around 15-20 PSI, and then let the air back down to just a few pounds. Repeat the process until the tire is full up to a few inches below the top of the rim. Leave the air space up top and air it up the pressure you need to operate at. The special tools that attaches to the valve stem, removes the insert that hold the schrader valve and allow you to put it back in before remove the tool. Check it out, this is the truely easy way, it just is not cheap.