VERY expensive beet juice!

[johnrex62]

I see your point, about CG and traction- esp for loader work.:thumbsup:
Not to beat a dead horse, but (A) we are trying to make one machine do many, many different things, and (B) how come the manufactures sell tractors that need to be modified, right out the showroom door?:confused2:

They need to be modified right out of the door because we try to do so many different things with them. There is no single configuration that will do everything, or even most things, and if the tractor was setup for a specific task it would not be as attractive to the wide buying audience as one 'almost' there for most jobs.

 

[IslandTractor]

Well, there it goes. I'm a vegetarian. I could go for a little more IPA (having one now with my lunch), but still would be concerned with the 'high' center of gravity.

Here in SW Washington (under 300 foot elevation), we get few long hard freezes, though it's not unheard of. Freezing such a large volume of water would take some time. I don't think it would require a heck of a lot of alcohol here most years.

There are charts that show the depression of freezing point for various concentrations of methanol water mixes. If you really don't have many days under freezing then water alone may be sufficient. I'm sure there is local expertise in your area.

 

[tommaple]

Nope, no 'nappy' for me. That's why I understand that colligative properties depend only on the number of particles of solute and not their chemical properties.

You are correct that an ionic compound of relatively low molecular weight is more effective because it puts more particles into solution per mass unit, but that doesn't mean that whole nonionic molecules don't have a similar but less pronounced effect. But now that I think about it I realize I've already proven myself wrong with an experiment done in my own kitchen. Flavored ice pops are loaded with sucrose and they freeze at normal household freezer temps, so sucrose must be too big a molecule to build up a large particle count before it saturates.

So I wonder what the chemical is in beet juice that makes it effective and yet non-corrosive? And I wonder what nonionic, water soluble compound of low molecular weight can be bought cheaply in large quantities?

I can't comment on ionic molecules, but can give an example on the effects of sucrose in a water solution. The ice pops freeze because they have a low concentration of sugar. Maple syrup is basically sucrose in water. Yes, there are some trace minerals that add flavor, but for practical discussion all the solids in maple syrup are from sucrose.
Standard maple syrup has 66% sugar (67% in Vermont) by weight as determined by a hydrometer using the Brix scale. Maple syrup will not freeze at 0 degrees farenheit. It will get so thick that it could possibly turn with the tire and not stay at the bottom for proper ballast.
Making a 66% solution of cane sugar and water would not freeze but other products will stay more free flowing at cold temperatures.
Maybe that is due to the "ionic molecules"?

 

[grsthegreat]

I can't comment on ionic molecules, but can give an example on the effects of sucrose in a water solution. The ice pops freeze because they have a low concentration of sugar. Maple syrup is basically sucrose in water. Yes, there are some trace minerals that add flavor, but for practical discussion all the solids in maple syrup are from sucrose.
Standard maple syrup has 66% sugar (67% in Vermont) by weight as determined by a hydrometer using the Brix scale. Maple syrup will not freeze at 0 degrees farenheit. It will get so thick that it could possibly turn with the tire and not stay at the bottom for proper ballast.
Making a 66% solution of cane sugar and water would not freeze but other products will stay more free flowing at cold temperatures.
Maybe that is due to the "ionic molecules"?

Ohh, i should fill mine with maple syrup...then i can always have pancakes yum:licking:

 

[North Country]

how come the manufactures sell tractors that need to be modified, right out the showroom door?

End users who work soft land and/or who carry massive loads on the 3ph don't want more weight in the rear, unless it comes in the form of more tires.

 

[johnk]

When I had my tires filles with 2 55 gallon drums of Beet Juice it only took a total of 35 minutes to fill the tires. The guy jacked my tractor up on my trailer spun the tires to get the valve stem on top and started pumping. I thought it would take a few hours. He said he gets some batches that are really dense and it takes slightly longer. So I guess all the weights per gallon of the Juice aren't all consistent according to him. The only regrets I have is I didn't do it sooner. Definitely stabalizes the tractor immensely.

 

[Soundguy]

If 5000lbs is critically better than 4800lbs for a tractor, then just eat a few more Big Macs instead.
.

if I loaded with water / methanol..e tc.. and needed 200 more pounds, vs not being able to afford beet juice, or wanting to risk the cacl. I'm sure some cast concrete weights on the axle or frame could be made up cheap.

I cast some front concrete weights for my ford 4600 for mowing I have a real HD and hvy hog behind her, loaded the fronts with water and rv af, and put on front wheel weights, AND hung 2 concrete 'plate' weights on her I made and now she is stable walking up the beaver tail on my deckover gooseneck with mower lifted to clear everything. before she was a teeter-totter..

weights cost me less than 10$ in concrete.. used old fence wire and old bolts as studs..

soundguy

 

[grsthegreat]

My old JD had CaCl without inner tubes when i bought it in 1996. The valve stems rotted off and alot of rust on the rims.
I had one blow out and the CaCl shot all over the inside of my lean too and destroyed several 4'x8' sheets of 12g and 16g rolled steel. Rusted them like a 1940's ship overnight. Did a little number on some of the metal siding also.

I had Les Schaub (local farm tire repair) install new tire and 2 inner tubes (very $$) and refill the CaCl.

My new tractor has rimguard as thats all anyone here uses. I'm told if this tire explodes nothing will rust, but it will look like a crime scene :licking:

 

[Iowachild]

Ethylene Glycol - automotive antifreeze - is out for me even though it would work - because of the risks it poses to pets and livestock. The only anti freeze I would consider is Propylene Glycol (RV) because it is not toxic I am told. I'm looking to look for it in concentrated form.

Propylene Glycol is far from "non-toxic", it's only safer than ethylene glycol.
It is 3 times less toxic in dogs, but not non-toxic. "Safe" is more a marketing thing. Antifreeze Toxicoses

 

[canoetrpr]

Propylene Glycol is far from "non-toxic", it's only safer than ethylene glycol.
It is 3 times less toxic in dogs, but not non-toxic. "Safe" is more a marketing thing. Antifreeze Toxicoses

That seems to not say great things about Methanol/water mix either. Although I think one of the biggest problems with Ethylene glycol is that it is sweet and tends to attract critters. Not sure if this is the case with Methanol.