wheel weights? why not?

ctgoldwing · Nov 11, 2010

Thanks for all the input!

If I was in Florida I would just put water in them

but Connecticut does have cooler winter temps

I think I am sold, now I just have to decide what to put in them. Calcium Chloride is out - not a total 'green' but the risk of dumping that near my well is enough of reason not to. I work for a plumbing / heating distributor & we sell a non toxic antifreeze that I can get for a little over $8/gal. I can cut that 50/50 & still have freeze protection down to 10 degrees (I'm not going out if its colder than that). So it works out to about $4/gal installed.

rdsaustintx · Nov 11, 2010

ctgoldwing said:
Calcium Chloride is out - not a total 'green' but the risk of dumping that near my well is enough of reason not to.

Maybe (likely) I am missing something here, but CaCl is not very toxic at all. Down here (where the geology is limestone) our drinking water is LOADED with CaCl. It is not unusual for water heaters to double or triple in weight due to CaCl precipitation.

Some folks soften their water to reduce the scaling, but softeners exchange sodium ions for the calcium. I'd rather drink the calcium...

Russell in BubbaLand

crazyal · Nov 11, 2010

ctgoldwing said:
Thanks for all the input!

If I was in Florida I would just put water in them but Connecticut does have cooler winter temps

I think I am sold, now I just have to decide what to put in them. Calcium Chloride is out - not a total 'green' but the risk of dumping that near my well is enough of reason not to. I work for a plumbing / heating distributor & we sell a non toxic antifreeze that I can get for a little over $8/gal. I can cut that 50/50 & still have freeze protection down to 10 degrees (I'm not going out if its colder than that). So it works out to about $4/gal installed.

Go to Rim Guard's website and you can ask them for local dealers near you. Rim Guard is beet juice and it's about $3 to $3.50 installed. It won't hurt your wheels or tires and it's heavier per gallon than water.

Rim Guard - Liquid Tire Ballast FAQs

grnspot110 · Nov 11, 2010

SPYDERLK said:
Yeah, every 30+ years at worst.
larry

Some of us keep things a while! Besides, it doesn't take that long to cause damage.

I have fluid in the rears of my JD 790, but only because it was in them when I bought it. Wouldn't think of putting it in any of my garden tractors! ~~ grnspot110

LD1 · Nov 11, 2010

As others have mentioned, worrying about calcium corroding wheels is NOT a reason to ditch having the rear tires filled in lieu of wheel weights.

There are pleanty of other products on the market to load the tires with including rimguard(beet juice), windshield washer fluid (which can be had for a buck or two per gallon and done at home), antifreeze mix, as well as the tried and true putting tubes in.

But I guess it all comes down to what the OP is trying to do with the tractor. If FEL work is a major concern, wheelweights arent a valid substitute for a counter weight on the 3PH. The counter weight IS needed so you dont overload you front axle. And if you have filled tires and a counterweight, that should be sufficent.

But if heavy ground engaging tasks are a priority, like plowing or blading, then by all means do both. But I personally wouldn't go with the wheel weights before I tried filling the tires. Main reasin is due to cost.

brokenknee · Nov 11, 2010

How does someone put washer fluid in the tires? If it is through the valve stem is there a fast way to do it?

LD1 · Nov 11, 2010

brokenknee said:
How does someone put washer fluid in the tires? If it is through the valve stem is there a fast way to do it?

There is different attachments and pumps you can buy to speed up the process but yes it is through the valve stem.

Tires that were ment to be loaded are different than your car tires. The valve stems usually have a larger opening. When I did mine, I used an old inline fuel pump. But any kind of small pump and little hose will work. A hose just a little smaller than the opening works best to let the air bleed out while it is filling.

RobertN · Nov 11, 2010

There was someone here on TBN, that built thier own wheelweight setup a few years ago. I am sure the thread is out there is you search.

They made a bracket that attached to the wheel lugs. Then they were able to put 45lb olimpic weights like you would find at a gym, on the tractor.

k0ua · Nov 11, 2010

Filled tires with Polyethelene glycol. (RV anti-freeze) The pump was $6 at home depot. small drill pump. I ran it with a little 1/4 inch drill, never even got warm. went to Tractor supply and bought the $9 fill/burp valve adaptor that adapts garden hose to fill valve (schrader valve) some garden hose scraps, 3 gallon bucket, valve core removal tool, and WA-LA you are in the tire filling business. About 1 gallon a minute is the rate, be sure to jack up the tire to just barely off the ground to not break the bead. fill valve at 12 o'clock, remove core, let air out, and put fluid in, burp tire every 2 gallons, because pressure in tire will rise as fluid goes in so displaced air has to go out, or air pressure will rise, and the pump will not be able to overcome the rising air pressure. when you have put in the correct amount (check chart, lots on internet) stop remove adapter, put valve core back in, fill to correct tire pressure (owners manual) and do the other one. enjoy all the extra traction, and safer feeling on hills.
James K0UA

brokenknee · Nov 12, 2010

After doing a little more research on the Internet, I found two different types of valve attachments for filling your tires. The ones pictured are from Gempler's (http://www.gemplers.com/tech/tire-liquid.htm), but Tractor supply http://www.tractorsupply.com/vehicl...vehicle-tire-repair/adapter-air-water-1170832 also sells them.