Ballast in Tires

[wurso]

Hi Folks,

I sincerely appreciate the wealth of information provided by this forum. I am real close to making a purchase of an L3010 with FEL, Front Mount Snow Blower, 6' Rear Mower, Curtis Cab and Fuzzy Dice. I seem to be getting conflicting information from two dealers regarding ballast in the tires.

While they both agree that ballast in the tires is a good idea for what I'm using the tractor for, they disagree on the ballast material. The tractor will be located in the far reaches of Northern New Hampshire, just minutes away from Canada. Winters are long and severe, and it's not uncommon for the temperature to be 40 below zero.

One dealer recommends a 50/50 mixture of calcium and water in a tube in the tires. The other suggests an anti-freeze mixture in the tires. The dealer that recommends calcium says that anti freeze mixtures rots out the rubber tubes and tires. The dealer that recommends using anti-freeze says that calcium and water will eventually rot out the wheels.

Any ideas on what is best for ballast in the tires?

Thanks,
--Wayne

 

[JackIL]

You can avoid the problems by simply using cast wheel weight ballast. It costs more initially, but you never have to worry about the problems associated with liquid-filled tires.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hey , How are ya, I am up in the same area just across the Conn river in norhern VT. Cold it is!! I know many people with Kubotas as well as myself and I recommend loading your tires 3/4 full with windshied washer fluid. This is the best and if you look around you WILL find someone that fill them with this. This is a must, both the other guys are right Cal and antifreeze are a big no no. However I do recommend Tubes with all the rocks we all have as I log with my tractor and I reduce the tire pressure for traction and you never have to worry about popping the bead.

PS What is the price you got on your 3010 if i may ask? Did you look into the KIOTIs?? Are they junk, the prices are way great 18k for a 45 HP, loader,finish mower,tiller,brushhog,box blade and yes a dual axle trailer. Unbelievable, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE???
Look forward to hearing from you.

Hendog

 

[HR_Mutt]

wurso
Did the dealer who said anti-freeze would rot the tires say in what length of time? My B-7100 tires (all4)have been loaded with water, anti-freeze and #8 lead shot for approx 12 years. There's nothing showing(can't remember having to add air/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif, and they look great on wash day with another(unrecommended by some posts) armorall. The dealer installed Rimguard in the new tractor (all 4)approx. 6 months ago, still kind of early to call on that.
regards
Mutt

 

[MarkV]

Wurso,

This is interesting. Ballast in tires has been dicussed numbers of times here on the forum and this is the first I recall anyone saying that an anti-freeze mix will rot rubber. Of course the calcium mix being hard on metal has been brought up, although that is why you use a tube with calcium. I thought that calcium mix was the standard for those who lived in your kind of cold. It would seem that you would need one heck of a lot of anti-freeze for 40 below.

I have been using anti-freeze for a number of years but, hey, I live in Georgia so what do I know about 40 below./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV

 

[wurso]

Wow.... This is the first time that I've seen windshield washer fluid suggested. I guess there's no end to possibilities. You've got my imagination running wild... Perhaps Listerine, Gatorade, Thuderbird Wine..... Any other suggestions?

--Wayne

 

[wurso]

Don't know the lenght of time for the various rots. But lead shot sounds interesting.

 

[wurso]

Jack,

Thanks for the suggestion on the cast wheel weights. Any idea on price for these?

--Wayne

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Anti-freeze rots rubber? Maybe. I know eventually I have to replace the hoses on the truck and car, but I thought that was due more to the heat than the anti-freeze. Maybe RPM knows something about this. In the mean time. #8 lead shot? How did you get it in there? Does it go-- swish, swish-- when you drive?

SHF

 

[RobS]

Anti-freeze doesn't rot rubber. Think about your radiator hoses and such. Other than the non-freezing aspect of anti-freeze, you also get the corrosion inhibitor package which will keep your rims looking like new (should you ever look at the inside of them). Some have mentioned the danger to animals if your anti-freeze laden tires spring a leak which leads to the environmentally friendly anti-freeze or RV anti-freeze (which will kill your grass if spilled). Calcium Chloride will definitely rot your wheels over time. So many choices /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[wurso]

Thanks very much for your post. I hadn't really considered the different types of Anti-Freeze. It sounds like RV anti-Freeze might be a good bet.

-Wayne

 

[MDNick]

OVER TIME is an accurate statement on CaCl rotting out wheels, CaCl is a salt after all. My dad replaced the original wheels on his 1956 Ford 800 a few years ago. 42+ yrs on the wheels didn't seem all bad to me. They started to rot out around the valve stems. So long as you hose off the wheel good after checking air pressure, etc. they will still last a LONG time. Of course CaCl requires the use of a tube. CaCl is also the most dense giving you the most weight. WW fluid is a good cheap deal, but signicantly lighter than CaCl. Seems it was 2 or so lbs/gl lighter, but someone else on here probably knows the real number. Seems that anti-freeze will be the most expensive, and only marginally heavier than WW fluid. Of course, you can alter the freeze point of an anti-freeze solution by just adding more ($$$). WW fluid will probably only be good to -20 or so. Or we could all just move south and not worry about it.

I like wheel weights, they are removable. However if you are on slopes, loaded tires contribute to a lower CofG. Wheel weights will have a marginal affect, or if this is an issue, your goal is all you can get.

Farmer kid usetabe, Farmer Wannabe

 

[wurso]

MDNick,

Thanks for a wonderful tutorial on ballast. I'm not sure that I have 42+ years of my life left, and I personally seem to be wearing out long before I'm rusting out. So if your dad's experience with CaCl is any indication, then I probably shouldn't worry the corrosive effect on the wheels.

Thanks Again,
--Wayne

 

[Bill_in_MI]

For what it's worth, I have had CaCl in the tires on my B7100 for 18+ years. The tires and rims are the originals, and they don't look any worse than the rest of the 18 year old tractor.

 

[Charliebrn]

Don't forget that you can have them filled with Gel. The stuff is great, no more worries about leaks, the weight is great, yet still absorbs shock. Keep in mind that it's permanent, tho.

 

[Driver]

Do you know to what temperature the gel is freeze-proof?

Driver

 

[wurso]

I'm not familiar with Gel. Could you describe it? Where do you get it?

--Wayne

 

[Charliebrn]

I was told it was flexible down to -60 F

 

[Charliebrn]

It starts as a two part liquid that starts to set when mixed. I had my two fronts loaded with it because of flats working the meadow, and to avoid peeling them off the rims when using the FEL. I had mine done by Miller Tire in Wauseon, OH. the Brand name was Soft-Fil, but someone put all the details and a Web site address in a past thread.

 

[wurso]

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out!

--Wayne