Ballast BioBallast vs Rim Guard

[Cumbres]

I am in the process of investigating putting some ballast in my Kubota's tires. She is very light in the back when digging our clay dirt, especially when it is wet like the Midwest has been this spring. I had previously looked at Rim Guard but was concerned about the price. I had thought of windshield washer fluid. Today I talked to a local tractor tire dealer who use BioBallast which is supposed to be made from a corn waste product, I believe from Ethanol plants. The price was cheaper and it is supposed to be safe for metal, plants and animals. It also does not have any CaCl or similar material in it per the SDS on their website.

I had never heard of this product before today and in searching the archives I find few references to it. I have read a lot about CaCl, windshield washer fluid, steel weights and Rim Guard. Reportedly it does not turn slushy until -30. In another thread I think it stated it was about 9.75 lbs/gallon which is less then Rim Guard.

Anyone have any comments for or against BioBallast?

Cumbres

 

[oosik]

Yes - I've never heard of the stuff. I guess the situation revolves down to cost per gallon vs weight per gallon. I've had CaCl and it is a PITA. I now have Rim Guard and have had no problems, what-so-ever, in ten years.

I would suggest you talk to a tech from the tire company. See what their opinion is......

 

[Wagtail]

"BioBallast" has been, somewhat, discussed on TBN as far back as '09.

They seemed to think that it's canola based; https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/tires/142299-bio-tire-ballast.html

 

[Thomas]

Dealer put beet juice in my rear tires.

 

[fried1765]

Dealer put beet juice in my rear tires.

"Beet juice" aka "Rimguard"..... is expensive, and is only dealer installed.

 

[shooterdon]

I put WW fluid in my JD 855 tires last year only because it was cheap. Waited for a sale at Menard's and the whole job cost me under $75 including the connector.

I have Rim Guard in the new LS. It is a long term investment and I know RG is a proven and possibly the best product out there. Consider how long you will be keeping the tractor when looking at price. I doubt you will save much using BioBallast. One of the dealers here uses it and has had no problems with it. RG is about 20% denser so do a cost per lb. calculation. I expect labor costs to be the same with either product but special pumps are needed for RG and it is not a product you can install yourself.

If economy is important, WW fluid works, requires little equipment to install (used my sprayer tank and pump), but has less density. Took about 2 hours to do.

 

[Cumbres]

Thanks all for your input. I had seen the reply about it being Canola based but the tire company said it was corn based and I found a reference on the Bio ballast web site reporting their product is a byproduct of ethanol plants which would fit with it being corn based.

I am not looking for the cheapest route but have also not been necessarily wanting to go the Cadillac route. This seemed to be a nice in between product that had most of the good attributes of Rim Guard, ie non-toxic and non-corrosive but cheaper with the main issue being it is not as heavy.

I did talk to the techs at the tire company and they said they had been using it for quite awhile and they did not have any issues that they were aware of. It apparently comes as a concentrate or powder as I was told they would have to mix it up when I would come in to have it installed. For my tires I would need 21 gallons per tire or about 42 gallons total. Was told the fluid itself was a little bit more then $100 for that amount and about $50 for the install fee. If I remember correctly this place had sold Rim Guard in the past and they no longer are a dealer for them.

I also appreciated the comment about looking at the tire ballast as being a long term investment. That is why I am asking the question. I was prepared to do WW fluid but after finding this product the value proposition seemed to be better then WW even though it is more costly.

As to weight. My tractor will pick up about 850 pounds with the loader. I find that when I get close to a heavy bucket the rear end will pick up. BioBallast will add about 410 pounds to the rear end total and Rim Guard will add about 462 pounds (ie 9.7 lbs/gallon BB and 11 lbs/gallon RG) I don't have any practical experience if that 52 pound weight difference will make much difference in the loader abilities and in stability.

My last question is does Rim Guard foam? BB advertises no foaming so wondered if that had been a problem for those of you using RG. Is this a concern other then when checking tire pressures?

Thanks all,

Cumbres

 

[TractorNH]

"Beet juice" aka "Rimguard"..... is expensive, and is only dealer installed.

Rimguard is dealer installed but if you have a REAL tire shop, one that deals in truck and equiment tires in addition to car tires, many of them install it too. The advantage of Rimguard is that it is 11 lbs per gallon whereas WW fluid or water is only 8.3. So you get almost 3 lbs more weight per gallon.

There is also a product called Ballast Star which is a citrus based liquid ballast.

 

[Fallon]

I have BioBallast in mine. It's what my Kubota dealer uses. I still havent figured out what it is, but they claim it's not beet juice. It performs similarly to beet juice for weight, freezing & being non-toxic. I'm happy with it & have stopped caring what's the differences are.

 

[fried1765]

Rimguard is dealer installed but if you have a REAL tire shop, one that deals in truck and equiment tires in addition to car tires, many of them install it too. The advantage of Rimguard is that it is 11 lbs per gallon whereas WW fluid or water is only 8.3 and calcium is only slightly more than water. So you get almost 3 lbs more weight per gallon.

There is also a product called Ballast Star which is a citrus based liquid ballast.

"calcium is only slightly more than water"

Yah think....???

Water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon.
Calcium Chloride weighs 11.3+ lbs. per gallon.
36% more = "only slightly more"?

I am NOT advocating CaCl......I hate the stuff!

 

[TractorNH]

"calcium is only slightly more than water"

Yah think....???

Water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon.
Calcium Chloride weighs 11.3+ lbs. per gallon.
36% more = "only slightly more"?

I am NOT advocating CaCl......I hate the stuff!

Thanks, corrected. That's what happens when I try to do 3 things at once...LOL.

 

[BRMyers]

Why Bio-Ballast? Because Bio-Ballast is biodegradable it is completely safe to use around humans, animals and plants. It is formulated to coat the inside of tires and wheels and will not cause rust or rim failure, keeping the inner liner of the tire soft. These characteristics make the product perfect alternative for agriculture and industrial uses.

Non-Toxic- will not harm plants or animals
Bio-Ballast is a product of refining agricultural crops
Can also be mixed with other liquid tire ballast products with no viscosity issues
Non-Corrosive and inhibits rust

BioBallast - EnviroTech Services

 

[Cumbres]

I have BioBallast in mine. It's what my Kubota dealer uses. I still havent figured out what it is, but they claim it's not beet juice. It performs similarly to beet juice for weight, freezing & being non-toxic. I'm happy with it & have stopped caring what's the differences are.

How long have you been using BioBallast? Presumably you are happy.

It appears that Rim Guard is becoming less an option. I heard back from them that their nearest dealer is 45 miles where the BioBallast is 15 miles. Note: The bioballast quote is from a local ag and tire company. They do very little outside of farm equipment.



Thank you all for your input!

 

[herm0016]

I just got a tractor with bioballast in it. sounds like its between 9 and 10 ppg.

 

[POC]

I just called my local place, they have RimGuard, it's $2.75/gallon. I've looked for the other but don't know that we have a dealer local.

 

[Fallon]

How long have you been using BioBallast? Presumably you are happy.

It appears that Rim Guard is becoming less an option. I heard back from them that their nearest dealer is 45 miles where the BioBallast is 15 miles. Note: The bioballast quote is from a local ag and tire company. They do very little outside of farm equipment.



Thank you all for your input!

3 years on the L3200 & not quite 3 years on the L4060 that replaced it.

I hear some of the difference in availability between RimGuard & BioBallast is the regional crops than end up making it. It probably doesn't make sense transporting it across the country. Either way both seem to work well.

I speared a loaded rear on the L3200 with a stick. It leaked a bit but was able to rotate the hole up & plug it a couple days later. Held for a year or 2 after that until I sold it. I'd guess it's still holding. It does make checking tire pressure harder in theory. I subscribe to making sure you have a good traction patch contacting the ground method rather than sticking a pressure gauge on method though.

 

[oosik]

The local Kubota dealer installed Rim Guard in my rear tires when I bought my new 2009 Kubota M6040. They said that at that time they were charging $1.50 per gallon - installed. We have a large sugar beet processing plant less than 75 miles from Spokane.

 

[Cumbres]

3 years on the L3200 & not quite 3 years on the L4060 that replaced it.

.

Thank you, I think you are one of the few on here with actual experience with this product.

I do appreciate everyone's opinions and information. It is very much appreciated.

I am going to get the tires filled next week weather permitting. As I speak we are under another thunderstorm. At least we had about 4-5 days with no rain:thumbsup:

Cumbres

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has asked about what you are hanging from the 3-point for actual ballast?

While I run RG, it is not "ballast" in the respect of helping to protect the front axle at near full lift load weights. Bio or RG will help add tractive force, slope stability and assist in preventing rear axle lift, but it does not meet the machine manufactures intent of ballast in any way.

Ballast is intended to create a fulcrum at the rear axle and provide needed lift on the front axle to reduce load forces for the relatively smaller and weaker front axle. It reduces the likelihood of front axle damage by doing this and facilitates a much longer service life.

As an example, I run a near 300 lb 60" wide rear box blade with 400 lbs of steel plates added to it most of the time, other times I will hang a rear finish mower or brush hog on the rear. The lightest thing by far is my 72" rear grader blade. All of these provide some amount of actual ballast, something that is called out in the manufactures operating manual as needed for loader use.

I am not suggesting that you do not add Bio/RG/WWF, but I am suggesting that you consider what you have back there and if it is sufficiently weighted to be an effective ballast for your front axle while you are lifting near the loader weight capacity limits.

Good luck in your research. I am sure that anything that you do will add desired capability and safety.

 

[Cumbres]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has asked about what you are hanging from the 3-point for actual ballast?

While I run RG, it is not "ballast" in the respect of helping to protect the front axle at near full lift load weights. Bio or RG will help add tractive force, slope stability and assist in preventing rear axle lift, but it does not meet the machine manufactures intent of ballast in any way.

Ballast is intended to create a fulcrum at the rear axle and provide needed lift on the front axle to reduce load forces for the relatively smaller and weaker front axle. It reduces the likel

I normally have either my box blade 54" or a 6 foot back blade on the machine. My best ballast is a large bush hog style cutter. I don't have extra weights attached to any of them. I never do loader or other work without something on the rear. Most of the time when doing loader work I am also using the attachment for grading after dumping.

I do hear your advice on more rear ballast and after the tire ballast will look into that more.

Thank you,

Cumbres