Ballast How do I find out what liquid ballast my tires are filled with?

[dragoneggs]

Not only does the concentration lower the freezing point but increases the weight. If you add enough calcium it will be thick like syrup. My old industrial refrigeration days we had applications that went down to -60 degrees F. That was over 50% calcium for a freezing point of -70; it was real thick and heavy. CaCl has to have a corrosion inhibitor added or it will rust. In a tire it would last a long time as their is no dilution over time. With the inhibitor the inside of pipe stays clean as a whistle. If it leaks then it starts to corrode stuff pretty fast outside the enclosure (tire in our case). Nothing will be heavier than CaCl per gallon. The 75% + fill is a most or your tractor will become unstable as it rolls around. The 25% space is for expansion in hot weather.

Ron

Hi Ron... what is the inhibitor?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Hi Ron... what is the inhibitor?

Don't know. We bought it same place as the CaCl and it came in 1 GL jugs. CaCl came in 100# bags. The thicker it gets the slower it dissolves. Forget it for your BX. Not enough weight increase possible to make it worthwhile. Use suitcase weights. Les Schawb over here sells beet juice, not much heavier than plain water. The whole CaCl was about weight. 100# of water and 100# of CaCl takes up a whole lot less space than 200# of water plus lowers the freeze point.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Don't know. We bought it same place as the CaCl and it came in 1 GL jugs. CaCl came in 100# bags. The thicker it gets the slower it dissolves. Forget it for your BX. Not enough weight increase possible to make it worthwhile. Use suitcase weights. Les Schawb over here sells beet juice, not much heavier than plain water. The whole CaCl was about weight. 100# of water and 100# of CaCl takes up a whole lot less space than 200# of water plus lowers the freeze point.

Ron

No wasn't thinking about my BX. Agreed on not enough volume to make it worth while. Purely interested from a scientific angle.

 

[edkemper]

Out of curiosity, do you fill the tires complete (o practical limit) or is it a partial fill with whatever you use?

 

[hhsco]

I believe that you want to fill 'em to the highest practical point (the valve stem, at 12 o'clock). Particularly with CaCl. Filling to that degree completely "submerges" the interior of the rim so it is not alternately exposed to the air in the tire and the fluid, which would increase the wear on the inside of the rim.

 

[ENC]

I look at like this. If the previous owner never had any problems with it and you are in the same locale climate wise you can probably leave it alone.