Quick easy ballast fill

[Tonyinohio]

I thought i would share my calcium ballast fill on my new tractor. I have a 55 gallon pto powered spray tank. Filled it with water and 200 pounds of calcium ice melt. I had to take my time adding the calcium due to the heat and keeping the lines from plugging. I replaced the wand with a blow off nozzle with the aluminum top drilled out to ~1/8". Worked well and was inexpensive.

 

[ovrszd]

Nice innovation!!!!

Make sure you clean everything very well, especially your sprayer pump, etc. Calcium is extremely corrosive!!!!!

You gain some weight with calcium, 10lbs p/gallon versus 8lbs p/gallon with windshield washer fluid for example. But the offset of corrosion makes up for it. Your valve stem cores are not going to like this at all. They will start seeping which will start corroding your rims. Be diligent about controlling any leak you spot and keep the rims clean. Good luck.

 

[prs]

I have done a similar thing using one of those paint spray tanks that look like a big pressure cooker and an air compressor to force the liquid through a small metal pipette. I note you are doing this with tires mounted and vertical. With calcium chloride you need to be sure the liquid level is high enough so that ALL metal inside is ALWAYS submerged, that is the liquid has to a good bit above the Schrader valve so that the inner rim is always submerged. If not, your rim will be doomed to early rust-out. My last ballasting used winter grade windshield fluid and the rim maker had been kind enough to put two shcraders on the rim 180 degrees opposed. Easy-peasy!

prs

 

[johnk]

In the long run you're better off paying the price and getting rimguard installed in the tires and be done with it. I did it 8 years ago and the only regrets I have is I didn't do it sooner. I ,don't have to worry about my rims rusting etc...

 

[sw99]

Still baffled as why people still use corrosive calcium in steel wheels. Sorry just not my cup of tea..

 

[4570Man]

Still baffled as why people still use corrosive calcium in steel wheels. Sorry just not my cup of tea..

My Grandpa ran corrosive calcium in his tires for 30 years. He traded the tractor last year and the rims were still intact. I haven't even seen a tractor with 30 year old tires filled with a non corrosive ballast to prove it doesn't rust them. The best solution is to use iron weights.

 

[CalG]

It takes oxygen to rust a wheel. Calcium Chloride is not enough.
It helps though, if you give the tire a shot of air from time to time.

Leaks, especially around valve stems are the real trouble.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Well done Tony! Don't stress about the CaCl just deal with any leaks.

 

[Tonyinohio]

I like this forum because it's opinion + experience with some facts sprinkled in. Good stuff.

I felt that calcium will be fine if taken care of and i'm nuts about taking care of equipment.

Thanks all,

Tony

 

[CalG]

I like this forum because it's opinion + experience with some facts sprinkled in. Good stuff.

I felt that calcium will be fine if taken care of and i'm nuts about taking care of equipment.

Thanks all,

Tony

Just a thought for those who want to "do all they can do". It may be a good idea to boil the water to remove all dissolved gasses (such as oxygen) prior to mixing in the chloride.
I'm not certain that the hydration of the chloride does a complete job of degassing.

Again, no oxygen, no chance of iron oxide formation.

There is no reason to mess with the water while it's hot however, let it cool before putting the CaCl to it. ;-)