Tire Balast

[Ffphil]

What should I get, beet juice or non corrosive? This may be the same thing and I'm confused.

 

[jeff9366]

Do you need rear tire ballast for a 22-horsepower tractor?

Beet Juice is dense and non-corrosive.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Beet juice/Rimguard is the heaviest/gal and is non-corrosive. It is also the most expensive per gallon but is still far cheaper than steel on a lb/lb basis. Many guys use windshield washer fluid as well (WWF).

 

[Omega Woods]

I plan to get Rim Guard for my small tractor if I can find it. It gets "floaty" in the rear with a lot of rocks or dirt in the bucket. The tires won't hold much but any is better than none. I might add some wheel weights, too.

 

[oosik]

If you do decide to load the rear tires - get something non-corrosive. Rimguard(beet juice) - windshield washer fluid - recreational vehicle antifreeze. I would STRONGLY recommend against any salt product - the hassle, potential damage and bother are just to great.

 

[Ffphil]

We are looking at a 60 hp tractor. The rimguard/beet juice will add a little over 500lbs per tire. They say 55gal/tire.

 

[jeff9366]

Add the model of your prospective tractor to your T-B-N profile so your posts make sense.

 

[FTG-05]

What should I get, beet juice or non corrosive? This may be the same thing and I'm confused.

First thing: Call Rimguard and tell them they're the biggest forking idiots on the planet. Ask them where their on-line list of retailers/installers is on their web site. When they give you the "no speak da engrish" routine, tell them they are forking idiots. It's the 21st Forking Century already! Who in the world has a website without a list of locations in this day and age???

Then ask if there any retailers/installers in your area. There should be, certainly in Eastern WA, not sure about Western. The closest place they had when I called a couple years ago was north of the TN/KY border, about 125 miles from me - one way. You can't buy a barrel or two, you have to physically take the tractor or tires to the installer. If it's just the tires, good luck installing +600 lb tires when you get them back.

I haven't checked to see if there are any new ones closer to me since then - why? Because those forking idiots won't put an on line list on their stupid website, you either have to call or e-mail them. Forktards.


If the question is: Fill the rear tires? The answer is: Yes.

If the question is: With What? The answer is: Rimguard - if you can get it.

The one disadvantage (cost) of Rimguard is way outweighed by all the advantages (weight, temps, non-corrosive, non-toxic). Except of course, if you can get it. And the cost of Rimguard has nothing on metal wheel weights.


Types of tire ballast: Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

Why do it all: 6 Reasons to Liquid Ballast your Kubotaç—´ Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

How to do it (except if you go the Forking Idiots route):How to Ballast your Kubotaç—´ Tires | OrangeTractorTalks Note: If you use straight water (not recommended), you use a garden hose off your water hydrant. If you use a mix, like water/RV antifreeze like I did, then substitute a 5 gallon bucket (or bigger) and a small pump, like a sump pump with a garden hose outlet. Either way, you'll need that hose adapter to "burp" air out of the tire. See pic below.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I used windshield washer fluid 15 years ago. It's still in there and I haven't had a leak yet, knock on wood. It was about 1$ per gallon on sale at the time. I used a $10 drill powered pump that I still have and still use from time to time. Make sure the valve stem is at 12 oclock and release air with fluid flow slows.

Kevin

 

[3Lfarms]

I put 65 gallons of WW fluid in each of my rear tires. If you go that route, I suggest you find out who sells it in bulk to the quick lube places in your area.
A 55 gallon drum of methanol is about $180. Mixed 3:1 with water gets you about -18* of protection.
Best part was delivery was included.

 

[rScotty]

What should I get, beet juice or non corrosive? This may be the same thing and I'm confused.

It sounds like you have already made the decision to put ballast in the tires. But it's not always the answer. It depends on how you use your tractor.

Most tractors will work just fine without filling the tires. It's less stress on the tractor and light weight is kinder to the soil. But adding tire weight definitely allows the operator to work the tractor faster and more aggressively in average conditions.

Also more ballast is not so good working in deep snow or mud - for both of those conditions machines benefit most from larger of tire contact area for the weight plus more traction in the form of tire chains - that is a combination that is pretty much the opposite of adding weight by filling the tires.

I've run tractors for a lot of years now and prefer not to put anything in the tires. A lot of that has to do with the soil that I have. It suffers if compacted. A couple of times I have added extra wheel weights to tractors that just felt "out of balance". Your typical wheel weights aren't as heavy as filling the tires.
good luck,
rScotty

 

[RSKY]

I added ballast to my rears after watching my wife backing the tractor over a small hump in the yard with a stump hanging from the bucket. She went across the hump at an angle and the uphill rear came about 6" off the ground. Scared the pooey out of me. I started screaming at her to drop the bucket and she did. I got on the tractor and moved the stump myself going straight across the hump. That was when the tractor was new and it was the last time I used the bucket without an attachment on.

The tires were loaded the next week.

This is a CK20 Kioti and the rears are small but the tractor does feel more stable with the 3-400 pounds more weight in them.

RSKY

 

[Oldoak]

I believe most owners here and dealers will agree that it is a bigger advantage operational wise and safety wise to have the rear tires loaded than it is a disadvantage.

I think loaded rear tires even make a tractor more stable than wheels weights. Liquid ballast puts more weight below the centerline of the axle which should help make the tractor even less likely to tip over. Naturally, in many situations nothing will prevent a rollovers.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Really, for all the bigger the tractor is I wouldn't worry about compaction unless you are doing a production growing operation. I have rim guard in my 5083E tires (around 800lb/tire) and even with wheel weights(90lb/tire IIRC) its not enough. Once I throw on the 1700lb concrete counter weight or 10' brush hog, the tractor feels secure. YMMV.

 

[Oldoak]

That too! What RedNeckRacin said.

 

[Cavjock22]

I finally got around adding combo water & tire slime to my M 6060 Kubota. i’m in deep South Texas I don’t think freezing should be a problem. I wish I would’ve added the water sooner. The ride is so much better and it handles my offset disk so much better as well. I only added about 50%. The valve stem’s were at 3 o’clock.

 

[Ffphil]

Thanks all, we currently have a 22hp tractor with no balist and it can be Tiiiiipy!!! Way too small for our needs. That's why we are going bigger. Haven't heard too many cons for it, and I don't grow anything so ground compaction doesn't matter. Was thinking of driving it without for awhile then adding later if I feel I need it. But now just thinking of just filling the rears and be done with it.

 

[Jam242ti]

This winter I purchased my first tractor a Yanmar SA 424 with a front end loader. Yanmar specifies tires must be filled by dealer before delivery I had no choice. I am glad they are filled, my property is full of dead or dying mature ash trees and I have been cutting and moving the logs to out of the way spots on the property. The little 424 can lift 1,200 lbs with the loader so the extra weight really helps keep it planted.

 

[FTG-05]

This winter I purchased my first tractor a Yanmar SA 424 with a front end loader. Yanmar specifies tires must be filled by dealer before delivery I had no choice. I am glad they are filled, my property is full of dead or dying mature ash trees and I have been cutting and moving the logs to out of the way spots on the property. The little 424 can lift 1,200 lbs with the loader so the extra weight really helps keep it planted.

Filled with what?

 

[Jam242ti]

Rim Gaurd