Tire ballast & antifreeze

[jgh]

20050831

I'm finally going to add wt to my TN90F narrow tractor tires. Those hills on our place are scaring me.

Is it OK to use the new Propylene glycol instead of methanol for the antifreeze? My wife & I have pets and would like to avoid the toxic stuff.

Also, has anyone been told that having fluid in tires makes them more susceptible to impact damage from field hazards?

Thanks Group, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jim

 

[JJT]

Why not go all natural and use beet juice? Do a search, this has been discussed in depth. I also have some hills and had my tires loaded with CaCl 6+ years ago, with no regrets. If I were doing it today, I'd take a serious look at RimGuard, (beet juice). I've had 2 flats and lost a couple of gallons of calcium each time with no environmental issues. Both times I had new tubes put in and the rims were spotless and shiny, 1 leak was a nail hole that slowly leaked for 2+ years. So much for the folks that swear CaCl will eat your rims up in no time.

 

[jgh]

20050831

Uh, not sure about beet juice and there is no one around here that has it (and this is an ASAP project) but I did find Propylene Glycol Prestone antifreeze at Costco for $8 per gal.

Also, my tires are 420/70R-28s, wet service radials. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether I should put tubes in them before filling? My thought is that that SHOULD decrease the impact vulnerability--?? Tire dealer who is coming to do the job says he has not seen a problem with loaded tires and impact damage, but my service guy, a retired NH dealer service manager, feels otherwise.

This may seem dumb, but is the ballast info shown on the Firestone site for BOTH tires or EACH tire? Need to know for buying antifreeze.

Firestone hydroinflation

Thanks!

Jim
Mt Burgha Farm on the Rivanna
ca. 1787

 

[wushaw]

Windshield washer fluid is under a buck a gallon and the winter blend goes down to 0deg.

 

[KentT]

That Firestone info is for each tire...

 

[jgh]

20050831

Hey, thanks, KentT, sorta figure that had to be the case. Do NOT want to handle these tires after they get loaded, at least without a crane!

Thanks, Wushaw, it would be good to go cheaper, but zero and below is not unknown here, so apparently our ww fluid is more expensive--good brands cost $4 or so per gal, though cheap stuff is a lot less.

If methanol is to be the product (main comp of WW fluid, though euro ones are ethanol--mmm, good /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif), then the tire dealer's $4 per gal seems like a good one deal (dilutes 1:4). It's just that some counsel against methanol like they do Ethylene G. Poison!

BTW, the Costco folks were all wet--their Prestone product was ethylene NOT propylene g. My alert wife read the label when she made a stop to pick it up. Thank you, Annie.

I broke down /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif and wrote to RimGuard, and will call the Co-op tomorrow and see if they can sell it. Time is of the essence!

I'm still open to more suggestions and advice of course. Anyone hear of Counterweight Blue? Seems a bit light (c. 8.5#/gal as diluted) compared to some.

Counterwt www site

Jim
Mt B on the R in VA

 

[Davo]

Hey Jim i have the beet juice in mine and was told it's about 9lbs. per gal. won't freeze and is not hazardous to the environment. All those are big assets for me. good luck.
Davo

 

[jgh]

20050831

Davo & JJT what did you pay for RimGuard per gal, and what dilution did you use? IE, what is the cost per gal of liquid in the tire including water and antifreeze?

There was some implication on the RimGuard site that it is supplied full strength.

J

 

[Soundguy]

I'd go with a tube and cacl, ww fluid - no tube needed.., or eco friendly antifreeze.. no tube needed.

My tires are loaded.. I have run over my share of stumps and rocks.. no damage.. nails still do the job though!

Soundguy

 

[KentT]

I've loaded several sets of tires with WW fluid or marine/RV antifreeze. I've just loaded all 4 on the Power Trac with WW fluid, and added Hydro Seal leak sealer...

It's really too soon to tell for sure, but I'd had 2 flats within one week before, and haven't had any in the 3 to 4 weeks since....

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Keep us posted on the Hydro-seal! I do a lot of work for a horse farm close to the house. They have a bad habit of leaving fence boards (with nails) laying in the weeds. I've got 4 flats there already this year. Sure would like to have a saftey net /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I use windshield washer solution. I have for years. The biggest complaint I had with Cal Cl wasn't rusted rims, although I have had that problem. When you get a puncture in a filled tire, the fluid sprays everywhere. When I used to use Cal Cl, I had rusted fenders, rusted, well.... EVERYTHING.

I bought 55 gallon drums of WW solution through a local NAPA store. It was less than $.60 a gallon that way. (3 years ago) My 16.9X30"s take 72 gallons each. That got ridiculous when buying 1 gallon jugs at Walmart. (Imagine how many shopping carts full of gallon jugs that'd be! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

 

[jgh]

20050902

Talked to Phil at RimGuard last PM. He has no dealers in our area and shipping in is prohibitive for LTL loads like a couple of 55 gal drums. I also noted that his selling cost of $3? per gal as used is kinda high compared say to methanol ($4/gal but each is diluted with 4 gals H20). It actually is on par with propylene glycol if you figure it as used (and you don't pay for shipping water).

WW fluid is mainly alcohol (prob methanol) anyway, so I suppose we will go with methanol. I'm not messing with CaCl2, sorry guys. That stuff is really corrosive as some have related.

Thanks for all the tips and stories. The thing about naily boards is incredible. Every carpenter I have ever worked with has stressed never setting down a board with out "safetying" the nails if any.

What worries me is what happens if I have to handle one of those loaded tires in the future, each with an xtra 500# or so /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Tomorrow never comes, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just bought a 1033 stackwagon, going to bale and learn Sunday-Monday! There's another thing I hope never breaks down! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

J
Mt B on the R in VA

PS--tell us more about Hydro-Seal, not familiar with it.

 

[anthonyk]

Hey soundguy, if freezing is not a concern, do I really need to add anything other than the water?

anthony in Houston.

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue">...if freezing is not a concern, do I really need to add anything other than the water? </font>

I know a couple NH dealers in nearby Calif that use water alone, it doesn't freeze in those farm areas. If I lived in a warm climate I sure wouldn't mess with anything added. Plain water will also be a little heavier than WW fluid (but still lighter than CaCl) but its still pretty heavy and sure cheaper with no toxic issues.

 

[Soundguy]

In florida I've had tractors with plain water loaded tires.. but every once in a while it will freeze long enough to get more than slush in the tires. A couple pints of rv antifreeze will make it slush unless it freezes hard or long.

Soundguy