DIY How To Add Tractor Tire Ballast Weight

[@LarsDcCase]

I personally have quit using fluid 35 years ago in tires in any tractor. It is much easier to fix a flat tire when it doesn't have any kind of fluid in it. Most people around here all have gone to tire weights a long time ago , and so have I.

[@prow6586]

Good video on filling the tires. LOL I have 40 or 50 gallons of RV antifreeze sitting in the barn waiting for me to get off my duff and do exactly what you did. Now that you've shown how easy it is I'm going for it later today. 🤠🙃

[@BaznastyDave]

Thanks pal 👍

[@ramyswar296]

Thanks a lot! I need to do this but didn't know how. Now I know.

[@projectswithjw]

That drill pump is cool!

[@robert5]

I bought a harbor freight one and like it a lot.

[@KRShields]

Ive filled so many kioti tractor tires in my day. Started using calcium chlorine snowmelter then switch to sweet beet juice rim guard.

[@BaznastyDave]

Yep, my uncle worked for the state and they used to use the Calcium Chloride beet-juice mix in the state salt truck sprayers for snow but the CC ate away at the lines and nozzles so fast. They quit using any kind of beet juice a long time ago due to cattle and animals standing in the road and licking the beet juice spray.

[@kend.73]

Is a couple of things to take caution using washer fluid. There are properties within that are caustic. Also can eat on rubber, so your valve stem will be the first to fail. Some of your cheaper variations are heavy on the water and will freeze in the winter. As a suggestion, I would not leave in tires year round.

[@BaznastyDave]

I live in NC, lowest it gets is single digits and the stuff I put in is supposed to be good for -20* F. I agree, you should make sure the fluid matches your climate for your area.

[@Justthemow]

Pretty sure the lines that go from the washer fluid pump to the jets on your hood are rubber buddy

[@kend.73]

@Justthemow referring to the core in the valve stem, not the tire. If the little itty bitty seal gets damaged, you can lose all the air from tire. And it not being the same size or thickness as the rubber tubes from washer pump on a car.

[@CVP100]

Windshield wiper fluid only weights 7.5 lbs. Beet juice is expensive but weights around 15 lbs per gallon.

[@BaznastyDave]

Yeah I would have liked to get RimGuard but the closest dealership was 4hrs one way. I wish they would ship the stuff.

[@Jtwizzle]

15? Give me some of that. Its 11lb/g. Good stuff but expensive.

[@04sti20]

So using washer fluid won't corrode the rims?

[@04sti20]

@Joe-y1d2y great, thanks!

[@roadrunner3563]

Some tractors specify the valve at 45 degrees (fill to that level) then top up to 12psi with air.

[@BaznastyDave]

I guess if you live on a very hilly place that would be better. Lower center of gravity.

[@tonyteel]

Couldn't turn tire and valve to top ??

[@ourv9603]

WHY did you choose WW fluid over Rv antifreeze? !

[@BaznastyDave]

No particular reason, local farm supply store had them on sale is the main reason.

[@robertsprafke9376]

A two gallon pump sprayer and antifreeze!

[@anthonytorres9947]

How much air did you put in Where do you buy the valve adapter

[@BaznastyDave]

Hey everything is linked in the description. I pumped it back up to 14PSI.

[@wantsanewvehicle]

Where did you find washer fluid for 2.04/gal?

[@BaznastyDave]

Rural King

[@TomisaLami]

Why are you putting fluid in your tires though?

[@BaznastyDave]

It adds weight to the back. It helps with traction and helps keep the back tires on the ground when you have a heavy load on the front loader.

[@TomisaLami]

@@BaznastyDave ohhhhhhh that actually makes sense. Thank you for letting me know.

[@holland3g1]

Rim guard or bust! All the other stuff will screw up your wheels eventually. If done right it won't be leaking for roadside animals to lick, never heard that before.

[@larrymacdonald4241]

Ballasting tires should only be done on machines with a mechanical drive train, Hydostatic drives, it will kill your machine, it's not made to move that much weight or stop that much weight this is why it is usually done on large loaders, graders etc... and if you are going to do, use beet juice, wont rust rims and wont freeze

[@Justthemow]

You do understand the hydro drive can’t tell the difference between weighted tires and a loaded bucket right 😏

[@WoodyHayes614]

Nothing you said is true. I have a John Deere 4 series, with a hydro transmission. It tells you right in the John Deere manual to add liquid ballast to the tires or you will not be able to lift full capacity on your bucket. Washer fluid is non corrosive and will actually protect the rim from rusting.

[@grinchyface]

Beet juice?? My man making beet moonshine in his tractor tires

[@Jtwizzle]

Genuinely curious where you heard this information? Never in my life heard such a thing, but who knows?

[@Powerstroker250]

I have beet juice in my John Deere 2038R. I used to be a sales manager at a John Deere Dealer. We sold thousands of gallons of beet juice. Company called RimGuard delivered it

[@markbly7062]

Windsheild wiper fluid is highly acidic, if will seriously make your wheels extremely rusty in less that 1 year..

[@lonniechartrand]

I have run windshield wiper fluid in several tractors for several years and NO ISSUES. I buy my fluid in 55 gallon drums.

[@skip7243]

Not nearly as bad as the sodium chloride still in general use!

[@robert5]

DON'T DO THIS: I have a Kubota tractor and I can advise you .... Don't put liquid in your rear tires for ballast. Here is why, the rear tires will now ride rock hard because the rear tire with air is your only spring or rear suspension and with mostly fluid in the tire there is no spring or flex left because fluid does not compress like air. I have a mid mower deck and my rear tires came filled with beat juice. It is HORRIFIC on by back, it hammers my back like a sledge hammer directly to my spine above a crawl while mowing. I found this video while looking for a good way to get this garbage OUT of my tires. I will make a rear ballast holder and mount it up when needed to the rear 3 point.

[@BaznastyDave]

Have you checked the air pressure in the back tires? Are they overinflated? 12-14 PSI should be fine.

[@robert5]

@@BaznastyDave They are at 15 psi. Just so much less volume of air to act as a spring. I guess it probably only matters if you mow frequently with the tractor. My lawn is bumpy so if my back is in good shape it is just irritating. Couple months ago I popped 2 disc in my back. Matters a LOT more now. I have to mow at 3 mph now or I cant take the pounding. I am making a bead breaker and gonna dump that beat juice.

[@neverlookback5922]

Try lowering the air pressure to around 8 or 10 psi. That should help the ride. Your the first person I ever heard say that they wanted to empty their tires

[@iwantosavemoney]

Don’t listen to this guy it is recommended by almost every manufacturer

[@Justthemow]

Thats not how it works even if you fill the tires up completely with water and it’s at 12-14 psi the tires will ride the same as if it was 12-14 psi of air it’s the pressure in the tire that makes it hard or soft not the water or air. Just look at a water ballon it’s soft and pliable but if you fill it up to much it becomes hard and pops let the air down to 12 psi that’s all it needs and you will have a better ride