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Fluid filled tires - do you use them?

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charleyfarmall

10-30-2006 03:52:48

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I am looking at a new tractor. Weight with loader and Cab is going to be around 8000#. It going to be used for general farm work. No big plows. I do have to mow on hills up to 15 degrees.

That"s a pretty heavy tractor. Especially when the ground is getting soft. Should I still put fluid in them? Why. I have fluid in my small tractor ( ~5000#) but don"t know about the need to use it in a big tractor.
TIA
Charley

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Leland

10-31-2006 02:38:43

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Instead of spending the money to fill the tires with fluid ,why not just build a 1-1500lb weight box for the back set up for a quick hitch so you can drop it when not needed . I have done and gone many places with a 706 with out fluid and never had problem one yet

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John A.

10-30-2006 20:43:06

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Charlie, It would have been nice to know which IH tractor you are setting up before we make our coments! So...I side with Harley and Rusty here on this one! There is no reason not to set you tractor with ALL CAST wt. First of all it is Cheap! No need of extra charges from tire companies when you have a flat. that will be each and every time you have aq flat.
With a little looking you can get up to about 1400 lbs on on EACH rear corner. That is in the 2800 lb neighborhood for you tractor.
That is putting about 700 lbs on the inside and outside of the wheel. My 966 has one 750 lb wt on Each rear corner, mounted outboard on the wheel.
The 4230 we aquired 3yrs ago has 3, 110 lb wt mounted inboard, w/ 3 JD wts mounted outboard on the wheel, + - 780 lbs of on each rear corner. This JD came with liquid ballast, and 2 JD wts but we needed to put new shoes on her and we did away with the liquid. We paid less than $80 for the inside wts and one set JD wt. That was about 960 in total wt for $80.
Later,
John A.

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CharleyFarmall

10-30-2006 14:03:17

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? - Thanks in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

That"s the response I was looking for. Thanks everyone! BTW - 4wd is a must on our farm anyhow. The baby McCormick is perfect for the small jobs, I am looking at a bigger one for the rest.

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paul

10-30-2006 10:58:05

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

With a loader, you need the fluid & probably then some yet.

Got a Ford 7700 tractor, it came with fluid in all 4 tires. That'sa a lot of weight. No loader. Wondered about that. Over the years:

When plowing in my clay, I can still lift the front end up.

It has more traction for field cultivating with singles than my unweighted TW-20 does with duals in the right conditions.

I now run a round baler on it, big 5x6, sure feels stable on the road & water ditches.

Pull 500bu of grain with it to the elevator, sure is nice to be able to start - and stop - with it.

Run a backhoe on it from time to time. No problem, even without a loader.

Haul the round bales on the back of it from the 5x6 baler. Nice & stable.

Turns out 25 years later, the fluid in all 4's on a big heavy tractor is a good thing - even without a loader. I'm sure I wore a set of tires out quicker because of the fluid, but - I got the work done that might not have too. One front tire is still original on it. Original fliud in it. The rears are tubeless. Take care of your stuff, & the rust will be minor compared to the work you can do.

With a loader, you need weight on the back, the more the better. Fill them 75%, and look for weights as well. Anything less is foolish.

--->Paul

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10-30-2006 10:30:14

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Weigh that sucker down. Put fluid in the tires so it will stay grounded with that loader hanging off the front.
Matthew

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JaredM

10-30-2006 10:12:13

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

What about that Rim-Guard stuff. Supposedly it doesn"t rust out rims, goes to -35F, and weighs 10.7 lbs/gallon. I have seen it in magazines looked at their site. I think it is more expensive than calcium but maybe less than the cost of new rims and calcium. Hadn"t seen it mentioned yet so I thought I"d throw it out there. JaredM

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iowa_tire_guy

10-30-2006 16:15:07

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to JaredM, 10-30-2006 10:12:13

I have been selling Rimgard for a little over a year and have had good reception. It stinks and is sticky but once it is in the tire and everything is washed up then that doesn't matter. My biggest customers for it is new tractor dealers because I don't have to put a tube in since it doesn't rust the rim. I sell it for $2.50 per gallon so depending on how much weight you want you can figure the cost. A 18.4-38 tire uses 80 to 100 gallons to fill up to valve stem. It is much cheaper than cast iron painted whatever color.

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135 Fan

10-30-2006 10:06:39

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

If you put fluid in get new tubes with new valve stems. Calcium mixed with water has been used for eons. The amount of rims that have been rusted away are small compared to the number of rims with calcium in them. If the people that had them would have repaired them when they first saw them leak, they wouldn't have wrecked the rims. The only way the calcium can corrode the rims is if it leaks. Calcium is used because it offers freeze protection and is much heavier than just plain water or some kind of antifreeze. You want extra counter weight with a loader, no matter how heavy the tractor is. A full bucket on a strong loader takes a lot of weight of the back tires. Hope this helps. Dave

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Lou

10-30-2006 10:06:27

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Here is my 2cents. Yes you need to fill tires on a loader tractor. I just bought a new tire tube and rim for my MF 50, did it myself, right around $700. befor I get it filled. My brother had the man with the truck come out this summer, tire tube and rim for a MF 135, slightly larger tire, $1600, what is going on here?

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Don-Wi

10-30-2006 09:47:39

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

It's a loader, put fluid in the tires. You're gonna be working on slopes, put fluid in the tires. It's a big tracotr, most likely with a high center of gravity, put fluid in the tires. That's 3 strikes.

The advantages of fluid out weight the disadvantages.

We rented a few tractors from the dealer with a 9 shank chisel plow, big MFWD tractors. Only problem was they didn't have fluid in the tires yet. The tractor had plenty of power to pull it, but the tires would constantly be slipping instead of pulling. If you are working on any kind of a slope with a weight behind you, like a big haybine or a heavy manure spreader, it'll push you around on corners etc.

We use a 14 ft. Hydra swing behind our Massey 285 with loaded tires. In some feilds it'll push it around some on corners. We also use the Oliver 1855 with loaded tires in the really hot months because it has a canopy over my head to keep the sun off. It weighs about 4,000 more than the 285, so it doesn't get pushed around nearly as much, if at all, and it's got worse tires.

Donovan from Wisconsin

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sd pete

10-30-2006 09:18:47

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Need fluid in a loader tractor.

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Shep Va

10-30-2006 07:46:45

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

I am probably different than most here, but we use Calcuim in almost all our tractor rear tires and get along fine with them. I would not think of having a general field tractor on the farm with out fluid in the rear tires and mostly on the loaders. Most of our tires are radials and are too big and dangerous for me to fool with, so we call the service guys anyway to change and fix them. As long as you watch the valve stems for leaks, and fix them if they start leaking there should be no problem.

If you do manage to cut one down, put the cut on the top, jack the tractor up to take the weight off the tire, call the service guy to fix the tire, and wash the rim with water. At most it will tear some paint off the rim, repaint if it is bad and move on.

Think about it this way, rear tires are around $700 each for 18.4 x 34 Titan Radials I just put a set on a 1655 Oliver tractor. The rims are $125 each and unless you really have a bad leak, should last 20+ years before they rust out. The 1655 I just put tires on has had calcium in it for 30+ years and I just put new tires on the factory rims again. Maybe next set of tires I might have to change them out. So I dont see the big deal. I like the weight and Calcium does the job for us.

How do you guys keep from getting the rear end of the tractors pushed around without fluid and radials??? For example, going down hill toward the edge of the field, on grass, with a tandum manure spreader with a 2wd tractor. Maybe everyone else has bigger tractors than I do or 4x4 tractors. I get shoved around with the radials and the fluid, I cant imagine running without.

OK, I know this is unpopular, so chew me up guys..... .

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buickanddeere

10-31-2006 07:37:54

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to Shep Va, 10-30-2006 07:46:45

135 Fan and Shep Why spend the time effort to keep watch over a potential problem then have to deal with it when occurs. That mentality would get you fired from the aviation or nuclear industry in a few minutes. The best way to deal with a problem is to just get rid of the situation. Yes I know it's great being a hero, being smart , skilled and fast enough that calcium chloride doesn't ruin your equipment while others suffer corrosion. A quick tour through any tractor salvage yard will show almost every rim that had had salt water/calcium chloride in the tires is rotten. If money is the issue. It's cheap and fast to get a couple of round forms, some quality bolts, some welding rod , re-rod and make concrete wheel weights. As previously stated a puncture in a dry tire is no big deal compared to a liquid ballast tire. As for traction? For those still running out dated bias tires and excess ballast. How about reducing equipment stress, wasting fuel hauling extra weight and loosing crop yields due to extra soil compaction. Using some decent radial tires and less ballast is a hands down winner .

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RodInNS

10-31-2006 19:18:31

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to buickanddeere, 10-31-2006 07:37:54

I've got nothing against cast iron.... In fact, I'm quite in favor of using it for ballast. The only problem I see is that it's expensive, and it's hard to get enough of it on some wheels without conflicting with something else. Alas, good old CaCl comes to the rescue. It's cheap and readily available. The only wheels I've lost to CaCl were due to leaks that were not repaired but allowed to leak for extended periods of time. Come to think of it, manure was a far bigger factor than the CaCl... and I've lost quite qa few wheels to manure, with no ballast in them. The vast majority of the wheels I've got, and most people around me have seem to stand up for many many years. In some cases I've got a full set of suitcase weights up front along with loaded fronts. Gotta have it sometimes. The cast gets fired off when it's not needed. CaCl is a fact of life for some of us, and when used properly, it works well.

Rod

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buickanddeere

10-30-2006 06:50:47

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Loader tracors are a separate catagory where sometimes fluid filled tires is unfortunate fact of life. If you purchased a loader tractor without M4WD, there was a mistake right from the start.

1st choice is a whack of cast weights and radial tires. 2nd choice is fluid in the tirs but not that rim rotting calcuim chloride. Beet juice or windshield antifreeze or even industrial ethanol and water. 3rd choice. Rotten rims from calcuim. My 1640 bought from my cheap Uncle needs the tires removed, new valve stem holes drilled and the rust holes/pits epoxy painted over. No valve stem seals 100% against salt and the calcuim creeps out over the years.

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jddriver

10-30-2006 08:28:13

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to buickanddeere, 10-30-2006 06:50:47

I agree 100% Calcium is not good in my book

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Allan In NE

10-30-2006 04:17:34

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to charleyfarmall, 10-30-2006 03:52:48

Charlie,

You say the tractor has a loader. Fill 'em up.

Allan

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R. John Johnson

10-30-2006 05:31:17

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to Allan In NE, 10-30-2006 04:17:34

I'm with you Allan. If that tractor has no FWD I would also hang cast weights on it. Trying to move with a heavy load in the bucket and the rear tires wanting to leave the ground makes you a believer fast.

John

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the tractor vet

10-30-2006 05:46:16

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to R. John Johnson, 10-30-2006 05:31:17

One can never have enough on the back of a loader tractor.

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Harley

10-30-2006 07:02:09

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to the tractor vet, 10-30-2006 05:46:16

I'm gonna go the other way here. I absolutely detest liquid in tires. IF you ever have a flat, and you are going to someday, they are a MESS to work with, And usually you have to have a service truck come out and fix them, and even if you never have a flat, that calcium will EAT rims. I have a Westendorf TA26 on an M and I have 4 big weights on each side, and 2 sitting on the drawbar. Down here in the hills of southwest Missouri, I get along just fine. As with any equipment above the center of gravity, you have to have common sense, i.e. you don't run the Indy with a bale of hay up in the air, but I feed all winter, lift untold amounts of different things around the farm, and feel very safe with my rig. However, that said, like the vet said, you can't have too much weight on the back of a loader tractor.

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the tractor vet

10-30-2006 19:17:53

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to Harley, 10-30-2006 07:02:09

Well myself i do not have a problem with loading a tire and if ya get a leak ya fix it and clean things up and i have fixed more then my fair share of leaking tires . Ans as for ALL of our TILLAGE tractors they are loaded as to get the same amount of weight on the rear we would be knocking fence posts out , bad enough that we leave the dual hubs on and they stick out far enough . On my old 450 Diesel loaded tires were not enough weight and during tilliage i would run 5 do nuts on the land side and 4 on the farrow side . When i went to the 706 it was not loaded at first and i had 7 set on donuts on her and still did not get it locked to the ground till i loaded the tires and when i put the 2000 loader on her i end up with 10 sets on the wheels also and at time while handeling equipment she got real light on the back . And so ya eat a set of rims big deal they make then all the time and it is only money . Alot cheaper then haveing a tractor lifted off ya or the price of a coffen .

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RustyFarmall

10-30-2006 10:34:59

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Re: Fluid filled tires - do you use them? in reply to Harley, 10-30-2006 07:02:09

Harley, I'll take your side on the fluid filled tires.

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