Re: Wheel Weights vs Fluid ... is there a difference?

Posted by Bill Smith on October 16, 2001 at 17:56:08 from (128.242.4.59):

In Reply to: Wheel Weights vs Fluid ... is there a difference? posted by Alberta Mike on October 15, 2001 at 21:23:50:

That is a funny set up to have a tractor with different forms of wheel weight on each side. I can only really see two reasons for this. One is that maybe somehow sometime he lost fluid out of one wheel and added a weight to somewhat even it out a little without putting fluid in again. The other reason is maybe he needed more weight on one certain side of tractor while working in a rotational direction on a slope such as mowing banks or waterways (keeping the heavier wheel on the high side). Depending on wheel diameter and weights that are available becomes an issue when adding wheel weights. On larger diameter (larger tires) you would have to add several, say 100 lb weights to each wheel to equal the same amount of weight that you would acquire by adding fluid. If your tire is appropriately filled with fluid the liquid will come up to just below the top of the rim. If at lower level the fluid will begin to go around and around the tire at faster speeds throwing it way off balance. If to much fluid the air will begin to go around and around throwing it off balance as well. An appropriately filled tire just below the top of rim will allow the air to stay at top and fluid at bottom at relatively high speeds for tractors (15 mph and upwards). Lower speeds probably wouldn't allow the weight to be thrown with tire due to centripical force. The air pocket at the top is what gives you the lower center of gravity when using fluid verses wheel weights. Water weighs roughly 8 lbs per gallon so you could figure how much weight fluid would add by estimating number of gallons. If your tire will hold 50 gallons then take that number times 8 which equals 400 lbs. You would have to add 4 100 lb wheel weights to equal the same amount of weight to each wheel if you went with weights versus fluid to achieve the same weight. I believe the biggest advantage to fluid is you can add more weight cheaply to your rear wheels without the hassle of rounding up numerous wheel weights which would be more expensive and have you ever tried putting 4 on one wheel? Not fun. But fluid has its disadvantages too. It is corrosive when allowed to get on metal. When you have a flat you can lose most of it and it will kill out the ground when dumped on it. On a fart around tractor I wouldn't advise any additional weight. If traction becomes an issue I would add say maybe 1 or 2 weights to each rear wheel. If you are going to set up a loader tractor or need maximum traction I would go with the fluid. The weight needs to coincide with what you are doing. No need in lugging around all that weight if you don't need it. I wouldn't do the overkill thing with the weight.

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