Putting fluid in tires - how?
 

I can't afford chains and wheel weights after everything else I picked up cub related this year. I managed to find a NOS 48" plow for my 1450 and will pick up a set of chains just before winter. Therefore, being broke, I'm going to have to put fluid in the rear tires to add weight. So any advice on what to use and how to do it? I have an old set of rear rims - but I still wouldn't want to destroy them. I've heard of people using windshield washing fuild - but there are different fomulas so I'm wondering what exactly it is (in it) that one is looking for when buying it to fill tires.

Also, any idea on how much a set of rears will take to fill them?

Thanks,

-Calvin

Loaded tires
 

I found this website that said it used beet juice. It is called rimguard. I don't know anything about this product, but it has got to be better than calcium. If you use this stuff let us know, I would like to try it myself. I found this at www.rimguard.biz That is what it says when I click on there website.:bigthink:

I think a lot of guys in here use windshield washer fluid, as it won't freeze and isn't corrosive, but will suggest that you use tubes in the tires to keep the rims from rusting out over time. Hopefully someone that has done this will chime in.

From what I just read on their website is that windshield fluid only weighs 8lbs per gallon (same as water) but rim guard is 11lbs per gallon.

I also have wondered about tubes. It seems to me there would be some condensation inside the rim surface between the tube and rim during temperature changes and that would eat away at the rims. I know the tire pressure would press the tube tight against the rim wall but it just doesn't sound good to me.

Here is a chart to show how much fluid tires will hold and the weight.
http://cubfaq.com/tirefluid.html

Washer fluid will eventually eat the rubber, but it's a slow process...you'll probably wear out the tire before having any issues with this. It will not destroy the rims. Calcium Chloride will destroy the rims. Rimguard is harmless and heavy but expensive, washer fluid is cheap ($0.99/gal at times), RV antifreeze is more environmentally friendly, but more expensive, too. I use washer fluid. Put it in tubes. 1st picture is what happens when you don't use tubes, and the second is what Calcium Chloride does to steel.

Attachment 5058

Attachment 5059

Edit:

Don't worry about condensation between the tube and tire...people have been putting various fluids in tires for many years without any sort of problem like that. There's worse things to worry about.

8.50 tires will hold nearly 5-6 gallons, 10.50s should hold 7-8, but most tubes these days will only let you get 5-6 in. 26-12-12s should hold ~9 gallons or so.

Edit #2:

Even at $1.50/gal, washer fluid to fill a pair of 8.50s costs $18 and weighs 96 lbs. Try finding any wheel weights for that price...

wiper fluid is made up of 32 percent methanol which has a weight of 6.6 lbs per gallon. So with water at 8.32 pounds per gallon that puts the fluid in the 7.6 lbs per gallon. I have 26-12-12 and was able to get 11.5 gallons in each rear and 3.5 gallon in my front 19.5-8.5-8. Total fluid used in the ball park of 30 gallon.

Now how I did it I took the valve stem out slid a 1/4 inch clear line over the tire valve. I used a 80w90 qt container with the bottom cut out to make a funnel. Gravity did all the work. It was very slow process but worth it. I did the rear for when I run the snow blower and the front for the tiller. I had tubes in the front but the rear are tubeless.

good luck

The last four sets of tires I loaded, I put in plain water and about 8oz. of Dawn dishwashing detergent. "They" say it won't freeze unless it gets really cold.

The best I know, the ones I loaded last fall never froze this past wimter.

get a 2 gallon garden sprayer, take the nozzle off (it should have 3/8 hose on). slide the hose over you valvle stem and start pumping. of if you are lazy like me... :biggrin2.gif:drill a hole on the top part of the sprayer and put a valve stem on the sprayer bottle. then just bump it with air when you here it stop pumping. i can post pictures of my sprayer if you want. i put 6 gallons in both of my tru powers in about 15 minutes. half the time was refilling the sprayer...

Slime has a Air/Water adapter kit part # 20073 for $9.99 at Tractor Supply maybe other places that carry their products. Going to use it this weekend.