Loaded tires?

[ChuckJD50]

I blew a tube on my 50. Gonna replace it and wondering how big a problem it will be to skip loading it and run with 1 tire loaded and the other air only?
'Preciate any thoughts...
Thanks,
Chuck

 

[Mule Meat]

The tires will not have equal traction. So the lighter air only tire will slip or spin more than the loaded one causing it to wear much faster.

Running a loaded tire on the same tractor with an air only one is not something I would do.

 

[Rich'sToys]

Are you farming with it and working it, or is it just a toy?

 

[m16ty]

It depends on what you are doing. It won’t really “hurt” anything as far as tearing up the tractor, but the dry tire side will be lighter.

 

[ChuckJD50]

Thanks, guys! 'Preciate the advice. My ol' JD does several things:
Pull a home made 8' log drag to smooth dirt surface: Maybe 10%
Drag logs 10%
Pull wagon with weekend groceries/supplies/wife across stream - 80%
So I'm figuring the beet juice route is best. Just got to find a tire filling service near me South-Central NY.

 

[Caryc]

If you want to fill it with just water, you can just buy a cheap pump that works on your drill motor and an adapter for the tire chuck.

 

[Jim.ME]

If you want to fill it with just water, you can just buy a cheap pump that works on your drill motor and an adapter for the tire chuck.

New York is not a place I would use just water, unless I wanted to pump it out every fall and back in in the spring. Ice inside a tire is bad.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Thanks, guys! 'Preciate the advice. My ol' JD does several things:
Pull a home made 8' log drag to smooth dirt surface: Maybe 10%
Drag logs 10%
Pull wagon with weekend groceries/supplies/wife across stream - 80%
So I'm figuring the beet juice route is best. Just got to find a tire filling service near me South-Central NY.

I don't know exactly where you are. A friend in Owego just had tire and fluid work done. If that is of interest, let me know and I will find out who he used. I used to be reachable by email through this website. I don't know if that is still available.

 

[Jim.ME]

Thanks, guys! 'Preciate the advice. My ol' JD does several things:
Pull a home made 8' log drag to smooth dirt surface: Maybe 10%
Drag logs 10%
Pull wagon with weekend groceries/supplies/wife across stream - 80%
So I'm figuring the beet juice route is best. Just got to find a tire filling service near me South-Central NY.

Do some checking of beet juice installation cost if you haven't. Windshield washer fluid is an alternative some use. Check your local tire shop there are some liquid ballasts now that may be calcium based but have an additive(s) to reduce the rusting effects if it leaks.

Whatever one uses for ballast (or not), do not cheap out on the tube. Get a quality radial tube. Make sure your rim is clean and smooth to prevent chaffing the tube. Be sure there are no breaks inside the tire if you are reusing the old tire. Calcium ballast is not a problem if the tubes/tires are maintained. Having to add air and/or noticing wetness around the stem are signs tire maintenance needs to be addressed.

 

[Jim.ME]

I don't know exactly where you are. A friend in Owego just had tire and fluid work done. If that is of interest, let me know and I will find out who he used. I used to be reachable by email through this website. I don't know if that is still available.

As far as I know the old email system went away with the software change at the end of 2023. You should use the direct message system noe to send him your email or phone contact info. That message is just between you and him. You could use the direct message to send him the info you are discussing emailing to him, if you chose. It is private like email.

 

[paul]

If it’s a parade tractor and never pulls much it will function.

If you use the tractor the uneven weight will be at least annoying, likely a problem, and if you have a loader or do heavy work could be dangerous.

Glad to see you are looking into replacing the ballast.

Paul

 

[ChuckJD50]

If you want to fill it with just water, you can just buy a cheap pump that works on your drill motor and an adapter for the tire chuck.

Yep. Good short-term fix. Have to go beet juice by November...

 

[Tx Jim]

If you want to fill it with just water, you can just buy a cheap pump that works on your drill motor and an adapter for the tire chuck.

No pump is required to fill tire with plain water. I've filled several tires using water pressure from a hydrant & special hose adapter. One has to turn water off every once & while to release air pressure.

 

[Jim.ME]

Yep. Good short-term fix. Have to go beet juice by November...

Based on what you use the tractor for, another option is to pump the fluid out of the other tire and run without ballast.

 

[m16ty]

New York is not a place I would use just water, unless I wanted to pump it out every fall and back in in the spring. Ice inside a tire is bad.

One of my tractors has straight water in the tires. Of course I’m a little farther south here in TN, but it’s a tractor I don’t use during the winter. I’m sure the tires freeze some (don’t know if they ever freeze solid) but doesn’t seem to hurt anything as long as you don’t try to move the tractor while frozen.

 

[m16ty]

What I do is go to auto repair shops, they’ve always got a bunch of used antifreeze. They have to pay to get rid of it so they are more than willing to give it away.

 

[Jim.ME]

One of my tractors has straight water in the tires. Of course I’m a little farther south here in TN, but it’s a tractor I don’t use during the winter. I’m sure the tires freeze some (don’t know if they ever freeze solid) but doesn’t seem to hurt anything as long as you don’t try to move the tractor while frozen.

Tennessee vs New York, I stand by not using water in NY. Even if not used in the winter, tire/tube damage could occur if tires with water in them froze solid, which could happen in NY even if it does not in TN.

 

[marloweg]

I blew a tube on my 50. Gonna replace it and wondering how big a problem it will be to skip loading it and run with 1 tire loaded and the other air only?
'Preciate any thoughts...
Thanks,
Chuck

I blew a tube on my 50. Gonna replace it and wondering how big a problem it will be to skip loading it and run with 1 tire loaded and the other air only?
'Preciate any thoughts...
Thanks,
Chuck

 

[marloweg]

RV antifreeze is cheep buy in 55 gal barrel you did not say what size tire but it's EZ to get in tire if you can lift barrel with loader and small hose and let it run it with a small hose and a peace of brake line in the valve stem jack the tractor up and fill till it runs out done many that way

 

[Ray,IN]

I vote for -20°F WW fluid. you can DIY quite easily, although slow. https://www.fridayparts.com/blog/liquid-tire-ballast-tractor-diy-guide. If you choose to have it performed on-site, tractor tire shops buy WW fluid in 275G totes now, so it's a lot cheaper than buying 1G jugs.
The valve stem adapter can be purchased off Amazon.