[MowJoe]

For those of you that went with fluid filled rears, did you use beat juice or something else and why? I ordered a set of wheel weights when I bought the 2038r but they were and are still on back order. Im thinking of just cancelling the wheel weight order and going fluid filled. My dealer uses beet juice which I think os what rimguard is. Local tire place uses methanol which is about half the price of the rim guard. Dealer wants price per gallon and $104 labor to do both wheels. Tire place is a flat $6/gallon.


Cub Cadet Pro Z S148
Zforce SX 48
John Deere 2038r FEL
(2) 80 carts
15 cart
Frontier ss1023b
Frontier af10f
Land Pride QH05 quick hitch
Victory EF 155 flail mower
48” sand filled lawn roller

 

[PJR832]

Beet juice is the most popular by far.
But the best way to figure out cost effectiveness is the break it down as price per pound IMO, like most things in life, you get what you pay for. That's the best way to judge value when looking at alternative fluids IMO.

 

[JimR]

The purpose of filling the tires is to add weight. A typical methanol mix is ~7.8 lbs/gallon. Beet Juice is 11 lbs/gallon.

So while beet juice is more expensive, you're getting more weight per gallon.

 

[rtgt]

I think methanol is about the same weight as water, 8#/gallon. Beet juice is about 11#/gallon.

 

[Jimmy Walker]

Methanol is similar to water weight. My manual said not to use alcohol based fluids. Yours may be different.
Beet juice is nearly 30% more.
Liquid mercury is 108 lbs per gallon. 😁

You're lucky that you have options. I would have to drive 2 hours 1 way to get to a rimguard dealer.

 

[MTB98]

I filled mine with windshield washer fluid. Cheap, easy to find and I can do it myself.

 

[rjm240]

I have filled tractor tires and even zero turn with washer fluid. I wonder if that is the same as the "Methanol" option mentioned above. How is WWF different than the methanol ballast?

 

[JimR]

I have filled tractor tires and even zero turn with washer fluid. I wonder if that is the same as the "Methanol" option mentioned above. How is WWF different than the methanol ballast?

Most winter grades of WWF use methanol. I suspect the only real difference between WWF and designated methanol ballast is the concentration.

 

[dixie460]

My dealer filled mine with water.

 

[green02crew]

I’ve used beet juice, calcium chloride, foam filled and wheel weights.

I currently have weights and beet juice. If I were to do it again I would use weights and foam filled. Never get a flat, weighs more than all other options and you can wear them down to nothing if you want. Only cons are cost and stiffer ride. My fronts now are foamed and rear are beat juice and weights. Calcium chloride is messy and corrosive when you get leaks.

 

[MachoDrone]

Of you have a Rural King nearby, I paid like $2.65 per gallon of beat juice. Some RKs sell beat juice with their new tractors. I bought enough for front and rear tires. I think I paid less than $80 after buying their buckets, bucket lids, and tape. I took it home to do it myself.
You need the tape to hold down the bucket lids.. RK bucket lids suck.

 

[TSK575]

I used Rimguard, dealer included it with purchase of tractor. Rimguard website has a cost and weight comparison between the options

 

[PW1986]

Just get yourself a cheap harbor freight 12volt transfer pump, 2 pieces or garden hose, the slime brand adapter for filling tires and a bunch or windshield washer fluid. I'm guess after buying all that you'll still be cheaper than having the dealer do it and youll have the pump and adapter to use again later

 

[Sharpie]

I'm using a water hose and fill adapter. About $12. I don't have to worry too much about anything freezing as I live in the South. Been using water in tires for 4 decades with no adverse problems.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/slime-air-water-adapter-kit-with-bleeder-valve-1170832?store=1300&cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1170832&gclid=CjwKCAjwu5CDBhB9EiwA0w6sLTxisbyz8rlGcMEQOyJTxXt1MHaNiKT9OpHl8qHgY9712qd5PIOW-RoCxwsQAvD_BwE

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

On my old tractor I did a DIY anti freeze and washer fluid fill.. Like said in post #6, cheap, easy, DIY....

The tractor we have now came with chloride fill in tubeless tires..... Don't like that, but that was how it came..
- - - - -
Rumor has it there is a new product out to compete with beet juice that is as good, cheaper, similar weight, and not sticky..

 

[Boar]

I looked into this and went with wheel weights. My thought process.
Water is interesting if you live in warmer climates, but where is freezes, is not the best choice. Besides, water will corrode the wheels. With expenses increasing I really don't want o degrade components faster. I decided against water.
Anything alcohol based is flammable and fires do start. The tractor would be sitting on gallons of extremely flammable liquid. I have seen combines burnt down, and fires happen on equipment. It's rare, but it does happen. This was not a solution for me.
Beet juice is acidic and likely contribute to corrosion. Nope.
I still wanted to preserve the warranty and insurance on the tractor. My question is the tractor still covered if tires are filled with a liquid, not in the manual. The answer leaned no, so I bit the expense and got wheel weights.
A couple years back, I called about prices on filling the tires with liquid at our tire dealership just down the road, who specializes in Ag tires. When I asked, he laughed, and said he hasn't has someone ask about that in 10 years. It got me thinking.
I am not saying I am right, it's just the process I went through.
There is also the option of counter weights.

 

[PJR832]

Rumor has it there is a new product out to compete with beet juice that is as good, cheaper, similar weight, and not sticky..

Is this the stuff?

 

[dixie460]

I still wanted to preserve the warranty and insurance on the tractor. My question is the tractor still covered if tires are filled with a liquid, not in the manual. The answer leaned no, so I bit the expense and got wheel weights.

Should be in your loader manual. Since the loader is intended to be used on specific tractors, I can't see a problem with warranty on those tractors.

 

[PJR832]

My question is the tractor still covered if tires are filled with a liquid, not in the manual.

Yes, you are not looking in the correct manual, ballasting information is listed in the loader manual.

It's in loader manual.

 

[akadave]

I put used antifreeze in mine. Total cost was about $10 for the hose adapter. It's been in there about 10 years now.