Liquid BALLAST for REAR Wheels/Tires

[daveoman1966 3,807]

I've worked out a not-so-messy way to pump ballast fluid into rear tires for added weight.  Pumping used Motor Oil into each NEW tire on my Bronco 14 went from 25lb (tubeless...on rim) to 95lb...  gaining 140lb to rear tractor weight. Of course, oil floats & isn't nearly as heavy as calcium chloride or other such liquids, but oil won't cause rust either.  I'll share this TIRE BALLAST.pdf file with anyone who cares to employ this method. 

     

 

TIRE BALLAST.pdf

Edited June 26, 2021 by daveoman1966

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Interesting way to dispose of used motor oil,but rubber tires and motor oil are not compatable.Over time,the oil will attack , soften,and destroy the rubber.It's not even recommended to use any petroleum product as a bead lubricant when mounting and de-mounting tires. The old saying goes "Like disolves like"But.......it's a free country.Do what ya want.I'd just hate to be the next guy to take one of those tires off.

[Tuneup 1,433]

I'm just glad that there is someone else out there that put a shraeder valve on the bug sprayer. A quick 30 lbs and you're on your way! As a kid, Dad would call me over and I got to manually pump it up. It was fun to pump it up and Dad didn't want to deprive me of some enjoyment. That, and I got to turn the hand-crank sharpener for the tractor blades after sharpening candles on it.

It's going to be a messy tire replacement for sure but, yup, cheap and heavy tires. Wally World supplied my ballast in that winter deicer fluid.

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,085]

So if conventional is oil is bad for the rubber…what about used synthetic? 

[pacer 3,175]

28 minutes ago, Sparky said:

what about used synthetic? 

 

Hmmm, that IS a good question!

 

I too have always thought/heard that oil & rubber wasnt too good together, but certainly have nothing to back that up.

[daveoman1966 3,807]

The tubeless tires I took off  my 1972 Bronco 14 ....23x8.5x12.....WHEELHORSE logo...were oil filled and at least 30 years old. The tread was near bald and the external side-walls were dry-rot cracked...typical.  Most of the used motor oil I pumped into the NEW 24x9.5x12 tires came from these 2 old tires. That was easy...just remove valve core and let used oil squirt out into a catch pan. Not wanting to save the old tires, I just cut them off with a sabre saw, then used my pneumatic hammer/chisel to break off the beads.  That old rubber was 'tuff-as-nails' to cut around at the rims, and the beads were too.  So, if true that 'Over-Time' oil will degrade these rubber tires, why did I see virtually no deterioration on the inside of the two tires.  The tractor tires pressure is 15-18lb and ground speed is no more than 7mph or so.  It's not like a 32-35psi car/truck tire that travel 75-100mph highway speeds. 

       

[kpinnc 13,737]

Even if it doesn't eat the tires, I'm thinking you'd have "limited slip" wheels...

[daveoman1966 3,807]

42 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Even if it doesn't eat the tires, I'm thinking you'd have "limited slip" wheels...

WHAT ????

 

 

[kpinnc 13,737]

Tires full of oil? I think the bead would get kinda slick...

39 minutes ago, daveoman1966 said:

WHAT ????

 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

Maybe the oil won't 'eat' the tire formulation of rubber, but it sure does seem that's what 'ate' the motor mount on my Monte Carlo when the front crank seal was leaking.  It was a gooey sticky soft glob of black stuff that used to be rubber.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Maybe the oil won't 'eat' the tire formulation of rubber, but it sure does seem that's what 'ate' the motor mount on my Monte Carlo when the front crank seal was leaking.  It was a gooey sticky soft glob of black stuff that used to be rubber.

 

 

Ya gotta remember,the garden tractor tire manufacturers don't always use the " best " materials for making tires.I've NEVER seen so many dry rotted tractor tires in my life.They're obviously not made to last a real long time.BTW......nice motor mount.I have seen that happen many times.Usually a trans mount from a leaky transmission seal.

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

3 hours ago, Pollack Pete said:

I've NEVER seen so many dry rotted tractor tires in my life.

 

Yes, the newer ones.  The ones I just replaced last year were the original 40 year old Carlisle Turf Saver 2 ply.  The LF cracked radially and even a tube wouldn't save that one.  Hopefully the 4 ply Turf Masters I installed will outlive me!

 

I guess it doesn't make sense to make a tire that will last longer than the newer garden tractors!  

 

I replaced the trans mount also but it was 'high and dry' and could have gone another 200K miles, but that one is a piece of cake compared to the motor mount so I figured what the heck, replace them all, and the 'dog bones' too.

Edited June 28, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Handy Don 13,340]

15 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Yes, the newer ones.  The ones I just replaced last year were the original 40 year old Carlisle Turf Saver 2 ply.  The LF cracked radially and even a tube wouldn't save that one.  Hopefully the 4 ply Turf Masters I installed will outlive me!

Original tires on my '68 Lawn Ranger still holding air and rolling. 53 years.

I agree, though, that expected lives of machines today are shorter so no surprise that newer tires could wear out sooner, especially the "cheapies".