Adding liquid ballast to tires

tburch · May 15, 2017

I have a '94 Ford 4830 2WD with FEL. I would like to add liquid ballast to the rear tires. How much washer fluid do I need for each tire? And I'm guessing I will want to install tubes if I don't have tubes already?

Thanks!

Ultradog MN · May 15, 2017

What size tires?
I would use tubes if you use CaCl but if
you yse WWF or used antifreeze I wouldn't
bother with the tubes.

BigDanT · May 15, 2017

Just google adding ballast to tractor tires,you'll find
charts with all different size tires and how much
they hold.

old · May 16, 2017

As per a 801/601 owners manual which should get you in the ball park a 12X28 which is the new 13.6X28 tire holds 38 gallons of water.

tburch · May 16, 2017

I checked my manual. (Duh.)

I have 16.9/30 6 ply tires. Manual says a mixture of 59 gallons of water + 295 lbs of CaCl to equal 785 lbs PER WHEEL!

If I add WWF, I suppose I could just order two 55 gallon drums from the local Auto Parts for $150/gallon.

Does that sound right?

I think I'll also take the opportunity to spread the wheels out too. I recently put forks on the FEL and I'm working with logs around my sawmill.

I often drag logs too. My front tires are 7.50 x 16. Manual says 7.5 gallons + 37 lbs of CaCl for a total weight of 100 lbs/tire.

Since the WWF isn't going to weight as much, do I just put in the same # of gallons as is specified for the H20 + CaCl mixture?

old · May 16, 2017

Wiper fluid is a good bit lighter then the CACL mix but if you get a leak in the tube if you have tube it will not rust the rims out. I just put fluid in my 841S last week and weighed the jug of WWF and it came out to 8.23 pounds per gal. As for where to get the fluid check around you can sometimes find a close out sale on winter grade fluid. I fill my own tires also and use a simple drill pump and most good auto parts stores can get you the adapter you need to hook up the pump to the tube/tire

tburch · May 16, 2017

(quoted from post at 11:20:07 05/16/17) ...

If I add WWF, I suppose I could just order two 55 gallon drums from the local Auto Parts for $150/gallon.

I meant to say $150/drum.

tburch · May 16, 2017

My local tire store said they would do it for $20/tire if I haul the tractor over there. No brainer.

jacksun65 · May 18, 2017

You might check on used antifreeze might be a bit cheaper free even.

tburch · Jun 22, 2017

I added water/WWF to the rear tires. What a difference! However, first use after adding the ~1400 lbs of counterbalance, I blew out a seal on my front right bucket cylinder. Not too surprising though, because this tractor has sat outside since '94 and only had 548 hours on it when I bought it. I took both bucket cylinders off and had new seals installed. Works great now. I'm really impressed with how big a log I can pick up with this thing. It doesn't compare to my old (RIP) C185 track loader, but for the money… it's earning its keep. Thanks for all the suggestions and tips.

old · Jun 22, 2017

If you think fluid helps a lot try hanging something heavy on the 3 point at the same time and your traction will improve even more plus it make it safer to boot. I have a back blade on my 841S and it has 6 85lbs suit case weights hanging on the blade

tburch · Jun 22, 2017

Good idea. As of now, with some of my bigger logs, the rear of the tractor comes off the ground.

I know there's a limit on what can be lifted. I have a Bush Hog QT 2426 FEL, and I'm pretty sure I've exceeded it's capacity a couple times.

Adding liquid ballast to tires

tburch

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Ultradog MN

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BigDanT

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old

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tburch

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old

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jacksun65

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