MF 65 wheel weight vs filled tires

jedagi · Feb 3, 2013

I'm restoring my tractor. I removed the wheel weights to paint the wheels. I use this tractor for gardening and other stuff. I am trying to decide whether to put weights back on or fill the tires. Pulling a bedder or turning plow sometimes calls for a little extra traction.

old · Feb 3, 2013

Fluid in the tires does a better job then weight do because the fluid sits on the tire tread. The wheel weights put the weight on a air bag so you have more bounce so they do not do as well. That said each has its good and bad points.

Deere Driver · Feb 3, 2013

I needed weight for my Massey-Harris 50 when plowing with a 2-16 Massey plow. On my tractor, there are no bolt holes in the wheel centers to mount weights...in fact, the manual suggests adding fluid if extra weight is needed. Previous owner used calcium chloride, which eventually rusted out the rims. After replacing the rims and tires, I installed beet juice. On my 13.6-28 tires, this adds about 450# to each wheel. Best of all, beet juice does not rust and will not freeze. Really does the job.

s19438 · Feb 3, 2013

what's the cost of beet juice vs cc??
thanks.

Deere Driver · Feb 3, 2013

Don't know the cost of calcium chloride, but I paid $310 to have beet juice pumped in both rear tires. Stuff looked like molasses, but will not freeze or damage your rims like calcium chloride. Sooner or later calcium chloride will leak and ruin your rims. Not if, but when. If you're far enough south, where freezing is never an issue, I have heard that some just fill with water.

Dean · Feb 3, 2013

Regarding traction, weight is weight.

Because I change my own tires I never fill tires.

I have weights for just about all of them and much prefer weights to liquid.

Dean

Dean · Feb 3, 2013

Rim Gard (beet juice) is considerably more expensive that CACl, over $3.00/gal + installation when I last checked.

Dean

jedagi · Feb 3, 2013

I learn something new everyday. Never heard of beet juice. @3 bucks a gallon ill use my wheel weights. I'm going to try it without weights and see how it pulls.
Thanks for the replies.

David G · Feb 4, 2013

You should be fine with weights. I run washer fluid and weights on loader tractor, weights on all others.

Gearhead210 · Feb 4, 2013

Iron weights will allow the tire to better follow contours of the ground, and leave a more even footprint (more noticeable with radials). The fluid inside of a tire is non-compressible, and doesn't let the tire flex as much as it can with just air in the tires. For an example just look at any new tractors (Big 4x4 or FWA tractors) sitting in dealer lots- "most" have a ton of iron weights on them, and radial tires that look half flat, but that's just the way theyre designed to have best traction. But, that being said I still have fluid in my old fergies since fluid is cheaper by far

Deere Driver · Feb 4, 2013

You're right about the price. $310 bought 86 gallons for 900# of weight. Figures out to be $3.60 per gallon. I agree with the cast iron weight preference, but my old tractor has no provision for weights.

MF 65 wheel weight vs filled tires

jedagi

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old

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Deere Driver

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s19438

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Deere Driver

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Dean

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Dean

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jedagi

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David G

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Gearhead210

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