Tractor (tire) help please?

[Vandy]

I have a Kubota LA2250 and a problem with one of the rear tires. The tire has been going for a while now and at this point barely holds air long enough to drag one arena, and the rubber is now "bubbling" like it does when it's about to blow completely.

It would seem simple to get a new tire, no? Well it's apparently not. The tire is filled with some liquid stuff that the nearest place to do this is 1.5 hours away. Apparently the whole tractor has to go there (transport? how?) for a few days to get this done. Is this really how it works? Would it be wrong to replace it with just an air-filled tire rather than the liquid stuff? And if that's okay, is it something that can be done on-site? This seems way too complicated and expensive, not to mention that the barn will pretty much stop functioning normally if we lose the tractor for days on end.

Any info appreciated, thanks!

[baytraks]

The liquid in the tire is calcium, and it gives it weight. You want to get advice from someone who knows your tractor and how you use it before giving up the calcium.

We have done this two ways. One, take the calcium filled tire off the tractor, load it onto a pickup with our forklift, drive it to the tire place for service. Two, have the tire place bring a truck to us and service it on the farm. Two was worth the small extra charge! Call around and ask about options, and good luck.

[MikeP]

Depends on what other chores this tractor is expected to do. I run my tractor (Ford 3930) with air filled tires. If I'm going to do some heavy plowing or logging I'll put water in the rear tires, then drain them before winter or when I'm through needing the extra weight, whichever comes first.

There is no reason, other than traction, that tractor tires need to be filled with anything other than air. Certainly dragging an arena shouldn't require a lot of extra weight.

[mares tails]

The liquid in the tire is calcium

Actually, it's a solution of calcium chloride in water. In addition to adding weight, it won't freeze like plain water might.

some info (http://www.ytmag.com/articles/artint138.htm)

[Vandy]

Thanks so much for the info.

FWIW, we also use the tractor (front end loader) to move about 600lbs of hay per load up a fairly steep hill a few times a week - would that require enough traction to warrant calcium? The road is mostly gravel, if that matters, and rarely gets muddy. Other than that, it's used for dragging arenas and spreading manure. Air seems much simpler - however, only one tire is being replaced so would it mess up the balance to have one rear air tire and one rear calcium tire?

I did find a place about 45 mins away that can replace the calcium solution at their shop, but as far as hiring a rig to come service it at the farm, it seems that air is the only option.

[Tom King]

Any place that sells and installs tractor tires can pump the fluid out and back in the new tire. Some have portable trucks since a lot of tractors are too big to take in with a flat tire nad have to have a tire changed in a field. It does cost a lot more if they come to you but sometimes it's the only option. My flatbed gooseneck has long since paid for itself in not only moving hay but tractors when I need too.

Yes, it sounds like you need "water" in your tires. I wouldn't want a tractor with a loader without "water" in the back tires. My 70 hp John Deere has almost 55 gallons in each rear tire. You can always keep something hanging on the back of it but sometimes you need the loader without anything on the back.

[Equibrit]

You can buy a gizmo to fill the tyres here; http://www.gemplers.com/tech/tire-liquid.htm
You'd need a scale to even up both tyres.

[CatOnLap]

wow very useful info. we just took delivery of our John Deere 2305 this morning and it is awfully light, but apparently has air in the tires. It wasn't a problem with the front loader, we moved tons of soil with it this afternoon.

[goodhors]

When my rear tractor tire died, the tractor tire folks came out to fix it. Old tire had been filled with chloride, but the sidewall split, leaked chloride out. I soaked it up off the cement floor with cat litter, got rid of that seperate.

Told the guy about my problems, what size tire and tractor we had. He came out with stuff to try putting in a tube or sleeve to reuse the old tire. Chloride had eaten off the inside of rim, so he was not going to be able to seal the tire back on that rim. Bad split in sidewall of old tire was not going to allow sleeving or tube to fix it for use again.

We ended up with us getting a new rim for the Ford 8N at the tractor store, while he went back to the shop, 30mile one way, getting a new tire, trailer with fluid to fill it. He mounted the new tire on the new rim, filled the tire with beet pulp juice!! He said they don't fill with chloride anymore. They get no corrosion to the rim, using the beet pulp water, no contamination if tire should get split or break the seal, leaking the fill out. Seems just as weighty, we did not notice any freezing or driving problems over last couple winters with extreme cold temps.

My Ford 8N is small for a tractor, NEEDS the weighted tires for drive power in mud and deep snow with chains. Needs the weight for jobs we use tractor for.

I SURE would want weighted tires on anything with a loader in front. Still might add some weights behind, if moving heavy things. You don't ever want tractor light behind, with a loaded bucket. Not familiar with your tractor model, but would leave tires filled all the time, if tractor with front loader, was mine.

Alternative tire fillers are now available, you might want to ask about them instead of using the chloride. As mentioned, the beet pulp water has worked out fine, can't tell any difference from chloride fill, in using the tractor. I would not consider filling my tires with water, then emptying them again. Sounds like lots of work and I need the filled tires all the time.

[Equibrit]

Mine have H2O and anti-freeze.

[Tom King]

I don't know what mine have in them. The tractor was used when I bought it. I wore out the set of tires that were new on it when I bought it. I watched the tire place pump them out and run the stuff in a barrel. They put the new tires on after checking the rim- didn't take those off the tractor, and pumped the stuff back in the tires. Their pump was powered by their pressurized shop air and I was really surprised how fast they put almost 55 gallons in and out of each tire.

[equusus]

We just had 2 new rear tires put on our International 1066, they are huge! Anyway, we had them filled with Calcium Chloride, they have always been filled with that, but they have tubes, so the rims are fine. We have a loader on the front, so any extra weight on the back is good.
The tire guy had a service truck and did it all in our driveway. But we are in a farming area, plenty of business for farm tire guys with service trucks!
april