Tire ballast choices

[ruger1980]

No, but windshield washer fluid poured on the ground or in any water will disperse or evaporate, it's considered non toxic in that event.
It's really only toxic if you drink it.
Animals are not attracted to it like they are coolant, so that's really not an issue.

That's why it's a good alternative to other toxic non dissipating fluids.
CaCl is actually more toxic to ground and especially bodies of water.

Beet juice / Rim Guard is the only completely non toxic fluid of the list.

CaCl is non toxic and not considered hazardous to the environment. It is considered an irritant to the eyes and skin

 

[pigdoc]

Tire Fill Tools | Rim Guard

Find out how many gallons of beet juice tire ballast you need in your tires. Our Tire Fill Tool has data for over 2,200 different tire sizes.

www.rimguardsolutions.com

I was just quoted $400. for my tires, at 29 gallons per. Looks like you would take 31.

After some dickering, I paid $4 per gallon for the Rimguard I recently installed myself.

On another note, did you know that ONE teaspoon of ethylene glycol, consumed by a cat, is enough to kill it? Happens quickly, within 24 hours. Nasty death, too. The treatment? Everclear alcohol, in the vein. Only works if you get the cat treated within an hour or two...

Dr. Paul

 

[pigdoc]

so how many beet do I have to cook to make my own 'rimguard' ?

Seriously, I believe the raw material is a by-product of the sugar beet industry, which is BIG in North Dakota and Manitoba. It's not particularly sweet or sticky, so I would guess that it's the manufacturing waste after the sugar has been extracted. It probably has no real value, until it's been hauled somewhere. The manufacturers probably have to pay to get it hauled away.

Would be fun to show up at a processing plant with an empty carboy and flip 'the guy' a twenty to turn on the spigot.

Might need to be filtered, though. And, I have heard that it 'goes bad' and gets stinky over time, probably from mold growth...

-Paul

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: CaCl is non toxic and not considered hazardous to the environment.
hahahahaha.... sure KILLS anything green like grass and weeds !!!!
it is good for asperagus though......

 

[mcmxi]

Seriously, I believe the raw material is a by-product of the sugar beet industry, which is BIG in North Dakota and Manitoba. It's not particularly sweet or sticky, so I would guess that it's the manufacturing waste after the sugar has been extracted.

I would describe it as slippery and a little sticky, kind of like antifreeze really. If you get it on your hands, which I have, it doesn't wipe off cleanly with a paper towel.

It would be interesting to know how it's generated. Sugar beet is often ground up and fed to cattle, but if it's going towards sugar production then I would expect it be like sugar cane where the ground up beet is run through a centrifuge to extract the juice. Then there are a number of processes to separate the sugar from the juice. Perhaps the liquid that's left which contains some sugar is what we get in our tires.

I have beet juice (Rim Guard) in both sets of rear tires.

 

[ruger1980]

re: CaCl is non toxic and not considered hazardous to the environment.
hahahahaha.... sure KILLS anything green like grass and weeds !!!!
it is good for asperagus though......

So doesn't table salt

 

[johnjk]

I have CaCl in my B1700 in tubes. Prior owner was in WVA and needed the added stability. Love to get it out since I don’t need it. I did washer fluid in the rears on my B3200 in tubes. No issues with freezing yet. Would have liked to do Rimguard but at the time I had to do an authorized reseller in my area and had no way to get it trailered there and back. If I ever replace the B3200, I’ll get them loaded from the dealer

 

[Selkirk_D]

CaCl and MagCl are used all over the roads around here in the winter. I’m going to see what is in my old tires, and if it looks acceptable, I’ll probably just pump it into the new tires.

 

[jyoutz]

This is what I have that was installed by my dealer. Non-toxic, non-corrosive, and less messy than beet juice. It also has a companion additive that acts like slime to fix minor leaks. It’s also supposed to condition and preserve the rubber.

Bio-Ballast® - EnviroTech Services

envirotechservices.com

Bio-Ballast: The Perfect Tractor Tire Fluid, Just Ask Tractor Mike

Bio-Ballast: The Perfect Tractor Tire Fluid, Just Ask Tractor Mike

hs.envirotechservices.com

 

[6869704x4]

This is what I have that was installed by my dealer. Non-toxic, non-corrosive, and less messy than beet juice. It also has a companion additive that acts like slime to fix minor leaks. It’s also supposed to condition and preserve the rubber.

Bio-Ballast® - EnviroTech Services

envirotechservices.com

Bio-Ballast: The Perfect Tractor Tire Fluid, Just Ask Tractor Mike

Bio-Ballast: The Perfect Tractor Tire Fluid, Just Ask Tractor Mike

hs.envirotechservices.com

How much $$?

 

[Sidekick]

CaCl and MagCl are used all over the roads around here in the winter. I’m going to see what is in my old tires, and if it looks acceptable, I’ll probably just pump it into the new tires.

I'm in an ag district and all that's allowed is sand on our roads.

 

[jyoutz]

How much $$?

IDK. The dealer installed it before delivering the tractor and the cost wasn’t on the invoice. They said they install this on all tractors with a loader as part of dealer prep and it’s easier to work with than beet juice.

 

[jyoutz]

CaCl and MagCl are used all over the roads around here in the winter. I’m going to see what is in my old tires, and if it looks acceptable, I’ll probably just pump it into the new tires.

Why would you use something that’s corrosive to your wheels when there’s many better options?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm in an ag district and all that's allowed is sand on our roads.

That's odd as both CaCl and MgCl2 are fertilizers.

 

[ruger1980]

I'm in an ag district and all that's allowed is sand on our roads.

What keeps the sand from freezing in the pile?

 

[jyoutz]

What keeps the sand from freezing in the pile?

Sand doesn’t really freeze that hard. They use large loaders to dig into the pile and load trucks.

 

[Sidekick]

What keeps the sand from freezing in the pile?

It's under a big round tent structure that keeps it dry. It can be just as slippery as snow on the roads when the snow melts though.

 

[Sidekick]

That's odd as both CaCl and MgCl2 are fertilizers.

But I understand they are bad in ponds filled with runoff that are used for irrigation.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

But I understand they are bad in ponds filled with runoff that are used for irrigation.

Yes they are, they can cause algae blooms.
But it's no more a run off risk than the farmers putting on their fields.
I bet there is a lot of Organic farms in the area that got it banned.

We have highly protected water bodies up here, and MgCl2 was found to be much safer for aquatic life.
But it does cost more to use.

Surprisingly beat juice is a great road deicer, but people hate it where they use it, as it leaves a nasty residue and smell on everything.
They used it here one year and it didn't go over well and was expensive.

 

[ruger1980]

It's under a big round tent structure that keeps it dry. It can be just as slippery as snow on the roads when the snow melts though.

You must live on Long Island or downstate.