Do I need to worry about ballast freezing?

[m32825]

I'm in Central Florida and I want to ballast my tires with water. How do I figure out if I need to worry about freeze protection? We sometimes get freezing temperatures, but usually not for days on end, and I don't have to use the tractor in those conditions anyway. What's "too cold"?

I know I'll get ribbed for this posting because some of you guys will be like, "Since when does Florida have cold weather? That's not cold weather!", but help a tractor buddy out!

-- Carl

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You can ballast them yourself with water and some dish soap, You are far enough south not to have to worry about a hard freeze.

Me on the other hand, well it's 14 deg. right now and looking like 0 or so overnight.

 

[lsmurphy]

I'm in Central Florida and I want to ballast my tires with water. How do I figure out if I need to worry about freeze protection? We sometimes get freezing temperatures, but usually not for days on end, and I don't have to use the tractor in those conditions anyway. What's "too cold"?

I know I'll get ribbed for this posting because some of you guys will be like, "Since when does Florida have cold weather? That's not cold weather!", but help a tractor buddy out!

-- Carl

You'll have to sustain 32F for 3-4 days or so before you need to worry.

I'm from FL.........you got no worries.

 

[WFM]

I froze my ballast once while ice fishing on a Maine lake in winter of 1980....I never had any children for years after that....

 

[Lil Foot]

I froze my ballast once while ice fishing on a Maine lake in winter of 1980....I never had any children for years after that....

Thanks, I needed that this morning!

 

[ipz2222]

Use some automotive antifreeze with the water to prevent the wheels from rusting. 75/25, water/af.

 

[Bluegill]

Water in tractor tires in central Florida ain't goin to ever freeze!

 

[WFM]

Sometimes Bluegill those poor oranges do get frosted...but I'd guess it would take a good chill to freeze 40 gallons in the tires...

 

[m32825]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

-- Carl

 

[mpmitch1]

will anti freeze help with rust too? I just used straight water. I'm not worried about a freeze but more concerned with rust. Has anyone ever had a rim rust out, wonder how long it will take?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Antifreeze will help a little, but with strait water it will probably take about 30+ years to rust out.
And with the cost of antifreeze, it's probably cheaper to not worry about it.
It the Calcium Chloride that is really hard on the rims.
If your worried about the rims, just put a set of tubes in the tire and then it won't ever ruin the rims.

 

[skeets]

Wofle what the deal with the dish soap?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Dish soap also lowers the freeze point about 5 deg's. and if it does start to freeze it stays slushy longer.

 

[BAP]

I thought you just wanted to keep your rims clean.