pin hole rear wheel on BX 2370

[vettman]

Walked out to the barn yesterday morning to find the floor covered with a disgusting brownish liguid. A little troubleshooting revealed the brown liquid was the ballast from the left rear tire on my BX 2370. Close examination of the wheel revealed a pinhole that had allowed ballast to squirt out as the pressure in the tire pushed it out. The ballast was beet juice installed by the Kubota dealer when I purchased the tractor in 2016.

A couple of questions: Is it a common occurence for ballasted wheels to develope pinhole leaks? Should I have the pinhole repaired by brazing/welding, or go ahead and purchase a new wheel? Are the replacement wheels on Ebay or Amazon satisfactory replacements? My closest Kubota dealer is 50 miles away.

Thanks

 

[armylifer]

I would replace the wheel if it were mine. If it developed a pinhole in one place, it likely will develop another pinhole someplace else in the near future. Also, if it were mine, I would replace both rear wheels and try a different ballast solution. I use -20 degree windshield washer fluid in mine. If you do buy new wheels, you may want to consider buying the wheels and tires through your Kubota dealer's sales department, not the parts department. The difference in cost through the parts department is almost double, at least at my Kubota dealer.

 

[vettman]

I would replace the wheel if it were mine. If it developed a pinhole in one place, it likely will develop another pinhole someplace else in the near future. Also, if it were mine, I would replace both rear wheels and try a different ballast solution. I use -20 degree windshield washer fluid in mine. If you do buy new wheels, you may want to consider buying the wheels and tires through your Kubota dealer's sales department, not the parts department. The difference in cost through the parts department is almost double, at least at my Kubota dealer.

My new wheel should be here by the weekend. Ordered from Amazon; nearest Kubota dealer is 60 miles away and does not have a good reputation. My selling dealer in NVA closed up shop several years ago. I will use Tractors Supply 0 deg. windshield washer fluid--14 gals. I will replace the other wheel before I have a beet juice mess to clean up. Thanks for responding to the thread.

 

[cthomas]

As far as I know beet juice is not corrosive. If it is beet juice like I use it is purple in color(expensive nail) on the garage floor. Now from my Pasquali tractor experience that had calcium chloride in the wheels that was rusty brown in color when I tried to repair the rims(think about 7 tubes of RTV and 2 tubes) that worked for a couple years. Any chance the selling dealer pulled a fast one? Also any chance you will taste it????

 

[Henro]

Or you could consider keeping both tires and wheels, removing the liquid fill, and having them filled with foam which is even better ballast than liquid because it fills the tire 100%.

I did this on my BX front and rear tires close to 20 years ago and never regretted it. You need to find a tire dealer experienced with foam filling though. I was lucky and found a place that was about 30 minutes drive one way from me.

Just another option that may or may not work for you…