WTF happened!

[Harry]

I went to the shop and noticed the 646 on an angle. I walked around the back and noticed a big puddle on the floor and the left rear tire flat. It appears after putting air in the tire whatever was put in the tire for ballast had leaked out on the floor. These tires loaded came on rims that way. It looks clear and feels like water no film on my fingers when wet and rub them together. I mopped up the liquid put it in a container overnight and there was ice on the top today. Could someone have loaded the tires with water? It looks like rusting around the rim has caused leaking around the tire rim seal. Looks like the tire needs to come off and clean up the rim to paint. The reinstall the tire with a tube inside. Harry

[DavidBarkey]

the shreader valve failed . This happens when the wrong one is used for liquid filled tires . What ever was in there was not water or it would have frozen before this . Most likely WW fluid . It will protect from freezing but not corrosion . WW fluid will not corrode bear metal like calcium , but still will over time . Even condensation in air filled tires will rust bear metal .
I recommend you take wheels off empty second tire and take them to a rural tire shop and have tubes and ballast pumped in . I do most thing myself , but that one I have the pro do .

[Harry]

I know today when I aired up the tire in was leaking between the tire and rim. I have no experience with loaded tires before these. Does calcium or beet juice have a color? I know washer fluid is usually blue. I’ll probably take the tires off the rims and install tubes. I have combine wheel weights on these rims, so maybe that’s enough weight for my purpose. Please continue to respond. Harry

[propane1]

And I thought I was having a bad day. I was working on a chainsaw.
I’m just about done with chainsaws.

Noel

[JSinMO]

It could be water. I could see on a tire that size it might not be noticeable if it froze, depending on how much was in it, and how much you use it in cold weather. I don’t know about beet juice, but RV antifreeze has a pink tint, and calcium chloride has a kinda milky look to it. If you get it on you hands it will dry them out and it burns if you get it on a cut.

I agree with pulling the tires off cleaning and painting the rims and going back with tubes. Since you have the combine weights you could just run them and see what you think. You could always get the tubes filled later on if you find you do need more weight.

[Toolslinger]

Straight water isn't uncommon in southern areas. I would doubt anyone up your way did that unless those tires were always in a heated enviroment. They wouldn't freeze up over say an hour while in use, so it would be possible I guess.

Could be a real low concentration of calcium to just prevent freeze, but not so much that it gets that sticky feeling, think ocean salt water. Most of my equipment runs with the calcium, but high concentraion for weight.

Apparently beet juice would have a distinct smell. Haven't been exposed to it yet to know. Probably real sticky too.

Washer fluid always seems to have some kind of color added. Orange, Blue, or Green mostly. Plus you can usually smell the alcohol in it. As mentioned RV anti-freeze is Pink.

[Harry]

At this point I’m guessing water since it started to freeze overnight. I usually do not use this tractor in winter, it stays in the lean to with no heat. I know it’s going to be a messy job but some are like that. I have a manual tire machine and an engine cherry picker to lift the tire and rim up. Again part of the challenge is in planning the job without hurting my body to much. At my age it’s starting to hurt doing all the things I love to do. Harry

[Eugen]

Sorry to hear about that @Harry. It could be that liquid they use to winterize boats and RVs with. It freezes but it doesn't expand. It tends to be even cheaper than washer fluid. Though, it's normally coloured.

[Harry]

I was in a dollar tree store the other day. I see they had WW fluid for $1 a gallon. Tubes on Amazon two for $60. Not sure what route I’m going yet. Still time before I jump into that job. Harry

[FUTZ]

Rim Guard is beet juice. I went to Green Tractor to get Beet juice, I heard it was heavier than window wash. They said they didn't carry Beet juice any longer because it corrodes rim, lol. They sold me Wheat juice. Cost a fortune and was sticky and stinky. I used my neighbour's tire machine and we had to pressure wash it afterwards as it was all sticky (he was pissed). I first put WW in tires 20 years ago, still good, so I'm going to keep using it.