Filling Tires With Liquid Ballast

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To fill a tire, jack up the wheel and turn it so that the tire valve is at the top. Remove the valve insert and screw water valve onto valve stem. While the water is entering, air escapes through lateral bore in water valve. Stop filling tire when water drains from vent hole of valve. Filling a tire takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on tire size. Then screw in air valve and pump up tire to the normal inflation pressure. The quantity of liquid ballast required varies depending on tire size and type. If in doubt, consult your John Deere dealer or tire manufacturer.

If low temperatures are expected, an anti-freeze solution should be used. Tire manufacturers recommend a mixture of water and calcium chloride.

The anti-freeze solution may be sucked from an elevated tank. To speed up the filling operation, a pump may be used (flush pump with clear water afterwards). To provide protection down to -25°C (-13°F), dissolve 34 kg (75 lb) of calcium chloride in 86 liters (22.7 U.S. gal.) of water to obtain 100 liters (26.4 U.S. gal.) of anti-freeze solution. This solution produces an increase in weight of 120 kg (269 lb). Add calcium chloride to the water - not vice versa. Do not fill radiator with this anti-freeze solution.

NOTE: On tractors with 50 km/h (31 mph) transmissions, filling tires with liquid ballast is NOT recommended.