epoxy vs calcium chloride

S

strum456

Oldtimer
As much as I hate to put calcium in my new tractor tires / rims, it seems to be the most economical option (dispite the fact that the old ones were rusted away because of calcium that probably leaked out of the tubes for one reason or another over the years). Beet juice is over $3 per gallon. Anti-freeze is not as dense, and is expensive. A set of wheel weights would be about 500.

So, I am planning to put calcium back in them. The new rims have been blasted and have two coats of epoxy on them. I know epoxy is probably better than anything else available, but how well can I expect it to hold up to calcium chloride?
 
no way to tell really. do you have tubes in your tires? i personally have my tires loaded with rim guard which is a beet juice product. what a difference it made. i dont have tubes in my tires. usually there are no tubes so the calcium would just be in contacat with the rim. i really dont know how bad that stuff is against metal.
 
Yes, I will need to use tubes with calcium. It is very corrosive to metal. Usually what happens is you get a flat, or the valve core leaks, your rim gets eaten away from the residue. Im hoping epoxy will protect the rims.
 
First, I have no clue why you guys need beet juice or calcium chloride but if the rimes were blasted and 2-3-4 good coats of epoxy apllied and then let the epoxy cure good, say a week in the sun, it should last a long time.
 
Just had to replace a rim because of the chloride we went with antifreeze/water this time. It is not as heavy as chloride, but it was free, and I really can't tell any difference. Most mechanic shops will be glad to get you all the anti-freeze you can use.
 
For us folks that don't know the first thing about tractors and the like. Why do you have to put a bunch o' stuff in the tire?
 
When you load the tires it adds weight to the tractor without it being carried by the axle. This weight balances the tractor when you have a bucket full of something heavy like dirt. Also adds weight down low to keep the tractor from rolling over on steeP hills.
 
Jim C;13890 said:
When you load the tires it adds weight to the tractor without it being carried by the axle. This weight balances the tractor when you have a bucket full of something heavy like dirt. Also adds weight down low to keep the tractor from rolling over on steeP hills.
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Jim, Thank you for us idiots that did not know the answer to this!!

LOL
Arron called me this morning and asked me why, my answer was, "how the H would I know"
.
Now I don't feel so stupid now, although him and I did figure it was either for weight or to keep the tires from going flat. LOL
 
xjunkie;13886 said:
Just had to replace a rim because of the chloride we went with antifreeze/water this time. It is not as heavy as chloride, but it was free, and I really can't tell any difference. Most mechanic shops will be glad to get you all the anti-freeze you can use.
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Would not a cheap oil be better?
Keep rims from rusting.
Tires from dry rotting.
Won't freeze.
 
Checking mechanics shops for free antifreeze sounds like a good idea!

If not, I am probably back to calcium. Barry, have you ever done salt spray testing on your epoxy?
 
Well enviromentally speaking antifreeze is really bad. You would think oil would be good but really its all about weight. The rim guard is extremely heavy compared to water or oil. Each rear tire of mine has 15 gallons in it. 30 gal total with a total weight of i believe 385 lbs. the rim guard is really the best thing going. I know some guys use windshield washer fluid. Its avail in 55 gal drums really cheap its just not heavy like rim guard is. Its more like water 8 lbs or so per gal.
 
i run antifreeze to stop flats . foam is getting popular for front tires now. mesquite thorns are hell .
 
You are right Jim. Anti-freeze leaking out would be no good for the animals.

The only thing anyone uses around here is calcium chloride. I called 3 different places. The trouble is, I can only put in what the local farm tire places will pump, (unless I figure out how to pump it myself). Whatever I use, I will need over 100 gallons of it.
 
in all my years around them i have never seen a tire leak water and antifreeze. but air alone will leak down in a day or so from a mesquite thorn. i'm still seeing thorns in a pasture that was cleared 10 years ago .
now i do use bio- antifreeze in all the cars i build .
 
strum456;13898 said:
You are right Jim. Anti-freeze leaking out would be no good for the animals.

The only thing anyone uses around here is calcium chloride. I called 3 different places. The trouble is, I can only put in what the local farm tire places will pump, (unless I figure out how to pump it myself). Whatever I use, I will need over 100 gallons of it.
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If you are thinking of using the antifreeze, check you local pull and save type auto wrecking yard. Used antifreeze is cheap in 55 gal drums at ours.
 
Since we race with Methanol, I have access to alot of it that racers don't want after the season. I mix it 1 part to 3 parts water and use it for ballast. This mixture is similar to the ratio used for windshield washer solutions in this area. I tint mine green with food coloring just so I know it is what I mixed. I popped a bead last year while working in the snow and it looked like I slaughtered a leprechaun; green fluid everywhere - lol.
 
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