Pumping ballast into tire
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=209586
Printed Date: 07 Jan 2026 at 2:01am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Pumping ballast into tire
Posted By: Clay
Subject: Pumping ballast into tire
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 5:37pm
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I need to pump liquid ballast into the tire on a 180 diesel. Local tire shop wants $50 to show up (a three mile drive) and $75 to pump the liquid into the tire. HIGHWAY ROBERY!!!!!!!!!! Also did not care for the attitude from the guy I talked to at the tire shop. Any suggestions on making an adapter to pump in the liquid? It was easy to remove the liquid but pumping it in might be a different adventure. |
Replies:
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 5:52pm
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Years ago, I used an old, galvanized water pressure tank. I plumbed a hose on to the bottom of the tank and put an air/water adaptor on the end of the hose. I put the valve of the tractor tire on the top and when I had filled the tank, with water, I pressurized it with air to push the liquid in. It might be cheaper and easier to bite the bullet and have the guy pump it in for you. Edit: If you are using calcium chloride, it is very corrosive to anything it touches. If you are using beet juice or windshield wash, you may be able to reuse the equipment later. I don't see why you couldn't use an air/water adaptor on a hose coming out of any kind of liquid pump. You will have to stop periodically to let air out of the tire.
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Posted By: plummerscarin
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:07pm
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$60-75 for a Harbor Freight transfer pump and $20 for the adapter kit from TSC. If you do it occasionally as I do, it may be worth it to DIY. I like the pressure pot system also if you can fab one up. Lots of options... As stated by WF, I pump CC so after the fill, I pump LOTS of clear water when finished. Though not as heavy, has anyone considered the glycol additive used in hydronic heating systems? |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:12pm
| I used the water tank and cleaned up as much as I could. When I tried to use it a couple years later, the tank was full of pin holes where the CaCl had eaten through. |
Posted By: plummerscarin
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:18pm
| It doesn't wash off easily, fer sure |
Posted By: mdm1
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:24pm
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I would agree with the above if you are going to do more but just 1 doesn't sound bad.They have to pay the tech for all of his time(driving etc) the truck the equipment. How long for you to put something together that will work? I'd just have them do it. ------------- Everything is impossible until someone does it! WD45-trip loader 1947 c w/woods belly mower, 1939 B, #3 sickle mower 1944 B, 2 1948 G's. Misc other equipment that my wife calls JUNK! |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:56pm
| I used a small pto roller pump for a sprayer with the farm store tire valve. Just had to adapt a few garden or sprayer hoses. |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 6:58pm
| I would say very reasonable quote from the tire guy! How long you gonna play around trying to do it yourself? |
Posted By: Kenny L.
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 7:02pm
I agree with mdm1 plus when the tire is being pump full there adapter let air out so don't have to stop and when done there adapter put the valve core in before having to remove the adapter so basically two less time for fluid to get all over the place. one more thing get a little of the  on your boots and you can kiss them bye bye and what is your time worth. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 7:12pm
| So, load it on a trailer and haul it to him and save $50 bucks. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 8:51pm
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Though not as heavy, has anyone considered the glycol additive used in hydronic heating systems? I got a 55 gallon barrel of that stuff i would sell, if someone is interested... ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 8:59pm
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I run a tire shop and those charges are comparable to what we charge. Our service truck minimum is also $50. Any service call that’s over 20 miles from the shop also pay mileage for any miles past the first 20. I don’t just have the cost of the truck…but also need to cover the hourly wage for the technician. I much prefer doing loaded tires at the shop. On farm service calls are more a courtesy to our customers than a way to make huge profits. Kip  ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: Clay
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 10:03pm
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I forgot to mention the liquid is in a plastic barrel sitting next to the tractor. Not easy to move, load and unload. I removed the tire and rim from the tractor myself. After I removed and replaced the damaged portion of the rim, took the tire to the tire shop and had them mount the tire with new tube. Well over $160. This charge was labor and the tube. This was reasonable. My problem was the attitude of the guy I spoke with yesterday. Perhaps, he had a hangover from New Years. |
Posted By: Codger
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2026 at 11:52pm
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I buy beet juice by the 275gl tote and use a 1/2" double diaphragm pump without problems. Got all kinds of calcium around here if anybody needs any.
------------- That's All Folks! |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 4:40am
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One of these: https://gemplers.com/products/haltec-quick-fill-tractor-tire-attachment" rel="nofollow - https://gemplers.com/products/haltec-quick-fill-tractor-tire-attachment and a 10-20 gpm pump is about all you'll need... ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 7:11am
| Sounds reasonable and don't worry about the attitude you're doing business not marrying him.To think about it I don't like the Old Lady's attitude sometimes either but so it goes. |
Posted By: nella(Pa)
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 7:21am
put a pump on the tractor pto that can make 10lbs of pressure or more and fill your tire. let out all of the air start pumping in the balast, when the tire belly is gone let out the air and repeat until the tire is full of balast. Why not pay yourself instead of the tire guy! I do all of mine this way. 4020 has a 1000rpm pto.
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DanWi wrote:Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 8:16am
By the time we get done discussing it the barrel could have been hoisted up about 10-15 feet and let gravity do the work...   |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 8:21am
| $160,, hell that aint bad,,,, lot of work in it but theres tricks ,,, |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 8:25am
| Here's how Pete at "Just a Few acres Farm" does it. https://youtu.be/FLb5yxijg6w?si=1_6IwRHNEG8R0y52" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/FLb5yxijg6w?si=1_6IwRHNEG8R0y52 Fluid filling starts about 11:40. |
Posted By: mdm1
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 12:11pm
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I did enjoy watching the video. I had 1 rear tire replaced on my WD-45 this year. Had to have new fluid as the tire was cracked and finally blew while brush mowing. They came out and took care off everything. Not cheap but I really had no desire or the real means to do it. I think your real problem is you don't want to give the guy .05 because you don't like him and you're doing your best to find a way to avoid that. We've all been there. Look for someone else and see what they want. ------------- Everything is impossible until someone does it! WD45-trip loader 1947 c w/woods belly mower, 1939 B, #3 sickle mower 1944 B, 2 1948 G's. Misc other equipment that my wife calls JUNK! |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 7:33pm
Gary that is the funniest thing I've heard this year!!! By the way does your old lady ( I mean wife) read this page??? Lol.
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Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 9:52pm
| $125 and your done. Work smarter not harder. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2026 at 10:51pm
| Pete got that tire a little more full than I prefer. I like air at 12 o'clock high, not juice. |
Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2026 at 6:53am
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you could always get yourself a few sets of CAST IRON weights and not pay the guy you don't like. With fluid in the tire, it's not if the rim is going to rust through, but when. ON the plus side, next time you have a flat the ballast won't run down the ditch ------------- If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere. Real pullers don't have speed limits. If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY |
Posted By: Clayfoot
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2026 at 9:18am
| I used to pump rimguard into newly assembled RK tractors for a time. They use a pneumatic diagram pump and a special chuck. Set the valve stem at 10 or 2 o' clock position, let almost all the air out of the tire (listen for the air leaving the valve stem to change, you can hear the pressure drop when you need to get the chuck on there), then get the chuck on it and start filling until you can't hear the fluid hitting the inside of the tread on the tire. Here, I use a 5 gallon bucket, a sump pump, and one of those slime brand tire fill adapters. I just cut the power to the sump pump occasionally to let the air pressure bleed back through it, but I'm also using RV/marine antifreeze. Rimguard is probably too thick for most motorized pumps. |