[AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins

[carl gogol]

Mark-
My son and his wife currently live in a suburb of Akron, Copley.  We had a
nice visit and expect to make quite a few more - especially when the
grandchildren start arriving.  I am hoping as time goes on to find some
tractor related stuff in the area, but it looks like all of the tractor
shows are held in the western part of the state.  I don't know if we will
make it back before Christmas, but they have already said the last time they
will be coming home for a while will be Thanksgiving, Angela will not be in
condition to travel much after that.
Sounds like we should cross paths some time when we are out there again.  or
is there an eastern Ohio show coming up sometime soon?
Carl Gogol
Manlius, NY
(2) AC D-14, AC 914H
Simplicity 3112 & 7116
Kubota F-2400
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Greer" <greerfam at raex.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins


> I work in Akron. What brought you here from NY?
> Mark Greer
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "carl gogol" <cgogol at twcny.rr.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 5:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins
>
>
> > We took a trip to Akron, Ohio soon after posting the original note, so I
> > haven't been around to answer any comments.  Antifreeze in the first
drum
> > tested to -40F (or was it -50?) - it floated all 5 balls in the tester
so
> it
> > was really potent stuff.  Didn't test the second one, it looked a little
> > greener than the first, but that just might have been cleaner.  I guess
we
> > tend to make sure we have plenty of protection in our cars around here!
> >
> > I have one of the fancy transfer valves, but because of the way I was
> > transferring there should have been a shutoff valve between it and the
> > pressure line from the drum.  Then it could work as advertised.  I just
> used
> > it for the adapters.
> >
> > When I started transferring liquid, I was extremely cautious on the
first
> > few pressurizations.  Most of the transfer took place at 3 to 3.5 PSI.
I
> > inched up to 5 PSI at the start of the second drum as it was nearly full
> and
> > had little room for air.  Figured the worse it would do is make a mess,
> and
> > I really wanted to see what it would take.  I don't know what the drums
> will
> > really take since grandpappy never let me real close to the still when I
> was
> > really young :-).  Figured 3-5 PSI had to be pretty safe considering the
> > shock and g forces that these have to take in normal handling and
> > transportation.  Your sensibilities and tolerance for experimentation
may
> > vary.
> >
> > I understand the concern for pets, but my tractors spend most of their
> lives
> > locked in the barn.  If a mouse drinks some, it saves on the costs of
> > Warfarin.  The tires are all in excellent shape and there is very little
> > danger of them leaking any time soon.  It is another risk that I
> consciously
> > assume.
> > Carl Gogol
> > Manlius, NY
> > (2) AC D-14, AC 914H
> > Simplicity 3112 & 7116
> > Kubota F-2400
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "CEE VILL" <cvee60 at hotmail.com>
> > To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2004 8:16 AM
> > Subject: RE: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins
> >
> >
> > > Sure sounds like a good deal, Carl.  How strong did the waste anti
> freeze
> > > test???  Probably at least 20 or 30 below?
> > >
> > > Charlie V.
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "carl gogol" <cgogol at twcny.rr.com>
> > > >Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> > > ><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > > >To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> > <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > > >Subject: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins
> > > >Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 20:12:16 -0400
> > > >
> > > >Last winter I solicited opinions from the list concerning tire
ballast.
> > I
> > > >finally took the plunge yesterday and decided that I had enough time
to
> > do
> > > >the job.  I called up a local junkyard, er recycler, and asked him
how
> > much
> > > >for 90 gallons of old antifreeze solution.  He asked me what it was
for
> > and
> > > >when I told him he commented that, "you don't need good stuff - come
> and
> > > >get
> > > >it - for free"!   I noticed quite a bit of oil on the surface of the
> mix,
> > > >so
> > > >I made up a simple extraction / separation tool with a 3/4" pipe tee,
> > using
> > > >both a Schrader valve for pressurizing the barrel and a tube from
1/2"
> > > >CPVC,
> > > >boring the normal male pipe adapter so the tube could pass through
the
> > TEE
> > > >to within about 4" of the bottom of the drum.  This way I could pump
> the
> > AF
> > > >from under the oil by slightly pressuring the 55 gallon drum.  I
found
> > the
> > > >drums could take at least 5 PSI and then pushed the AF into the
tubes.
> I
> > > >had to disconnect and let the air out of the tractor's tube 4-5 times
> to
> > > >get
> > > >the level to 80% full.  A bit time consuming, but got them both full
in
> > > >about 3 hours.  Got a system down and the second one took half as
long
> as
> > > >the first.
> > > >
> > > >Tried the tractor using the loader and it easily pushed the 6' blade
> into
> > a
> > > >pile of rocks and sod, digging a good bucket load that it just
wouldn't
> > > >have
> > > >been able to do before.  I'm sure Calcium would have done a little
> more,
> > > >but
> > > >this is a huge improvement.  I may go get another 2 drums and fill
the
> > > >other
> > > >D-14 and then take the steel wheel weights and put them on the loader
> > > >tractor too.  I think that will result in a very satisfactory loader
> > > >tractor.
> > > >
> > > >Only one bit of excitement, when I repressurized the first tire, I
was
> > sure
> > > >the valve stem was leaking.  After  putting some air in, there was a
> > > >hissing
> > > >sound.  At first it was very depressing as I thought I would have to
> take
> > > >it
> > > >all out and get a new tube.  I put some more air in and again it all
> > leaked
> > > >out.  I put some more in and it too hissed out!  I put 11 PSI in and
it
> > > >stopped leaking --- It was just air trapped between the tube and the
> rim
> > > >pushing out through the valve stem hole in the rim!  The second tire
> did
> > > >exactly the same thing - it didn't panic me this time.