Check air pressure in loaded tires

[Joe Kelly]

Does it have to cost $10 each time I check my tire pressure, that's about what I have to pay for a pencil tire pressure gauge that gets gummed up with my unknown loading fluid. The stuff is brown and frothy. With the valve stem at 12 o'clock I blast air in 2 or 3 shots to hopefully clear the fluid from the valve stem itself. But on checking with the tip of my knife on the valve stem, brown frothy fluid just keeps coming out......grrrrr

Loading was done by a Kuboa dealer so I assume it was done right with the right level and all.

So is there no alternative to expending a tire pressure guage a couple of times a year when I check my pressure?

Joe Kelly

 

[Eric McCarthy]

With liquid filled tires if its low on air theres a whole in the tire somewhere and there would be a wet spot on the ground. I don't believe theres a great deal of air pressure in liquid tires since the bulk of the tire is held up by liquid. For as long as I've been around tractors, growing up around them and having one for 10 years I've never had a low tire without there being a water leak coming from somewhere.

I would think if you really needed to check air pressure make sure the valve stem is up towards the top so so you do get air and not liquid.

 

[300zx]

I had mine filled by the dealer and he only filled them just below the valve stem (at the 12 o'clock position). If you are low in pressure and the fluid has pushed up past the valve stem because the tire is flatter at the bottom, my only suggestion is to jack the tire up off the ground so the fluid settles back down into the bottom of the tire before trying to air it. Then as Eric said, if this happens often, you may have a hole in the tire.

Good luck and let us know how it goes,

John

 

[MagKarl]

Only fix I can think of is to drain some of the fluid. I'm with you though, I don't use my goog guage on my tractor for the same reason.

Eric, fluid filled tires still need the same air pressure. The liquid is just weight.

 

[Joe Kelly]

Thanks, fellows! Great tip to jack up the tractor to take weight off the tire. I will try that!

Joe

 

[skeets]

Hey Joe where ya going with that air gauge in your hand, Im gona down to check my Bouta tires
,,, sorry Hendricks flash back,,,
Joe one more tip when you check air pressure on a filled tire have the valve at 12 o'clock, that way nothing goes in to your air gauge

 

[tempforce]

get one of the gas station air pressure gauges. change the hose with a longer one… with a removable fitting… you will be able to check the air and not plug the gauge. and you will be able to flush, dry the extra length of hose… be sure to make sure you don't let to much air bleed to the gauge without blowing it clear between checking tires...

 

[tiredguy]

Does it have to cost $10 each time I check my tire pressure, that's about what I have to pay for a pencil tire pressure gauge that gets gummed up with my unknown loading fluid. The stuff is brown and frothy. With the valve stem at 12 o'clock I blast air in 2 or 3 shots to hopefully clear the fluid from the valve stem itself. But on checking with the tip of my knife on the valve stem, brown frothy fluid just keeps coming out......grrrrr

Loading was done by a Kuboa dealer so I assume it was done right with the right level and all.

So is there no alternative to expending a tire pressure guage a couple of times a year when I check my pressure?

Joe Kelly

Joe,
locate the special gauge that's sprong loaded that's made for liquid filled tires. Check Tractor Supply or your ag dealer or better yet go to one of the tire dealers in your area and they can fix you up for around $10. You still need to take the weight off the tire by jacking it up then postition the valve at the top ( 12 O'clock ) and give it a shot of air before putting the gauge on the valve stem. Once you're done filling it, take the gauge in the house and using regular dish soap and water put the submerge the valve end in the mixture and pull the gauge part out and let it go a few times ( the spring will pull it back inside ) until you've rinsed it clear. Then rinse it again in a cup of clear water the same way. Put the gauge on a window sill somewhere in the sun and leave it there a couple of days to dry especially in the winter so the water doesn't freeze and ruin the gauge. My gauges have lasted for 10 or 12 years using this trick taught to me by a well seasoned farm tire dealer.
Al

 

[Joe Kelly]

Thanks, again, fellows for the additional input to dealing with pressure gauges and loaded tires.

And thank you, Tiredguy, for telling us there is a gauge specifically for loaded tires....no one in my parts could come up with that!

So I will look for that gauge and also jack the tractor to get the weight off the tire being checked!

JoeK