DIY Tire Ballast Fill B7100HST

TerryKing

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B7100HST-D
Aug 18, 2024
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Topsham, Vermont USA
arduinoinfo.mywikis.net
Hi Guys,

OK I just filled my Kubota B7100HST-D rear Turf tires with Windshield Washer Fluid -20F . Got 55 gallon drum from O'Reilly's for $140

They rolled the drum into the back of my Tahoe. Back home I put down a strap and rolled it up to my bucket:

TireFillB7100HST-01.JPG

Strap from hole in blade to chain hook.

TireFillB7100HST-02.JPG


Moved it to About Where I'd use it, put it down. Repositioned strap near top, hooked with a chain, tightened. Lifted to upright position, put it down with a couple back-forth trips.

Started to get set up together with pump, hose, fittings. UH OH don't have a barrel bung opener. Well, guess I do, sorta:

TireFillB7100HST-04.JPG


So here's the setup. SEE the FLAMMABLE LIQUID label??

CautionLabel.jpg


OK so 1/2 OD soft copper tubing 3 ft long. 1/2 " heater hose. RV drinking water pump, RV fittings to 1/2" 8Ft long grounding cable..

Grounding.jpg


Tractor Supply Slime adapter
8 foot wires with battery clips on pump. Here's the setup.
I figured: 33 inches of fluid = 55 Gallons so 1.66 gallons per inch. So I put the pickup tube down 10" and held it with visegrips. (Say 17 Gallons?) Jacked the wheel barely off the floor.
TireFillB7100HST-05.JPG


The adapter has a "burp" valve. I ran about 2 min sessions of pump, stop, burp. Ran 8 minutes of pump time. Checked and level in barrel almost at end of pickup so I stopped.. Removed hose connect end of adapter. Small spitout. Tire valve reinstalled, filled air to 20PSI.

Here's the pump I used: notice I connected negative lead to metal frame so it's grounded to tractor.
TireFillB7100HST-06.JPG


Happy to answer anything I can. I got lotsa help here!

OTHER: I had A Funny Thing Happen on the other tire; probably NOT typical. I'll pick that up on my other B7100HST tire fill questions thread.

Thanks, Terry
 
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D2Cat

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Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,690
5,338
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
I never knew windshield fluid was flammable! I never messed with a ground wire. Here's how I did it. Jack the rear tires up an inch to take the weight off. The gallon jugs fit perfectly in the fill hole for the 15 gal tank. I bought the fitting designed to fill liquid into the tires at NAPA and never used it. With pump on spray tank each tire took about 10-15 minutes. I pumped a few gallons, then removed the hose to let it burp. Did that three or four times on each tire.

(Maybe this information will be easier for others to discover!)
 

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FTG-05

Active member

Equipment
L4330 w/FEL, RTV-XG850 and ZD326S
Jul 21, 2013
275
110
43
TN
I used RV antifreeze. On sale at Walmart since it was early spring. I used 6 gallons of the RV AF per rear tire the rest of the of 47 gallons (per the Rimguard chart) was simple tap water. I used the $15 burping valve from TSC, a five gallon bucket and a sump pump I already owned. Went pretty easy.
 

Mitjam

Active member

Equipment
M-108, M6-111, Lx3520, Rtv-520 and LandPride implements
Jan 14, 2013
202
175
43
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I never knew windshield fluid was flammable! I never messed with a ground wire. Here's how I did it. Jack the rear tires up an inch to take the weight off. The gallon jugs fit perfectly in the fill hole for the 15 gal tank. I bought the fitting designed to fill liquid into the tires at NAPA and never used it. With pump on spray tank each tire took about 10-15 minutes. I pumped a few gallons, then removed the hose to let it burp. Did that three or four times on each tire.

(Maybe this information will be easier for others to discover!)
I’m gonna fill my tires on my Lx either RV antifreeze or washer fluid. The question I have is once you remove valve stem and air do you just lift tire off the ground and start filling there is no chance the bead will break? Once its almost filled I think I read the 12.4-16 tire should take 20-22 gallons
 

fried1765

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Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,814
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
I’m gonna fill my tires on my Lx either RV antifreeze or washer fluid. The question I have is once you remove valve stem and air do you just lift tire off the ground and start filling there is no chance the bead will break? Once its almost filled I think I read the 12.4-16 tire should take 20-22 gallons
Check the pricing.
RV fluid will likely be twice the cost of WWF.
In Alberta, you will need the -30F Peake brand WWF, unless you can find -40
 

Mitjam

Active member

Equipment
M-108, M6-111, Lx3520, Rtv-520 and LandPride implements
Jan 14, 2013
202
175
43
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Check the pricing.
RV fluid will likely be twice the cost of WWF.
In Alberta, you will need the -30F Peake brand WWF, unless you can find -40
Thank you. Ya I’m gonna call tomorrow and see what a drum of washer fluid is priced at.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,814
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Thank you. Ya I’m gonna call tomorrow and see what a drum of washer fluid is priced at.
I thought a drum might be least expensive, but in the US, it turned out that a discount store had a much better individual gallon price. (I only needed -20F fluid)
Try Canadian Tire, or even Home Hardware, for a per gallon sale price.
Maybe even Princess Auto?
Make sure that you do get the lowest freezing point fluid available.
 

Mitjam

Active member

Equipment
M-108, M6-111, Lx3520, Rtv-520 and LandPride implements
Jan 14, 2013
202
175
43
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I thought a drum might be least expensive, but in the US, it turned out that a discount store had a much better individual gallon price. (I only needed -20F fluid)
Try Canadian Tire, or even Home Hardware, for a per gallon sale price.
Maybe even Princess Auto?
Make sure that you do get the lowest freezing point fluid available.
You are prob right looking at a tote of washer fluid being $298 cnd for that price I would go beat juice I was quoted $325 but Walmart sometimes has -40 washer fluid for 3.78 for a gallon so stock up on that
 

D2Cat

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Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,690
5,338
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
I’m gonna fill my tires on my Lx either RV antifreeze or washer fluid. The question I have is once you remove valve stem and air do you just lift tire off the ground and start filling there is no chance the bead will break? Once its almost filled I think I read the 12.4-16 tire should take 20-22 gallons
Start by lifting the tires off the ground.

You want the tires off the ground just an inch or less, just so the tractor weight is not putting pressure on the tires.

I found -20 deg WS washer fluid on sale at Wal-Mart in the spring for $1 a gallon. Bought 84 gallons in two stores. (Store manager told me they mark it down because folks don't buy winter washer fluid when winter is over!)
 
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Mitjam

Active member

Equipment
M-108, M6-111, Lx3520, Rtv-520 and LandPride implements
Jan 14, 2013
202
175
43
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Start by lifting the tires off the ground.

You want the tires off the ground just an inch or less, just so the tractor weight is not putting pressure on the tires.

I found -20 deg WS washer fluid on sale at Wal-Mart in the spring for $1 a gallon. Bought 84 gallons in two stores. (Store manager told me they mark it down because folks don't buy winter washer fluid when winter is over!)
Thank you for the reply. Seems simple enough. I wish there was factory wheel weight options for the smaller compact tractors
 
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fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,814
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
You are prob right looking at a tote of washer fluid being $298 cnd for that price I would go beat juice I was quoted $325 but Walmart sometimes has -40 washer fluid for 3.78 for a gallon so stock up on that
You should also consider the rather meaningful weight difference, when comparing cost.
"Beet juice" weighs nearly 11 pounds per gallon.
WWF weighs only 7.6 pounds per gallon.
A 45% per gallon weight advantage, when opting for "beet juice".
 
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D2Cat

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Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,690
5,338
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
I did compare beet juice to washer fluid. Cost here was ridiculous. Cost of fluid, Cost for installation, cost for road fee to show up. Wouldn't sell bulk. Need special pump to pump it.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,814
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
I did compare beet juice to washer fluid. Cost here was ridiculous. Cost of fluid, Cost for installation, cost for road fee to show up. Wouldn't sell bulk. Need special pump to pump it.
I do understand that the cost of "beet juice" is ridiculously high in the USA.
The OP is in Canada, though, and cost difference may be different.
Usually, .....costs are higher for everything in Canada, but maybe not, for "beet juice"
 

Mitjam

Active member

Equipment
M-108, M6-111, Lx3520, Rtv-520 and LandPride implements
Jan 14, 2013
202
175
43
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I do understand that the cost of "beet juice" is ridiculously high in the USA.
The OP is in Canada, though, and cost difference may be different.
Usually, .....costs are higher for everything in Canada, but maybe not, for "beet juice"
Cost was 325 or 400 depending on place plus labour I think total cost with “shop supplies😂” was $700