Frozen Tires

Melvin Ware · Jan 10, 2010

With the recent sub-freezing temperatures I know the water in my Farmall M tires is probably frozen solid. I'm guessing it should not be run in this condition, although I do crank it weekly just to keep the battery charged. How do I know when the tires have thawed enough to operate the tractor again?

ScottyHOMeY · Jan 10, 2010

You don't say where you are, and things have been extreme enough lately that we can only guess what kinds of temps you're dealing with, but if the temps are at the margin of freezing, you can move it slowly to get it out into the daylight, and leave it set for a while. The black of the tires will pick up enough heat to loosen things up enough to get them free. Until then it might feel like you're driving on steel wheels with a lug or two missing.

sflem849 · Jan 10, 2010

A few thoughts come to mind...
Calcium chloride is used in tires where it gets cold. This salt water solution shouldn't freeze (I don't know what the freeze point is, but I have never seen one freeze)
Cranking the tractor over without letting it run will only drain the battery. This will DEFINATELY not help the battery. If you started it and let it run for 45-60 min it will charge up the battery. I am positive that letting it run less than a half hour will not recharge what you took out in cranking. Most of the guys I tractor pull with experience this need to charge their batteries about once a year.
They make float chargers/battery tenders that are designed to keep the battery fully charged all winter long. These work great if you have electrical access in your shed. I do not... In the boat I charge the batteries and then bring them inside and set them on a block of wood. You shouldn't need the wood anymore, but I do it anyhow. Old habits die hard

He is dead on that pulling it into the sun will melt the water. Even if it is zero you will see steam coming off the tires.

Melvin Ware · Jan 10, 2010

I failed to mention that I'm located in upper/piedmont South Carolina. As far as I know these tires are filled with just plain water since our winters are not usually this cold. However, the past few weeks have been well below normal.

When periodically cranking the tractor I set the throttle for medium idle and once started, observe the ammeter. Initially it shows a relatively high charging current which after 5 to 10 minutes falls off to a much lower current. I take this to mean the battery is at/near full charge. Never had a problem starting - always fires off the first time with very little choke. Thanks for the tip on calcium chloride - where does one get this?

Brownie 450 · Jan 10, 2010

If the rims show rust around the valve stems, you likely have calcium chloride in the tires already.

Nebraska Cowman · Jan 10, 2010

Yes, If you have reason to believe it's water only DON'T DRIVE IT That would be pretty hard on tires and tubes and likely rupture them. It's like a turkey. It's gonna take a while to thaw. As your tire shop. they should be able to get cloride. It will add likely a hundred pounds per tire. that is one reason it is used. Any salt solution is heavier than water.

El Toro · Jan 10, 2010

Our local Case/IH dealer won't work on any tractor tires filled with calcium chloride. Its due to getting rid of it. They recommend using used antifreeze in the tires. Hal

440roadrunner · Jan 10, 2010

I would be VERY concerned that moving a tire with frozen ballast would seriously damage the tire/ tube

Haas · Jan 10, 2010

If the water in the tires is frozen, don't drive it!! I ruined the tires on my C doing that. The C was recently acquired and I was not aware that the tires had water only. It was a cold spell and I took it out of the barn for a drive. Went a hundred yards or so wondering what had happened as the ride was really rough. Went back to the barn and parked it. When the tires thawed out, one of them went flat. The tires were badly rotted and cracked, so I replaced them rather than trying to have them repaired. Tires in better condition might have fared better.

r4etired · Jan 10, 2010

There is a solution on the market that replaces calcium for ballast in tires. It is made from beet juice and with the inhibitors that are added will keep the rims from rusting. Ask your major tire supplier about it.

Oldiron29 · Jan 10, 2010

Melvin, A new choose for ballast is window washer flued winter grade. oldiron29

Vito · Jan 10, 2010

Had one freeze on my rough terrain forklift.The tire company didn't get enough calcium in this one.Deformed the tire and ruined the tube.They cut it off and replaced at no cost at my urging.Let them thaw if you don't need to use it.I had no choice in the matter.

Vito

willie in mn · Jan 10, 2010

Quick & dirty check.
Jack up the wheel. Turn wheel 90 deg by hand & let go.
If contents are still liquid, it will stay where you left it.
If contents are solid, the ice chunk will throw it off balance enough that it will turn back to original position.
Willie

sflem849 · Jan 10, 2010

(quoted from post at 19:35:18 01/10/10) Quick & dirty check.
Jack up the wheel. Turn wheel 90 deg by hand & let go.
If contents are still liquid, it will stay where you left it.
If contents are solid, the ice chunk will throw it off balance enough that it will turn back to original position.
Willie

Awesome tip Willie.

The beet juice is good. That is all I would do in a tractor now days.

What do you mean disposal problems with Calcium Chloride? It really keeps the weeds down in the driveway.

Why do they think antifreeze is more environmentally friendly?!?!? That is just plain nuts. All winter long they put tons of CaCl on the roads of Wisconsin/Minnesota/Illinois/Michigan...shall I go on? I don't think all the tractor tires of you year could add up to just one winters worth of salt in Wisconsin.

Marty from MN · Jan 10, 2010

Here in MN, we've never had tires freeze up. I've see weather colder than -40 and if you can get the tractor running the calcium filled tires are fine.

FYI, the only problem with calcium is rust. I've had a couple of tires go flat and the fluid will kill the grass for a year or so but no long term problems.

Nebraska Cowman · Jan 11, 2010

Now that's ridiculous. Antifreeze is toxic. Calcium chloride is not. What do they think the highway puts on the roads?

Bus Driver · Jan 11, 2010

The bad news is that the ice needs to melt completely. Partial melting is not sufficient. A chunk of ice rattling around in water will slice up the tube if driven.

Jim Becker · Jan 11, 2010

Antifreeze is toxic.

Yeah, but I lost some of my concern about it when I found out what happens to it in the ground. It seems that as long as you keep it away from anyone of anything that is likely to drink it, there isn't much hazard. Following is from a Department of Health and Human Services site. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts96.html#bookmark03

•The primary source of ethylene glycol in the environment is from run-off at airports where is used in de-icing agents for runways and airplanes. Ethylene glycol can also enter the environment through the disposal of products that contain it.
•Ethylene glycol in air will break down in about 10 days.
•Ethylene glycol in water and in soil will breakdown within several days to a few weeks.

Frozen Tires

Melvin Ware

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ScottyHOMeY

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sflem849

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Melvin Ware

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Brownie 450

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Nebraska Cowman

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El Toro

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440roadrunner

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Haas

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r4etired

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Oldiron29

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Vito

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willie in mn

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sflem849

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Marty from MN

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Nebraska Cowman

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Bus Driver

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Jim Becker

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