Frozen Tires

Casey in Ky · Jan 30, 2018

Ever so often there's a post on frozen tires. Well I've got a set. Only water in the tires. 16.9x30's, probably 3/4's full. As cold as its been here I'm guessing they won't thaw till June...lol. I don't have a heated shop to put them. I thought about maybe stacking them on each other, removed the center dishes, pull the valve core, and build a small fire in the center. I know I'd have to watch it and keep it small, but thats about the only thing I can think of to get these things thawed. Think it will damaged the rubber getting it hot? Now that I read this back to myself it sounds like a stupid idea....

Adirondack case guy · Jan 30, 2018

Do you have a torpedo heater???
Loren

Mike(NEOhio) · Jan 30, 2018

If you can get the valve core out and it's in the section with air, OK. But I wouldn't heat them much because the pressure could build.

hd6gtom · Jan 30, 2018

Run the tractor in the shop, turn up the heat takes about 3 days. Tractor jockeys used to buy tractors from down south and bring them up here. I've thawed out several sets.

rustyfarmall · Jan 30, 2018

How about heat lamps?

Weldon K · Jan 30, 2018

Do you need to use the tractor? If not just let it be, ice will melt when it gets into upper thirties temperature. It will not harm anything to move the tractor slowly to put it in the sun on the south side of a building where it will be warmer. Sunshine on the surface of those black tires will warm them up and thaw them .

old-9 · Jan 30, 2018

NO don't use fire !! Watch this video!!
tire exploding

paul · Jan 30, 2018

Listen to yourself when you read it back to yourself.

Not a good idea.

Do you have a tarp and access to a torpedo heater?build a simple tenting with the tarp, and run the heater into it for a few hours, day. Probably end up thawing one side faster, other side slower, but can switch sides with the heater when you get that far.

Is there a reason you need to move a tractor that you parked several months ago with water in the tires? Let it set until spring, no need to fuss with it now. It will get slushy and thaw out again.

Paul

Dennis(IA) · Jan 30, 2018

I have used carb. cleaner to "bead up" a tire. Spray the carb cleaner inside the tire then throw a match in. Don't think I will do that again. Great video!

M-MAN · Jan 30, 2018

Be much simpler to just use another tractor until they thaw.

ss55 · Jan 30, 2018

I would not bother to thaw them until I had a plan for how to keep them from freezing again next week: remove the water ballast; add alcohol or CaCL2; switch to iron or concrete weights; etc.

BarnyardEngineering · Jan 30, 2018

(quoted from post at 08:47:38 01/30/18) NO don't use fire !! Watch this video!!
tire exploding

That's an EMPTY tire. These tires have 73 gallons of water each in them. It's going to take a heck of a lot of heat to thaw them out, let alone get the water boiling to explode the tire.

Much greater chance of catching the rubber on fire, but if you're careful with the fire I suppose you could do that.

Average temperature in Kentucky in February is around 53 degrees. It'll thaw.

BarnyardEngineering · Jan 30, 2018

Stupid google. Average temp is only 45 in February. It'll thaw, it'll just take a little longer.

Nancy Howell · Jan 30, 2018

If the weather is sunny and you put black tires in the sun, it will speed up the thawing.

showcrop · Jan 30, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:44:57 01/30/18) Run the tractor in the shop, turn up the heat takes about 3 days. Tractor jockeys used to buy tractors from down south and bring them up here. I've thawed out several sets.

How does he do that when he has no heated shop?

Casey in Ky · Jan 30, 2018

Tractor is at another farm that I cut hay at. No shop or electricity close. I've got about 40 rolls I need to get moved in the next month or so. I've got one tractor, but that doesn't help a whole lot when moving rolls across the county. These tires are normally unloaded but I got some steep ground last year and threw some water in them and just forget about it. Brothers above ground swimming pool is still froze solid. I think I can get both valve stems out. With them out I wouldn't have thought they'd hear to the blowing point...guess I'll figure something else out.

S2710 · Jan 30, 2018

take them off the tractor like you said and if you have a bullet heater use that after you make a tent out of blankets and blow the heat on them. If you don't have a bullet heater you can use charcoal and blankets.

Bob

caterpillar guy · Jan 30, 2018

Might be the cheapest bet to hire a friend/ neighbor to load them then let the tires thaw in the sun with valves out so they drain as they do.
Or could throw a tarp over tractor and let thaw with heater under tractor.

old · Jan 30, 2018

Is it out in the sun light?? If it where me I would jack/block it up and take the stem/core holder out and then take a hose that fits snug and lay it so it will sort of siphon the water out as it thaws. I know here in Missouri it is suppose to be in the 50 tomorrow and that and being in sun light goes a long way in thawing things out. Or a tarp over it and a heater of some type like one of those kerosene haters

mj · Jan 30, 2018

(quoted from post at 09:47:38 01/30/18) NO don't use fire !! Watch this video!!
tire exploding

FIRE OR [b:3649c457a0]HEAT![/b:3649c457a0]

Frozen Tires

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