Windshield fluid ballast

S

Smokeycub

501 Club
I don’t know where to post this, so since I’m working on a Super C I guess I’ll put it here.
Are there any issues/problems with using windshield washer fluid (winter blend good to -20 F) as ballast? It’s a blend of water and methanol (poisonous) and some dye basically. Thanks - Ray
 
I've been using windshield washer fluid as ballast in the tires of my John Deere 425 garden tractor with FEL for years with no problems.
 
Ray, are you going to get barrels of it or a pallet of jugs....and where would you get it in those containers?
 
Bob McCarty said:
If you can find an auto shop that saves used antifreeze, it will work well too.
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That's true. I asked a friend of mine that's an auto mechanic and he said they save old antifreeze and have to pay someone to dispose of it. He told me any time I wanted any I could take whatever I needed, I'd just need to have something to pump it out of their container. My neighbor wants some to fill his lawn roller with.
 
ricky racer said:
That's true. I asked a friend of mine that's an auto mechanic and he said they save old antifreeze and have to pay someone to dispose of it. He told me any time I wanted any I could take whatever I needed, I'd just need to have something to pump it out of their container. My neighbor wants some to fill his lawn roller with.
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Auto salvage yards might be a good place to look too since they drain radiators when they get them in. Dad filled the rear tires with anti-freeze on his new to him 240 Utility back in '71. He sent me to Quality Farm & Fleet in the '65 Plymouth Valiant when Q-F & F had it on sale for 99 cents a gallon. Can't remember how many cases I got, but the trunk was full, along with the backseat and floorboards. Turned it into a low rider. I can remember not being able to go over 35 on the way home, or it'd start swaying, those little 4 ply tires had to be maxed.

It's still being used, but I've since replaced the rim 10-12 years ago, rusted out from calcium the PO had in it. Dad's cleanup and repaint lasted 35 or so years. Even outlasted the new tire he put on it in '71. He grazed a stump when cutting firewood cleaning up a woods after the blizzard of '78. Apparently broke some cords in the sidewall. That spot was bugging out pretty good a year ago in the Spring after raking hay with it. Had a notion to stick a boot in it for a repair, but called a buddy of mine who owns a tire shop for the price on a new one. Got a super deal on a 12.4-24 6 ply because they only had 1 in stock. Great for me as I only needed one.

I saved the fluid using 1/4" clear tubing over the valve stem into a 50 gal. plastic barrel I had setting on my FH carry-all for the Super C's. Reversed the procedure by using one of those filler fittings for loading tires using an old garden hose. Caught 99% of it by slitting the tube and catching in a 5 gal. bucket, as the tubes were shot anyway.
 

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