to foam or not to foam?

[wasabi]

in a previous thread on light foam in tires, JJ pointed out the high cost of commercial foam would buy a lot of tires. consensus seems to be foam is great but expensive. that, together with another pair of flat tires, got me thinking about diy foam.

so, assuming we have inner tubes...and appropriate volume calculations...what if one were to get the requisite number of cans of "great stuff" (insulating foam in a can), which come with a short bit of small guage tubing to direct the stream...we replace the short tubing with a longer piece...position tire so valve stem is at top to take advantage of gravity...remove the valve...insert tube and fill away, occaisonally repositioning the can's tube for more even distribution of foam.

while I know next to nothing about the differences in density of foams or their "structural" qualities, I do know that great stuff dries up pretty hard...yet somewhat felxible

might this work? what is the downside? thoughts?

 

[2458n]

The great stuff when flexed repeatedly does not stand uo and becomes dustlike.

 

[Gravy]

Maybe the latex based "low-expanding" foam would be flexible enough? Somebody try it and report back...

 

[MossRoad]

I wouldn't use that stuff in my tires. Why? I have no idea, but is just seems like a bad idea. :laughing:

As for getting stuff in tires, position the tire with the valve up high, remove the valve stem and let the tire go flat with the weight of the tractor on it. Connect the stuff you want inside the tire, like a bottle of heavy duty slime, jug of beet juice, etc... and start filling it. Use the FEL to take the weight of the tractor off the tire and it will most likely suck in a bunch of the stuff. Repeat as necessary to get it all in the tire.

 

[BobRip]

The slime has reduced my flats to zero.

 

[jfh28]

Agreed Bob. I have the bulletproof slime from gemplers in mine......haven't had a flat in over 4 years.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mine are foamed (BX23) and noticed improves hillside stability and better backhoe operation... although, the reason I did was too many weekends spoiled by flats...

 

[BobRip]

Agreed Bob. I have the bulletproof slime from gemplers in mine......haven't had a flat in over 4 years.

That's what I am using. Great stuff.

 

[wasabi]

I ran a test by filling a gallon size ziplock with foam...let it set up for a couple of weeks...then drove over it...it did compress a little but not much and then it sprang right back to shape. now whether it would hold up over time i don't know..

 

[woodlandfarms]

So,,,, I just re-read all this.... At my new job we build puppets.. They are made out of all types of crazy foams. I am going to go talk to the tech and see if they have a foam idea for my tires.

I have to say, though. This year I have not had one flat. I think it is related to the fact that the poor machine has been doing so much hard work over the past 4 years clearing our property.

 

[MossRoad]

So,,,, I just re-read all this.... At my new job we build puppets.. They are made out of all types of crazy foams. I am going to go talk to the tech and see if they have a foam idea for my tires.

I have to say, though. This year I have not had one flat. I think it is related to the fact that the poor machine has been doing so much hard work over the past 4 years clearing our property.

You will find that as time goes on, the land is easier to work. I know ours is.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great Stuff foam, and from what I've seen, all foam used on homes, become soft and brittle in a short amount of time. It will not work in a tire.

I started out using Slime in my tires and felt it worked pretty good. My flats were fewer, but not eliminated. Having the front tires Foamed solved all my problems and it's something that I would do again and again on every tractor that I own. It's not even something I would think about, I would just do it.

There comes a time when you've had enough of down time because of a flat tire. When I hit that point, there was no turning back. If you are asking the question, then you are getting close. One or two more flats and you'll realize that it would have been cheaper to have had the tires foamed already.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[jlsmith]

Great Stuff foam, and from what I've seen, all foam used on homes, become soft and brittle in a short amount of time. It will not work in a tire.

I started out using Slime in my tires and felt it worked pretty good. My flats were fewer, but not eliminated. Having the front tires Foamed solved all my problems and it's something that I would do again and again on every tractor that I own. It's not even something I would think about, I would just do it.

There comes a time when you've had enough of down time because of a flat tire. When I hit that point, there was no turning back. If you are asking the question, then you are getting close. One or two more flats and you'll realize that it would have been cheaper to have had the tires foamed already.

Good luck,
Eddie

I just finished a big mowing job and when it was all said and done i had about 8 flats. Ben realy thinking about foam as i mow for extra money in the afternoons and dont have alot of daylight to work with. Question: (1) what is the cost of foaming tires? (2) how is the ride after doing so (3) do you have to do tube or tubleless tires or does it matter?
Thanks:
Jeremy

 

[woodlandfarms]

Jeremy. What kind of Tractor are you using.

I have been told that foaming an 1850 is not a great idea if you are working on severe slopes (over 30) due to the fact the tires work best on ultra low pressure.

Carl

 

[EddieWalker]

I might have mentioned it somewhere on here, in another thread, but I forget what it cost to foam them. I did the front times on my CUT and also the front tires on my backhoe.

They were both tubless tires, that I had foamed and after still getting flats, put tubes into them. The tubes were removed to foam.

They are heavey. Extremly heavy to pick up and move around. On the tractors, I don't notice any difference. I think I did at first, but now it's normal to me.

Eddie

 

[jlsmith]

Jeremy. What kind of Tractor are you using.

I have been told that foaming an 1850 is not a great idea if you are working on severe slopes (over 30) due to the fact the tires work best on ultra low pressure.

Carl

Thanks Carl. I'm have a MF285 open platform 2x4 I use to mow. I pull a 15ft batwing and its real sandy around here. Just wondering if the added weight would give me any trouble in the sand.
Thanks, Jeremy