Flat tire, now what?

[pretendfarmer]

I have put less than 10 hours on my new to me Yanmar 1700D, and I now have a flat right rear tire. The tires are badly cracked and Les Schwab said they will not repair it if the tire is in poor condition. I cannot get any tires locally, and I need to use this tractor right now. The size is odd at 8.3 x 24. Would fix a flat work? I am also without a good area to work on this tractor at the moment or I would pull the wheel myself.

 

[bucktaker]

i guess you answered your own question..... maybe just add air every couple days?

 

[powerpace]

I use green slime in my front tires. They get most of the abuse when piling brush. The rears are loaded and have never had a problem. When you have loaded tires it is very important to keep the air pressure up. If the loaded tires get low and you are bouncing on rough ground the bead can breakfree easier. The loss of fluid may be slow but I have seen it squirt out when hitting rough ground.

You didn't say how old the tires or the tractor is.
Tubes may work for you if the tires are not in too bad. R1's or R4's? What kind of tires?

 

[pretendfarmer]

Tractor is a 1978 I believe. Tires may be original. They are very cracked. I assume they are tubed. May just have to bite the bullet and put two new rears on. I don't have power on the property to run a compressor right now. It is a major pita to have to load it onto the trailer just to fill the tires.

 

[deepNdirt]

Been there-Done-that! ...
a good old fashion bicycle pump would come in handy right about now or a portable air tank, though is providing the tube will hold air long enough to get it into a place it can be comfortably worked on,
Like you stated , the tires will have inner-tubes in them, and likely will either need patched or replaced, The thing I found out when having badly dry rotted tires, Is if you have to break the tire off the rim in order to replace a inner-tube, when comes time to re-inflate the tire, and in order to get the bead to seat, you'll might have to over inflate it, Causing the tire to crack even more so,

It would probably be time,money,and effort better spent to just have new or at least none dry rotted used tires installed,

 

[pretendfarmer]

The problem is that no tire place will repair the tube because the tires looks so badly cracked. Les Schwab just quoted me $800 for two tires installed. This is the problem with buying an old tractor in need of repair. I knew it would need tires, but had no idea I would experience a flat so soon. Gosh this is frustrating.

I was a little taken aback by the price of the tires, and expressed to the gentleman that Hoye tractor has them for sale at $169 per tire. He said those are likely Chinese tires. I asked where his tires were made. He said "they are Firestone tires." I asked if the Firestone tires were made in China. He again said "they are Firestone tires" in a condescending tone. I did not care for the guy and think that maybe the Firestone tires are Chinese, too. Not sure what I should do or where I should go.

 

[hawkeye08]

Perhaps check craigslist for some used tires? check some tire shops for used? I don't know about your tractor and if that is a required size or just what is on it.

Here is a set of (4) for Yanmar for example...

Brand new Yanmar "Turf Wheel Set"

 

[paulharvey]

Try an independent tire guy. A $30 tube should buy you a year or three. There is a guy at the local flee market that sells used tires, and he will work on whatever you bring him. Same with a local trailer shop. Chain shops often wont work on someone elses tire unless nearly new.

 

[pretendfarmer]

Perhaps check craigslist for some used tires? check some tire shops for used? I don't know about your tractor and if that is a required size or just what is on it.

Here is a set of (4) for Yanmar for example...

Brand new Yanmar "Turf Wheel Set"

Thank you for the link. It's a bit of a drive, but may be worth it. I don't know anything about turf tires, though, and I am working mostly in mud/dirt. Does anyone have any feedback on these?

 

[pretendfarmer]

Try an independent tire guy. A $30 tube should buy you a year or three. There is a guy at the local flee market that sells used tires, and he will work on whatever you bring him. Same with a local trailer shop. Chain shops often wont work on someone elses tire unless nearly new.

Thank you for the suggestion. I may call around to smaller tire shops.