Loaded Tire Removal and Reinstallation

[TractorNH]

I need to remove the loaded rear tires to install wheel spacers. They weigh 700-800 lbs each. Anyone here had to remove loaded tires and how did you do it while minimizing the risk of the tire falling over and not being able to stand it back up?

 

[DwayneB]

I use myself and a good size buddy and try our best to never let it fall over. We just rolled it to the front of the tractor. If alone I would wrap a strap through the rim and use another loader to handle it.

 

[joecdeere]

I use a pallet jack, I can move the rears on my backhoe by myself, I use a ratchet strap around the tire and the handle in the upright position, doesn't allow you to turn, but you're just rolling straight away from the tractor. Most will pickup in excess of 2,000 lbs

 

[oldtimer 66]

This maybe a bit more than you want but the attached pics show how I do it. I have since added wheel weights. Tire and rim 150# rim guard 550# wheel weights 210# Loaded tire est 910#. Maybe you could borrow a friends engine lifter. You would need to make a lifter bar and chain asmy. I have since modified the lower support arms for additional wheel clearance. I change my wheels bar to turf and turf to bar each spring and fall. My biggest concern was always dropping the wheel and have it act like a coin and wobble around and possibly hurt me and or knock the tractor off the jacks. Later.

 

[Zebrafive]

I, with a helper swapped two loaded 16.9-28s side to side to go from dish out to dish in to narrow the track width.

We made sure to keep them straight up at all times.
I removed the head of a bolt and ground the shank at a taper to guide the wheel back on the hub.


I would not attempt alone, but have done the same size that were NOT loaded alone.

 

[TractorNH]

I use a pallet jack, I can move the rears on my backhoe by myself, I use a ratchet strap around the tire and the handle in the upright position, doesn't allow you to turn, but you're just rolling straight away from the tractor. Most will pickup in excess of 2,000 lbs

I thought about using a pallet jack, just wasn't sure how I would keep the tire from tipping. Maybe I'll make a custom short pallet that I can slide onto the jack first that has a vertical frame that I can strap the tire to such that the tire will sit directly on the pallet jack and this custom pallet will be between the jack and the tire. This may be my best option since I know I can borrow a pallet jack from work for the weekend when I'm ready.

 

[TractorNH]

This maybe a bit more than you want but the attached pics showView attachment 565896 how I do it. I have since added wheel weights. Tire and rim 150# rim guard 550# wheel weights 210# Loaded tire est 910#. Maybe you could borrow a friends engine lifter. You would need to make a lifter bar and chain asmy. I have since modified the lower support arms for additional wheel clearance. I change my wheels bar to turf and turf to bar each spring and fall. My biggest concern was always dropping the wheel and have it act like a coin and wobble around and possibly hurt me and or knock the tractor off the jacks. Later.View attachment 565893View attachment 565894View attachment 565895

Thanks for the pics. I have an engine hoist and thought about going that route but I don't have enough room between the cab/fender and the tire to get the top arm through to reach the back. I thought about making kind of an "L" shaped arm that could sit in the hook of the engine hoist and grab the rim from the inside top but not sure it will be stable enough and keep the position well enough to reinstall the tire.

 

[HCJtractor]

I’ve done the same size with two buddies helping, without any lift. Yes, it’s heavy but if you go slow, and keep it vertical, it can be done. The idea of using a tapered headless bolt is a great one. That was the hardest part, getting the holes to align. Wish I had thought of that.

 

[newbury]

I had to swap the rears and change the disc and wheel orientation on my M4700 loaded 14.9-28's.

The first one I had 2 helpers and we only changed the disc/wheel orientation on 1 tire, did it on grass, laid it down, major pain. The second time I had one helper and did it on concrete, kept it vertical. MUCH easier.

Tapered headless bolt would be handy.

We used a "farm jack" for lifting the tires off and back on to the tractor.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have never taken mine off but often look at my loaded 16.9 X 28's and wonder how I would do it if I had to. There are some very good methods and ideas here. Thanks for sharing !!

gg

 

[3Lfarms]

I’ve been looking for a reason to buy one of these:



Just in case I need to change a tractor tire. Hahaha

 

[HCJtractor]

I agree with Newbury. Do it on concrete if at all possible. It’s much easier to slide the tire slightly to align it. And have a big lever handy to assist. And as he said, keep it vertical. Never let it tip. Two or three people can do that.

 

[joecdeere]

I thought about using a pallet jack, just wasn't sure how I would keep the tire from tipping. Maybe I'll make a custom short pallet that I can slide onto the jack first that has a vertical frame that I can strap the tire to such that the tire will sit directly on the pallet jack and this custom pallet will be between the jack and the tire. This may be my best option since I know I can borrow a pallet jack from work for the weekend when I'm ready.

the best of this idea I got from a man with a one man shop at his house, he took a pallet jack, shortened it to about 30" long, welded an upright guard to it to strap the tire to so it couldn't fall. Then he welded two rollers running long ways on the forks so if things moved he could rotate the tire to line up the studs. I need to go up there and get a picture, I will have one for myself! I've seen him work with loaded 38's with no problem

 

[Ritothebull]

The pallet jack and engine hoist are neat ideas, I use a chain hoist on a trolley.

 

[Zebrafive]

the best of this idea I got from a man with a one man shop at his house, he took a pallet jack, shortened it to about 30" long, welded an upright guard to it to strap the tire to so it couldn't fall. Then he welded two rollers running long ways on the forks so if things moved he could rotate the tire to line up the studs. I need to go up there and get a picture, I will have one for myself! I've seen him work with loaded 38's with no problem

You can buy commercial versions for semi tires and large tractor tires. They have the rollers to rotate the tire to line up bolt holes too.

 

[Oldoak]

I致e been looking for a reason to buy one of these:

View attachment 566043

Just in case I need to change a tractor tire. Hahaha

I think it would be cheaper to have your dealer or a farm field service outfit do the change for you.

But hey, new toys are fun to have but can be very, very expensive.

 

[flusher]

I need to remove the loaded rear tires to install wheel spacers. They weigh 700-800 lbs each. Anyone here had to remove loaded tires and how did you do it while minimizing the risk of the tire falling over and not being able to stand it back up?

Get a chain hoist and do the job safely. Don't rely on yourself and a buddy to handle that kind of weight.
I bought my hoist from Harbor Freight for $500. If you can't afford proper equipment or don't have floor space to do the job safely, drain the tires.




Good luck and be careful out there.

 

[oosik]

Over 30 years ago when I was young - and stupid - I pulled the loaded rear tires on my 1982 Ford 1710. I almost got caught under the falling tire and got squished. What a PITA to get that tire back to vertical. Those rears were 11.2 x 24 with 220# of CaCl solution.

My current tractor - 2009 Kubota M6040 has around 800 pounds of RimGuard in each tire - plus the tire, plus the rim. They are - 16.9 x 28 6 ply Firestone.

There is no way in God's green earth that I would attempt anything without something like flusher recommends. Actually - I would do it the easy way - - call my friends at Les Schwab Tires - have them bring out a service truck, with a crane, and let them handle the tires. Cold beers all around when the job is finished.

My concern, out here, I get caught under a tire like one of my filled rear tires - - its a question of what would happen first - - would I die and rot away OR would I die and the coyotes clean up the mess. My nearest neighbor is 4.5 miles away. I SELDOM have cell phone service and I'll never get land line service. I'm pretty dam remote out here.

 

[showcattle]

Two of us swapped the rears (16.9-30) loaded tires on two Ford 4600's. Heavy, but doable. Just jack tractor so tire is just barely off the ground, and walk the wheel off. Don't lean it, because if it decides to fall, it's going to fall. Don't try to stop it if it does, just let it go. Installation is pretty straight forward. Roll tire up, lower jack a little, lean tire in a little to get the top wheel stud through the rim, and start the lug nut. Jack tractor back up a little, and wheel should drop onto the rest of the studs.

 

[oosik]

The ONE thing that must be stressed - changing loaded tires. KEEP THE DARN THING VERTICAL - AT ALL COSTS. The point showcattle makes is very valid - if the tire starts to go - let it go. Its an awful lot harder to get a filled tire vertical again when its lying on a body.