Adding air to a loaded tire

[homeinwestIL]

I have a 1968 Ford 3000 that I've owned for seven or eight years. One of the rear tires has a very slow leak that over several years has gotten to where I want to add pressure to it. The tires are apparently loaded -- liquid comes out when I try to check pressure. This is with the valve stem in the 12 o'clock position with the tire jacked off the ground to take the weight off. I thought I could just add air into the tire to bring the pressure up to where it should be, but air doesn't seem to want to go in with the liquid coming out. Is there a trick to this?

 

[Chilly807]

I'd recommend you jack the tire off the ground, put the valve stem at 12 o'clock, then remove the stem core until the water stops draining out. Too much fluid is a bad thing because there isn't enough "cushion" from the air. Once water stops coming out, air it up to the pressure you want and you're done.

Sean

 

[Soundguy]

as long as you have more air pressure then there is water pressure air will go in.. even with the valve down.. unless the valve is bad..e tc.

with valve at the top, blow air in to clear it and make a bubble if it has all leaked out to the point of just being water.. then check pressure.. of course the tire profile will tell you what you need to know without a gauge..



soundguy

 

[Snaker]

The portion of the tube at the top is probably collapsed from having no air and acts like one of those kids drink pouches. I would try to force air in to inflate which will lower the liquid level back to normal. Most fluid is very corrosive and you may what to have it fixed before the rim is ruined.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. if it's an actual hole it needs to be fixed. even a leaky stem portion can be repalced.. but has it drenched the inside of the rim yet? maybee..

soundguy

 

[Reg]

I would jack it up, rotate it to get the valve at 12 o'clock, then lower it JUST ENOUGH to put a bit of weight on it.
I wouldn't want the whole fluid weight "hanging".
Then I would remove the valve stem and check to see if that is the cause of the slow leak.

I would expect SOME leakage, though not much more than a pint or two.
It could depend on temperature differential between when it was filled and when you take the stem out.

BTW, not everyone has always accepted the "fill to the valve stem" rule.
While it is a fair compromise, some folk have used the air escape needle to go WAY over 75%.
The other way to fill higher is to lay the tire down and prop the edge of the rim up on a 4x4 to raise the valve.
Not to start an "over 75%" war, but I've seen it done (both ways).

 

[Soundguy]

it's a good way to damage a tire.. IE.. filling with no air bubble.. makes a darn hard ride too.. and when you hit that curb hard I've seen sidewalls give out on full loaded tires.

soundguy

 

[J_J]

As you know, water is not very compressible , so a tractor tire needs air for the cushion. The air will compress and give a little. therefore soften the ride. When you try to air up the tire, the tire should be fully on the ground. If you try to add air with the tire at the 12 o'clock position, you should get air. If you get water, it is to full. The side wall will indicate the correct air pressure, whether it has water in it or not. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Soundguy]

ditto that.. profile says it all.

soudnguy

 

[mccash40]

I'm bumping this old thread, as I have a question about loaded tires. I can't get a reading with my air gauge to determine if I need air or not. Is this normal? The tires seem full, but I wanted to check just to make sure. I have the stem at 12 o'clock and no fluid is coming out. The gauge works on my car.