Another use for ratchet straps

jjp8182 · Mar 22, 2020

Went out and started my L3560 for the first time since last fall since the ground was dry enough I could walk across most of it without sinking in myself. Noticed the front left tire looked a little low, but didn't think much of it so I started up the L3560 and started rolling out. Got 3/4th of the way to the garden and noticed that front tire had actually come off bead.

Thankfully I remembered a something a coworker had told me about how a tire shop had managed to get some car tires he'd bought online seated on bead after they'd been deformed in shipping. Namely a ratchet strap tightened around the tire tread.

So that's what I did, and it worked extremely well. ...didn't require anything other than a regular air compressor to refill the tire once the ratchet strap had been tightened enough to force the tire to hold a seal.

Now, granted it would have been smarter/easier to check the tires and potentially re-seat the bead before driving toward the garden, but I suppose that's what I get for trying to beat the rain..... :mur:

Wagtail · Mar 22, 2020

Interesting 'tip'. Ta for posting.

It's always good to learn something new.

Jstpssng · Mar 22, 2020

I've done the same on occasion with a rope in my younger days, but your way sounds much easier and a lot less frustrating.

JPRambo · Mar 22, 2020

I use to use a rope and tourniquet type 'squeeze'. I have used the small 1"ratchet straps for garden trailer tires.

Xfaxman · Mar 22, 2020

I had to use a chain and a 10" long piece of all thread for this 14 ply tire on the Versahandler:

4570Man · Mar 22, 2020

I hope you cleaned the bead good or you’ll get to repeat the process. I’ve used the same process with success.

jjp8182 · Mar 23, 2020

4570Man said:
I hope you cleaned the bead good or you’ll get to repeat the process. I’ve used the same process with success.

I suspect I may have by accident since I loosened the ratchet at one point when I thought I had enough air in the tire to support the tractor ...turned out there wasn't and so it ended up blowing out a fair amount of dust from around the rim/tire when I put the weight of the tractor back on it.

If I end up having to repeat I'll be sure to do that intentionally. By the time I got everything in order (tracking down ratchets, pressure gauges, moving the compressor and running a >100ft of extension cord) the primary goal was just to get the tire inflated enough to get the tractor back in the shed before the rain started falling hard.

Haven't been outside yet this morning, but as much rain as I heard falling last night the ground is probably back to being soupy. :thumbdown: ...with more rain forecast for today and tomorrow...

EddieWalker · Mar 23, 2020

I've done that quite a few times for the big fat tires on the back of my riding mower and zero turn mower

BleedingOrange · Mar 23, 2020

Great idea. If you can, lift the implement off the ground with a jack so the inflated tire will not touch the ground while filling it.
It is much easier and quicker to pop the bead on the rim if you remove the valve stem, add air until the bead locks itself onto the rim, and then re-install the valve stem. Then you can inflate the tire to its proper psi.