Tires Can I handle changing rear tire on B3200

[freedomeagle]

Went out today to do some work with my B3200. It was parked in a bunch of leaves so I didn't notice right rear tire flat. As soon as I started to move it, I could tell something was wrong and then I heard the rim spinning inside the tire. I don't know how much of the liquid fill I lost but I think a good bit. I jacked it up, ratcheted a strap around it to make it re-seat as I filled it with air. I filled it up to about 15lbs and it seems to be holding steady but really won't know until the AM. I'm not really sure why it went flat in the first place. I didn't see anything that looked like a puncture on the tire but I did see some air seeping out around the rim as I was filling it up.

This is my first tractor and although I've had it going on five years now, I have never experienced a flat tire so I have a couple of questions.

Again, I am not sure what caused the flat so I will try to determine that first. If I need to have it repaired, it will cost $277 onsite versus $115 if I take it in. My first question is how much will it weigh once its repaired and the fluid is added back to it. I'm a little worried as to whether I can handle the weight alone. When I called the Ag tire place, their quote includes a tube. That sounds odd to me. Do you put a tube in a rear tractor tire? If so, how do they fill it back with fluid if it has a tube in it? Seems to me that having gone five years without a tube, adding a tube would just be a PIA down the road? But again, I'm not the expert.

Would appreciate any input on both is changing the rear tire doable for one person? Is there something I might be able to do onsite if its just a leak around the rim or a small puncture? And finally, if I have it repaired, should there be a tube?

 

[big bubba]

can't really answer your tube question, am sure someone else can
my uneducated guess is that your rear tire filled will weigh in excess of 500 #. aside from your transportation challenge, can you reinstall a rear wheel of that weight? not knowing more, i'd go w/the on site mobile fix. that's what i'll do next time it happens to me.

 

[HCJtractor]

Looking up your tire size, it appears the tire weighs about 75 lbs. Filled with 21 gallons to capacity could weigh 175 additional. Plus the rim, (any cast iron tire weight?) so overall weight would be around 300 or so. I’ve change a tire weighing triple that, but with several guys helping. My thought is with a buddy, you could easily do that. By yourself, it’s going to be tougher and more dangerous. Doing the change on slick concrete is easier than on dirt. Aligning the holes can require spinning the tire, and it slides better on concrete. Two guys could handle the tire even if filled

As far as the cause, I would jack it up, support it with solid jack stands, drain the fluid (capture it if it’s valuable) then remove the wheel. You should easily be able to handle it by yourself unfilled. Then clean it good, especially including the bead area, and inspect it to determine he cause. As far as a tube, I would see what caused the leak to decide. You may need a boot placed inside if you have a cut. Gemplers sell various tractor tire boots, etc. And yes you can fill a tube with fluid.

Of course you could repair the tire, install it on your tractor, and fill it afterwards, but if you have a tire repair center who can fill tires, I would let them do it and reinstall it myself with a buddy to help.

Good luck.

 

[HCJtractor]

Seepage around the bead could be cause by mud preventing a good bead seat.

 

[gimmodog]

I have changed the rear filled tire on my JD 4720 by myself a few times which i think should be a larger tire than what you have on yours. I am 66 and pretty weak. The trick is to use a jack that can be lifted or lowered in minute amounts (motorcycle jack works great). DO NOT let the tire lie down it is then very hard to stand back up. You will not have to lift the tire except to maybe spin it a little. Rotating it is the hardest part to get the lugs lined up. Wobble the tire underneath the tractor at an SLIGHT angle then stand it up to where the holes will line up. It is not easy, you will have to raise and lower the jack more than once and and keep twisting and spinning the tire to get it lined up. Will be much easier to line up if you have lugs. Mine uses wheel bolts which takes some time to get lined up to get the first one started. If the tire will not stand by itself have something handy to hold it up while you raise/lower the jack. It is doable by yourself .

 

[kuboman]

Tubes are recommended when liquid ballast is involved especially calcium chloride. Without a tube the chloride will corrode the rim plus it makes a mess if you have a flat.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Here is what I use to move tires around in addition to what it was intended. Vehicle Dollies - 2 Piece, 15 Lb. Capacity

My BX tires are not as heavy but I am probably a lot weaker than you are. A little soap on it allows spinning to line up holes better. I am a proponent of tubes after loosing air due to distortion of the tire running over obstacles. The front tires are even more vulnerable. Have tubes all the way around now.

Ron

 

[LouNY]

If your tire is filled with calcium chloride it needs to be emptied dismounted cleaned extremely well, well rinsed, allowed to dry a new tube installed and refilled.
If it was filled with rim guard or another less corrosive product, pumped out, cleaned, tubing would be optional, remounted and filled.
The easiest way will be to have the service truck come to the tractor.
That said with that small a tire it could be removed and carefully rolled out from the tractor, maybe up a ramp and into a truck.
Be aware that if it starts to tip over on you it will fall over and it will hurt if it catches someone.
The other option depending on your location and the tire shops location would be to drive or haul the tractor to them.
Ten miles wouldn't be much more then an hours travel on the outside.

 

[Spindifferent]

Have you confirmed that the valve stem and the valve core are in good working condition?

 

[oosik]

I can think of a couple reasons your tire went flat. #1 - leaking thru valve core/stem #2 - something lodged between the tire/rim - like a small stick #3 - something such as a nail in your tire

I can tell you that a 300# tire is a "doable" situation for you at home. HOWEVER - you would be well advised to have a good, strong friend there to help. And should something go wrong - tire falls on you - they will be there to help rescue you.

I will recommend you do this. Get a strong friend to come over and help you. Securely block the wheels on your tractor. Us a good jack and jack up the tire needing repair. Remove tire - load in your pickup or trailer - take to local dealer to repair and refill with lost fluid ( whatever that fluid might be - Rim Guard, calcium chloride, RV antifreeze, windshield washer fluid ) - bring repaired tire home and with help of friend reinstall on tractor.

Be advised - a tire/rim combo weighing 300# or more can cause substantial injuries should it topple over on you. And it can, very easily, become a situation that you might not be able to extricate yourself from without help.