DIY foam-tire filling?

[davesisk]

Hey folks:

Does anyone know of supplies and processes to just foam-fill your tires yourself? As I understand, two different liquid chemicals are injected under pressure, and when they mix they form the foam. I'd assume they are injected through the valve stem.

I'm thinking two of the small portable air tanks would probably do the trick. Take the valve off each tank and partially fill it with the liquid component, put the valve back on, pressurize the air tanks with an air compressor, then with the valve side down, inject into the tire through the valve stem. Only trick would be insuring that you got the mix right.

Thoughts? Surely this is do-able.

I've got a quote locally to fill both rear tires (315's) with foam for about $140 each, which doesn't seem too bad, but that's still quite a bit of money.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[RobS]

Dave, ever use "Great Stuff", that insulating foam in a can? If you have, you know it can be a huge mess if you're not careful. We have a foam machine at work for packing parts. Works the same, but on a larger scale. Two chemicals feed from 55 gallon drums. Again, it can get extremely messy if not used carefully.

If it were me I'd leave this one to the pros. I can't imagine getting all that mess down in a tiny little valve stem /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Highbeam]

So you would ruin those air tanks, have to buy the chemicals, take your time to do it. For 140$ per tire I think I would let them do it, supoprt your local guy.

The tire slime will fix barbed wire and cactus piercings. Think that's about as far as I would go with DIY unless you need weight and then I wouldn't hesitate to put water with a corrosion inhibitor.

 

[davesisk]

A 5-gallon air tank w/guage and hose can be had for $23 from HF...I figure it would take two of them (one for each chemical). It might very well ruin the 5 gallon tank and stuff, but for a total of $46, that's still cheaper than $140 per tire. Plus if you mix them in the tire, it seems like you might be able to actually get a couple or three uses out of the tanks, maybe more. I guess the deciding factor would be how much the chemicals cost.

Anyway, just some musings here...

Dave

 

[txhawg]

Well, document your experience and let us know how it goes. Make sure you take pictures of the process

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Think your right about the "Getting the mix right" part. You could end up with a ride that was too stiff, or way to squishy if you didn't get the hardness right. The pros are supposed to enter the weight of your machine and the intended use and from that make a formula that will provide the proper hardness.

I would leave it to the pros, otherwise you might have the expense of 4 new tires as well.