Flat Hand-Truck Tire

BrentD · Dec 4, 2009

By the time I got around to fixing the tire, the other one had gone flat and slipped off the rim too. Fixed them both. Looped a piece of rope around the tires, used a short piece of re-bar to crank them down until they were seated on the rim then gave them enough air to stay put and undid the rope.

Worked like a charm. You guys are great.

Bird · Dec 4, 2009

My old two wheeled dolly has tube type tires which have always held their air pressure a long time, and of course, they're easy to get to to add air if needed. However, my 30 gallon upright air-compressor has the same size tube type tires and both leaked quite a bit. And where I have the compressor sitting, it was always a pain to get to one of the tires and hard get the air chuck on the valve stem without just pushing the valve stem back into the tire. So last month, I bought two of the new flat free tires and wheels (look like normal tires, but are solid "foam?" rubber). Anyway, I got mine at Tractor Supply Co.

ben2go · Dec 4, 2009

Bird said:
My old two wheeled dolly has tube type tires which have always held their air pressure a long time, and of course, they're easy to get to to add air if needed. However, my 30 gallon upright air-compressor has the same size tube type tires and both leaked quite a bit. And where I have the compressor sitting, it was always a pain to get to one of the tires and hard get the air chuck on the valve stem without just pushing the valve stem back into the tire. So last month, I bought two of the new flat free tires and wheels (look like normal tires, but are solid "foam?" rubber). Anyway, I got mine at Tractor Supply Co.

All you needed to do is change out the air every five or six months and they'll stay aired up.

Have ya'll been checking the oil in your radiators?Don't forget to recharge the flux compacitor and check the spindle timing.

Sorry,I'm being a goof.

archerm3 · Dec 4, 2009

glh said:
just try the old starter fluid explosion trick..
just put a very small amount i have done it many times
the tire will hold alot more then you are thinking
(just think of how much pressure is in the tire at the time of you using it to move that rather heavy piece of equipment)
i told a guyto put air in my dolly one time and he did then after i checked um one of um he had put over 50psi into it
but the strap will work good too

Putting weight on the tire will not increase it's air pressure.

radioman · Dec 4, 2009

my wife's work hand truck has same issue- they have BOTH tires flat for a year now since nobody can put air back in it. I tried a few tricks and they dont work on a small tire. exploding fluid, rachet, even bead cheetah!! once it popped up , it went flat. no cracks or anything. wierd. I ended up taking vaseline and littlerly slathering the tire and rim. I left a very, very, very thick layer of vaseline where tire meets bead rim. I was only then able to blow it back up. SO far it holding up for couple days with no loss of air at 60psi

. normal is 30 for those hand trucks.

JB4310 · Dec 4, 2009

Every time one of those little tires goes flat I swear I'm gonna get a tube for them, but always just end up wrestling with them to get them to seat again.
I miss tubes, why do we have tubeless tires? it's supposed to be better for what reason? I'm sure there is some good reasons, but when your fighten with one of those little baggers it's hard to appreciate.

Sawmilllawyer · Dec 4, 2009

Learned the rope around the middle of the tire trick a couple of years ago on one of my garden tractor tires, works like a champ. As far as the hand truck goes, I am with Forgeblast, just bought a couple of 10" tires from HF for like $5 or $6 each and replaced the tubeless tire on the hand truck. This required me to use the drill press and drill a couple of holes in the axle shaft closer to the frame for the cotter pins. No more flat tires when I need the dolly, has been great.

Bedlam · Dec 5, 2009

JB To me thats a good question why no tubes. Years ago the lawn 'tractors' changed to no tubes. When i bought one, The salesman said oh and the tires are tubeless just like and auto tire.I proceeded to ask why and he said less maint and less chance for flats .
I knew it was to save money. No doubt in my mind, and they could buffalo people to think this is true.
I proceeded to tell him that I was less interested because they were not tubes. And explained that its far easier to patch a tube than to try to get a small plug to fill the hole in the small THIN tires. (unlike the auto) tires.
He just said well people seem excited with this idea.But I still know its a money thing. I of course ended up with a tractor without tubes, and eventually put tubes in them .The cost of tubes that small shocked me so i just use the 15 inch ones and stuff it all in.
Surprisingly the small wheels ($4.99 )for harbor freight have tubes.Thats a good thing in my book, and event he rims are bolted together thats a huge help.Although I find these tubes to be paper thin.
In summary, I feel Id rather have tubes than the tubeless.Defiantly on tractors give the 'roll' factor..

The Haymaker · Dec 5, 2009

I found an even easier way than using a ratchet strap. I have to carry a two-wheeler with me for work and when I get a flat, it's a very bad day if I flatten a tire.

Simply use electricians tape. Wrap it snugly around the center of the tire, making it as tight as the tape will go without snapping. Do 5 to 10 turns and it will create enough pressure to set the bead. I find this easier than a ratchet strap because it creates even pressure all the way around.

I also keep the bead greased. It creates a better seal and inhibits rust. My cart gets a lot of salty slush and snow during the winter months. I think it may have more mileage than my tractor trailer!

Bird · Dec 5, 2009

Years ago the lawn 'tractors' changed to no tubes. When i bought one, The salesman said oh and the tires are tubeless just like and auto tire.I proceeded to ask why and he said less maint and less chance for flats. I knew it was to save money. No doubt in my mind, and they could buffalo people to think this is true.

Well, if there's no doubt in your mind, then I've no doubt that I'm not going to change your mind, but I also have no doubt you're mistaken.

Your salesman was right when he said less maintenance and less chance for flats. I may be one of the few members on TBN who remembers when the first new cars came out with tubeless tires. My dad owned a service station next door to a Chevrolet dealership at the time and we had several people who bought brand new Chevrolets and immediately had us put tubes in all their tires because they didn't trust those tubeless tires. But in the last 54 years, most folks changed their minds about tubeless tires.

Does any manufacturer still put tube type tires on a new car or pickup? My last one was the split ring wheels on my 1971 three-quarter ton Chevy pickup. Car, truck, tractor, lawn tractor, or dolly, I'll take tubeless tires anytime.