Tires Flat tire on 2305

[chipsndust]

This is my second winter with the tractor, last year it was in a heated garage, this year it's under a "lean-to" open on three sides.
Never had low tire pressure until this winter. Only "change" is outdoor storage. I'm thinking about putting "fix-a-flat" in the fronts?
Anyone else having problems with air leaking from front tires?
Any advice/suggestions appreciated.

 

[myjohndeere]

are you sure the tires are leaking?? normally air contracts when it gets cold, that would in turn make your tires look like thier loosing air but really they are'nt.
Just pump some more air into them but make sure you check the pressure when the weather gets warm because thats when the air will expand again.

 

[Mayor]

No to the fix-a-flat. Just fill them up as needed. Why is the tractor outside now?

 

[chipsndust]

are you sure the tires are leaking?? normally air contracts when it gets cold, that would in turn make your tires look like thier loosing air but really they are'nt.
Just pump some more air into them but make sure you check the pressure when the weather gets warm because thats when the air will expand again.

Yes, this is more than just expansion/contraction. I have filled the fronts twice, one was flat. I'll keep an eye on them, obviously check each time before use.

 

[chipsndust]

No to the fix-a-flat. Just fill them up as needed. Why is the tractor outside now?

OK, Mayor, I used the stuff in a lawn tractor which had a slow leak and it worked great. Wasn't sure about use in a CUT? Why do you recommend not using it?
Long story on why the tractor is outside. Settling an estate and I'm temporarily storing things in the tractor shed. It's not completely in the open, but it's not in a heated building like last year.

 

[Mayor]

Yes, this is more than just expansion/contraction. I have filled the fronts twice, one was flat. I'll keep an eye on them, obviously check each time before use.

I have been told the fix a flat is a total pain if you ever want to remove the tire. One thing if your stuck somewhere but another just to fill it up when you can take them off to a tire place to have them checked. Maybe look it to a tube inside the tire.

 

[Mayor]

OK, Mayor, I used the stuff in a lawn tractor which had a slow leak and it worked great. Wasn't sure about use in a CUT? Why do you recommend not using it?
Long story on why the tractor is outside. Settling an estate and I'm temporarily storing things in the tractor shed. It's not completely in the open, but it's not in a heated building like last year.

Something to do with it sticking to the rim. This is second hand info but from a few people. Check out a tube.

 

[myjohndeere]

do you see or hear a leak? check that the fill valve is not whats leaking.
or you could fill the tire with air and either 1) spray soapy water over it and watch for bubbles or 2) take the tire off and fill your bathtub with water, submerge the tire and look for bubbles.

 

[cdhd2001]

This is my second winter with the tractor, last year it was in a heated garage, this year it's under a "lean-to" open on three sides.
Never had low tire pressure until this winter. Only "change" is outdoor storage. I'm thinking about putting "fix-a-flat" in the fronts?
Anyone else having problems with air leaking from front tires?
Any advice/suggestions appreciated.

I am a fan of the green Slime. You can run over almost anything and not worry!

 

[ChuckinNH]

You might want to try just replacing the valve core in the valve stems of your front tires. I have found that that sometimes makes the problem go away, and they cost just pennies. If your auto supply store doesn't have them, I'm sure a tire place would. They simply unscrew from the stem with a slotted tool. It could be that they are loose too........ worth a try anyway.

 

[Soundguy]

That would be my bet.. the valve core.

How long between you having to add air? A month or a couple weeks? That's no big deal. I have to add air to the fronts on my ford 850 about once a month so i can move 1000# hay bales on the front end loader...

I'm sure it's a slow valve core leak... but not real inclined to do much untill grass starts to grow..

Soundguy

 

[briwhit]

Dido on the green slime. I had a slow leak on my 2305 front tire put in the recomended amount and haven't had any problems. It has been 4 months. My neighbor has the same tractor and has tubes in both fronts and one back.

 

[RalphVa]

I had one front tire go down on my 4010 and slimed both of them. Haven't had any flats since. Unfortunately, Slime won't work on liquid-filled rear tires. They seem pretty tough. No flat on them in 280 hours.

Ralph

 

[megotatractor]

some other posters here might have a good point about checking that stem valve. I have found that sometimes all you gotta do is take a valve tool and tighten the valve down a bit.
AND I use SLIME. All four tires on my 2210 are loaded with slime and at least three tires have nail and glass holes in them. I use plugs first in the large nail holes then slime. Seals it up good. No more flats. My experience with tubes is they slow leak.

 

[JiminGa]

don't use fix a flat, it'll harden the rubber in the tire and actually cause more harm than good. The green, or yellow slime is a much better option, I run it in all my atv's and never have to worry about flats. I agree that your problem is probably due to contracting air and you just need to add some...though it could be a sticky valve. either way, I'd get a valve repair kit and a couple bottles of slime and do all air filled tires.

 

[chipsndust]

Thanks, guys. I'll check the valve stem cores, and if they still leak down, I'll try the slime. As I said, I never lost pressure for about two years. When I started snowblowing this winter, I had left front completely flat (actually came off rim). Reseated, inflated all four, a week later, right front was nearly flat. Inflated both fronts again and posted to you guys for advice. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

 

[slipshot77]

I'm a slime guy too. I run it in my lawn mowers, ATVs and pretty much anything else prone to flat tires and low speeds.

 

[irwin]

Just a thought, chipsndust. Warm soapy water in a spray bottle (if it's not too cold) spray into valve stem and look for bubbles..no bubbles no valve stem leak, note: you need to be look carefully, it's a small leak, but not so slow, you'll see it if it's leaking.

If you have the time and energy-take the wheel off and bring into a heated area, either spray the bead and tread with the soapy water or fill a large tank and dunk it, look for tiny bubbles. Then you'll know what's happening. I've got to do that also, one of my front tires loses enough air that I'm adding 5psi every 2-3 weeks, not a lot but agravating. Every moment counts til I win the lotto and can quit working..

 

[Steadite]

I had tubes put in my front tires. The weight from the loader kept rolling the bead during sharp turns and it'd loose pressure. Tubes work awesome....

 

[chipsndust]

Steadite:
That may be my problem. I never had trouble rolling the beads while using the loader (I did a lot of loader work last summer), but it seems to happen when I'm using the front mounted snowthrower. I didn't notice if the tires were low before I started snowthrowing. I haven't checked in a couple of days to see if they are holding pressure, but I'll be sure from now on to check before I start work.