Tires Flat tires?

[kybota]

I realize this is a pretty simple question, but I don't know the answer so I'm asking anyway. Two days ago I went out to use my tractor after it had not been run for about 10 days and a front tire was flat.

I could not find any punctures or cuts. I have a compressed air tank, which I had recently filled, but it had leaked to about 20 psi and I could not get the tire to reseal before running out of pressure. I took the rim off and to a tire shop where the employee said they won't hold air without a tube and the dealer should have put one in (the tractor is 3 months old). He could find no punctures or cuts either.

After remounting the rim, I checked the other side and sure enough it was down to 15 psi. Should I take it in and have a tube put in it as well or is it going to keep losing pressure if I don't?

We did have some really cold weather come in just after the last time I parked it and maybe the pressure dropped to where it lost its seal. Any ideas.

 

[Henro]

I can't really answer your question, but I can offer an alternative that worked well for me.

Consider getting the front tires foam filled. It is not too expensive for the smaller fronts, and you can forget about flats as well as add a bit of ballast weight down low where it helps the best when on side slopes...

On my B2910 I paid about $70 per front tire for the foam. On yours it would be a bit more. For me it is worth it to forget the possiblility of flats. I think the foam also works better than air in the tires for loader work, but that could just be me...

Just food for thought... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JerryG]

Are these tube or tubeless tires? If they are tubeless and still will not hold air, you need to contact the manufacture for replacements.

 

[RoyJackson]

First thing to do is replace the valve core...about 50 cents. The tool to remove it might cost a couple dollars though.

After you replace the core..give it a couple days to see if you still lose air.

 

[Poppa]

I heartily second Henro's solution.

I too was having problem with keeping air in my front tires. The tractor wasn't more than a month or so old and the right front kept slowly going flat. I remembered what Henro had wrote but filed that under something to be dealt with...later...my favorite time.

Fought the tires all summer, kept having to fill the front before each use. Was actually getting it down to a normal operating procedure then summer ended. Couple months go by and we get the first snow. I take the tractor out to see how she moves white stuff around and forget to air up the right tire. When I noticed, I had already broken the bead and gotten snow INSIDE the tire. I had to pull the wheel and tire off the tractor and bring them into the house so they could warm up enough that I could reset the bead. I knew I still had to deal with the snow inside but I would get to that...later.

Remounted the tire and went out to at least finish the plowing. couple minutes into the job I looked down. Right tire was fine. Left tire was flat. Bead broken and yup filled with snow. Just let the tractor roll back into the garage and laughed at my procrastination.

Next day I took both front wheels to the local bobcat dealer and he foam filled them. 130 dollars for both. Best money I have spent yet on the tractor. I actually smile when I walk past it now and don't have to wonder how the tires are doing.

If you go this route which I again strongly endorse be aware that it will nearly double the weight of the front wheel. Maybe even more. I know I was barely able to hold the wheel up and twist it to line up the lug holes...but then again since it should never go flat I won't have to do that again for many many years /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Mike

 

[Phils]

I found and installed this stuff myself, opting for the "bulletproof" over the standard: Gemplers

I put it in all my mower and PT tires and haven't had even a low tire since, and I've mowed some rough areas full of brambles and blackberries.

Phil

 

[PineRidge]

I go along with Phils remedy as we also used the liquid tire sealant in all 4 tires on our NH. We used Multi-Seal but more than likely liquid tire sealants are all about the same. We haven't had a flat tire since we injected it into the tires and we have pulled more than a few thorns out of the tires. The sealant immediately stops the leak.

We used the foam like Henro recommended on the four tires for our finish mower, it has eliminated any flats on the mower deck as well.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here

 

[Knight9]

Well, I kind of hate to disagree with the other guys, but I'd just go ahead and put tubes in them. I had the same problem with both of my front tires on my B2410. The problem was definitely worse with cold temperatures and/or swings in temperature (both of which we have lots of /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). In my situation it was made worse with using a FEL. I just could not keep a seal.

The tires ended up getting damaged by driving them with too little air (looked fine when I started, cold and stiff, warmed up with use, and slumped down). My fault completely. I just got a set of new front tires and although they say "tubeless" on the side of them, I put tubes in.

So far no issues and I'm thrilled to not have to worry about what I'll see when I put up the garage door /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Here's a link to my thread on this issue B2410 Tires

Good luck.
Kevin

 

[stevenf]

Kybota,
I haven't had my tractor long but listen to Henro I had all my tires filled and I can't tell you how comforting it is on a big tractor to know that no matter what happens or what you run over you will never have a flat and an added bonus you have lowered your center of gravity significantly so its a safer machine on slopes and such. I paid $2,900 to polyurethane solid fill mine and over the life of the tires it'll probably cost me a dollar+ a day but the security is well worth it. The only drawback that I can see other than expense is if your using it to cut your lawn your probably going to have more rutting problems especially in damp earth. It increased my weight by almost 3000lbs. The M9000 is 4wd so before someone jumps on me about how I could remove the tire and have a flat fixed hundreds of times for the money I spent, the tires are heavier than I can lift to start with I'd of had to have a boom truck out to fix any serious flats and in my area they charge a $100 minimum just to show up.
Steve

 

[PineRidge]

$2,900 Whoa that makes me feel a whole lot better about spending $275.00 for 5 gallons of Multi-Seal.

I guess if you need an extra 3000 pounds of weight though foam will put it on fast.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here