Front tire flats

texasjohn · Oct 4, 2006

The first time I picked up 2800 lbs with my FEL, the entire tractor genuflected and the front tires squished to about 1 inch high.... They looked OK without any load on FEL. I checked pressure, about 15 lbs... I read the printing on the side of the front tires about max inflation pressure... It's 60 PSI as i recall, anyway, I upped the PSI to the absolute max and am able to pick up the max load, make hard right/left turns in 4WD at very slow speed, even going down hill.... haven't rolled the tire off the rim yet.... am wondering what PSI those who have rolled their tires off the rim are using? Is it the max, or are you using squishy front tires?

Jay4200 · Oct 4, 2006

texasjohn said:
The first time I picked up 2800 lbs with my FEL, the entire tractor genuflected and the front tires squished to about 1 inch high.... They looked OK without any load on FEL. I checked pressure, about 15 lbs... I read the printing on the side of the front tires about max inflation pressure... It's 60 PSI as i recall, anyway, I upped the PSI to the absolute max and am able to pick up the max load, make hard right/left turns in 4WD at very slow speed, even going down hill.... haven't rolled the tire off the rim yet.... am wondering what PSI those who have rolled their tires off the rim are using? Is it the max, or are you using squishy front tires?

I run ~30PSI (max for my turfs), but I think that the pressure had probably bled down before I flattened the front the few times I've done it. It was always the left tire, and that one does have a tendency to lose pressure sometimes (but not always - which is weird).

Jay

N80 · Oct 4, 2006

When I rolled off of mine the pressure was low. About 18 pounds in the one that didn't come off, maybe lower in the one that did. I knew that they looked a little "squishy" before it happened but just failed to do anything about it.

But here's the thing, the manual only calls for 22 psi, which seems low to me. I think I have 28 in them. I'd hesitate to go up to the max the tire will hold as this could affect the way the tractor handles under load and how forces are transmitted to the front driveline while under load. I'm no expert, just guessing.

Jay4200 · Oct 4, 2006

JEW said:
When time permits I should put in new valve stems, but that requires the removal of the tire from the rim. I'll push my dealer to repair them for free or under warranty with the seat recall and service next week.

That should absoutely be a freebie repair - taking the wheels off should be easy too. 5 minute job when you use your FEL as a jack.

Personally, I'd tell the dealer that I no longer trusted the tubless stems, and I'd try to have him throw a couple of tubes in the tires for free. Then you know you won't have any problems.

Jay

DieselPower · Oct 4, 2006

Might want to try one of Texas Refinery Corp.'s tire seal products. They make 2 of them, 1 being biodegradable. Tire Seal II P.G. and Tire Seal Also in Tire Seal in gallon bottle cases One nice thing is these products are also available in caulking tubes for easy installation.

They easily clean out if you should ever have to put a vulcanizing patch in and are chemically inert so they do not harm rims or tires.

bky · Oct 4, 2006

This is what I use SLIME - Smart Solutions for Flat Tire Prevention & Repair! and love it. It has specks of rubber in it to help seal the hole

texasjohn · Oct 4, 2006

OK... low pressure, high load + sharp turn = tire rolls off rim.

Got it. That's what I figured and is why I went to the max PSI. I never know what I'm going to do... and when I pick up a HEAVY load I find that I ALSO am seeking to place it exactly so... within .5 inch of "perfect" and thus am likely to use max front end steering angle to do so.

I live in mesquite country and am very fortunate that I have not had flats. Slime in front tires may be helping.

atilton · Oct 4, 2006

i put tubes in the front tires on my 4310 works great and is cheap

Henro · Oct 4, 2006

PondCreekFarm said:
I seem to notice I get a lot of flat tires on my L3130 (R1 4x4). My father in law suggests that green slime product, but I have no experience with it. Is this adviseable or are there better alternatives?

As Bird suggested, foam is the final, one time, guaranteed fix.

I have foam filled tires on the front of both my tractors (B2910 and BX2200). I am a satisfied customer.

This is just a guess, but it would probably cost about $100 per tire to have the L3130 fronts foam filled, or a bit more.

Another advantage is the foam weighs a lot, and puts weight down low, an advantage on side slopes.

I was told, and assume that it may be true, that there are different densities of foam. My dealer referred me to a tire shop that put foam in with a little flex, rather than a very sold foam that might be more like concrete. I do have some bounce to my tires if I kick them or stand on them.

When a foam-filled tire wears out, it can be cut off the rim and the rim can be used again.

If you can afford it, foam fill the tires and forget about flats. That is what I did anyway...Yes, I occasionally do practice what I preach...