I found out what happens...

[Iplayfarmer]

I found out what happens when you use too much ether to set the bead on a tire.

I was setting the bead on one of the front wheels for a Jacobsen 3810 golf course style reel mower. It's one of those wide balloon type tires that have a lot of volume inside. I shot some ether in and set it afire. Nothing happened. So, I shot some more ether in there. I don't know if the first shot just never really caught on fire or if I just really over did it with the second shot, but the boom echoed off the surrounding hills. I also had to extinguish a few blazing spots on the tire.

I blew the bead completely off the rim.

Surprisingly, nothing broke. I used the last of my can of ether for the big boom, so I had to resort to holding the rim against the tire with one hand while I inflated it with the other. I tried all combinations of the strap around the tire trick and just couldn't get it to work that way.

Now you know.

 

[NH-Rob]

It seems that every time I have used either to seat a tire I end up with a good laugh, but I know that one of these times it is not going to be so funny. Be careful out there.
Rob

 

[radioman]

you daredeveil you! glad you safe. not sure what to tell you how to fix the tire. maybe its time for tubes ?

 

[Ductape]

I've just never had much luck with the nylon strap around the center of the tire. The ether trick always works for me........... though I've never gotten used to the 'pop'. I imagine when the 'pop' doesn't startle you anymore, its time to stop mounting tires?

 

[aggiehortguy91]

I've just never had much luck with the nylon strap around the center of the tire. The ether trick always works for me........... though I've never gotten used to the 'pop'. I imagine when the 'pop' doesn't startle you anymore, its time to stop mounting tires?

I always use a ratchet strap to seat small tires. It is a fine line between not tight enough and too tight, but I usually get it within a couple of tries. Wide tires like a riding lawn mower are much easier than narrow ones like a wheelbarrow. I haven't been brave enough to spray ether and light it in a tire. I guess just call me chicken

I bet that was quite a boom if it blew the bead past the rim Glad you're ok.

 

[mitch becton]

if you would like to try something not so wild in the early 70's i worked for goodyear and we had some "goop" we used on tire that had this same bead to rim match it looked like clear grease but was a mixture that would was away when you completed the job. i am sure if you have a truck farm tire center near you itcan be bought and not a boom except bead to rim. you putin on between bead and rim inflate tire and your done.hope this helps and saves someone hearing.

good luck


mitch becton

 

[Iplayfarmer]

This was the second tire that I had done that night. The first went really easy. I popped it with ether on the first try, and then as it cooled the tire completely imploded so it looked like a raisin. The bead never broke. I put air in it and it ballooned right back up.

I'm wondering too if there was some problem on the second tire with the fact that the can was almost empty. I don't know if the propellant in the can is more flammable or expands more than ether or what. I do know that some of the propellant came out without the ether for a split second before I tipped the can just right to get the ether to come out.

 

[sandman2234]

Mitch's suggestion is the safe way to do it, but I tend to do it AGGIE's way. That goop isn't even expensive either.
I lean on the side of being too chicken to fire up a tire full of ether, also. Plus the fire can't be good for the rubber tire.
David from jax

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Mitch's suggestion is the safe way to do it, but I tend to do it AGGIE's way. That goop isn't even expensive either.
I lean on the side of being too chicken to fire up a tire full of ether, also. Plus the fire can't be good for the rubber tire.
David from jax

I'll usually try a few other techniques before I'll try the ether. Usually the other tricks work too. This tire had been sitting flat for a few years, though, and the bead was out of shape. I think that even though the explosion didn't seat the tire, it did put the tire back into the right shape. I don't think I could have got it to work with just the other methods. One of those tanks with a big valve might have done the trick, but I don't have one of those.

The ether trick is quick and easy. If you're not a fool like me and use too much ether it can be as safe as any other method. I've used ether before, and even though the ether "explodes", the tire never gets very warm.

 

[Mace Canute]

Years ago I found I could mount fairly narrow tires on quite wide rims if I cut three or four 1X2s and spread the beads of the tire apart and left the tire in the sun for a day or two. When I removed the spacers, the tire kept its wide stance and it really did make a day and night difference in getting the beads to seal. I've done the starting fluid trick myself more than a time or two, and I've never liked it, but sometimes you do what you have to do, albeit with all due caution!