Tires Plug or Remove and Repair?

[sksmsllc]

I have a leak in the right rear tire of my NH TC48. My plan is to try to locate and plug the leak. Any opinions regarding the success of plug vs remove tire and take for repair? Common sense tells me to just plug it and go. However I've no experience with tractor tires and do not know if this is viable as a solution. The tire/wheel seems huge and I can imagine removal is difficult.

Adam

 

[CurlyDave]

No experience here either, but plugging reduces a tire's speed rating. Not going to be problem with a tractor.

I would plug it and keep an eye on it before getting into any potentially unstable side hill situations. Measuring the pressure every day & keeping a record can't be that hard.

 

[jinman]

Adam, the most important thing to know about the tire is if it is loaded with fluid for extra weight. I'm assuming it does not have fluid because you would have seen it coming out of the tire at the leak. If it does have fluid and the hole is wet, you may have a problem getting a plug to seal properly. The first thing to do with a plug is to ream out the hole. That kinda always rubs me the wrong way, making the hole bigger before I fix it. Also, is the leak on a lug or in the valley between lugs? I think if it were mine and did not have fluid in the tire, I'd go down to Walmart or TSC and buy a gallon jug of Slime and put it all into the tire. That way, you'll fix your small leak and any other small leak you might have later in the tire. As a matter of fact, if you have thorny soil, I'd slime all the tires. I'd put at least a full quart in each of the front tires and a gallon in each rear tire. Even if later you decide to fill the rears for ballast, you will probably not have any problems because the tiny holes will be permanently plugged with slime.

BTW: You can buy an expensive tire seal by the 5-gal bucket, but it is pretty darn expensive, around $175. This stuff has little rubber particles in it and will permanently seal a tire. It was made especially for tractor and construction equipment tires, but it is about twice as expensive as Slime.

 

[SARG]

I just recently found a roofing nail in one of my rear loaded tires. I pulled the nail and stuffed in a repair plug while the tire remained on the tractor. It's been several weeks now with no leakage.

 

[jinman]

I just recently found a roofing nail in one of my rear loaded tires. I pulled the nail and stuffed in a repair plug while the tire remained on the tractor. It's been several weeks now with no leakage.

Sarg, you bring up a good point. If the hole is small enough, you will probably be able to seal it with a plug. I had the unfortunate luck to run over a beaver stake with one of my front tires and I had to put a boot inside and also a tube. My point is just that it all depends on the size of the hole and whether you'd expect to constantly have a problem because of thorns and such on your property.

 

[sksmsllc]

Adam, the most important thing to know about the tire is if it is loaded with fluid for extra weight. I'm assuming it does not have fluid because you would have seen it coming out of the tire at the leak. If it does have fluid and the hole is wet, you may have a problem getting a plug to seal properly. The first thing to do with a plug is to ream out the hole. That kinda always rubs me the wrong way, making the hole bigger before I fix it. Also, is the leak on a lug or in the valley between lugs? I think if it were mine and did not have fluid in the tire, I'd go down to Walmart or TSC and buy a gallon jug of Slime and put it all into the tire. That way, you'll fix your small leak and any other small leak you might have later in the tire. As a matter of fact, if you have thorny soil, I'd slime all the tires. I'd put at least a full quart in each of the front tires and a gallon in each rear tire. Even if later you decide to fill the rears for ballast, you will probably not have any problems because the tiny holes will be permanently plugged with slime.

BTW: You can buy an expensive tire seal by the 5-gal bucket, but it is pretty darn expensive, around $175. This stuff has little rubber particles in it and will permanently seal a tire. It was made especially for tractor and construction equipment tires, but it is about twice as expensive as Slime.

Thanks once again Jinman for being there for me! I hoped you may help shed light on this situation. I in fact did purchase 1 gal of slime when I bought the plug kit from TSC. Great idea to go ahead and put in all tires. I do not believe the tires were loaded as there is no sign of liquid leakage on the concrete around the tire. Due to the extreme location of my tractor and no electricity I have also had to purchase an air compressor and will need to buy a generator in order to put air in the tires. Would have needed this at some point anyway I guess. So what may seem like a minor issue has blown out into needing more than just slime and plug. I plan on getting to work on the tire with a friend from church on Tuesday. I will update you on the progress.

Adam

 

[sksmsllc]

I just recently found a roofing nail in one of my rear loaded tires. I pulled the nail and stuffed in a repair plug while the tire remained on the tractor. It's been several weeks now with no leakage.

Hello SARG, what an encouragement that you were able to get a solution from a plug for your tire. Hope that's all I will need here -- I'll keep you posted and thanks!

A

 

[sksmsllc]

No experience here either, but plugging reduces a tire's speed rating. Not going to be problem with a tractor.

I would plug it and keep an eye on it before getting into any potentially unstable side hill situations. Measuring the pressure every day & keeping a record can't be that hard.

Thanks CurlyDave, if I am able to hold pressure with the Plug I will absolutly measure pressure every day and I have a log book for keeing records great word of advice thanks.

Adam

 

[sld]

Before I bought a generator (unless you need it for other things) I would try to use a portable tank or maybe even a 12 volt compressor. It would take longer but it would work.

 

[Egon]

I also would suggest one of the better quality 12 volt compressor.

We have a cheap 12 V in each of our vehicles [eight dollars] that work OK for vehicles but larger tires I'd consider something a little better. The wife actually used it once.