Tire Bead Seating ?

[Gordon Gould]

While out in the woods I dislodged the valve stem on a 7.2 X 16 front ag tire.
I reseated the valve stem and it appears undamaged. Now I have to inflate the sucker. The temperature is 10F and it is mighty stiff. The axle is blocked up so the tire is off the ground. I have a portable 8 gallon compressor and generator. My question is: Do I have any reasonable chance to reseat the bead ? Or should I just bring it somewhere ? Any tips will be appreciated.
( I already know about the ether method - would rather not use it )
Thanks

gg

 

[/pine]

I've never tried this myself and I am not recommending it but I have heard that it works on most tires...wd 40 is not as volatile as either

[youtube_browser]iSDPHjo1zRU[/youtube_browser]

 

[RalphVa]

I'd take a tension strap to wrap around the tire to entice the beads more into alignment. Soon as the beads pop in place, remove the strap though. I've had to use this on my fronts and also on the small tubeless tires on my dolly.

I finally had to put tubes in my tractor fronts. Even with Slime in them, they wouldn't stay up. Been up ever since with tubes in there.

The ether method sounds like a good way to injure yourself. I've limped my tractor back to the garage a couple times (before tubes were installed) with one front tire having one bead completely off. You can do this if you don't have to turn much.

Ralph

 

[dex3361]

You can use a ratchet strap around the outside to spread the bead to the rim.

 

[om21braz]

You can use a ratchet strap around the outside to spread the bead to the rim.

+1 Had to do that to a hd trailer tire just yesterday. Just be careful releasing it after you have the bead set and the tire accepting air.

 

[leonz]

Hello Gordon,

Be sure to:

1. Stand to the side when inflating the tire.

2.Remove the valve core when you reinflate it as the bead will seat faster then you can reinstall the core after the bead it seated.


What I have done on my ag tires for my tiller is create a tournequete using nylon rope and using a wooden stick as the means for twisting force if you can bring a bottle of soapy water that will help with seating both of the tire beads a great deal.


I wou;d also invest in a pair of short metal valve stems for your front tractor tires. A large volume tire dealer will have these in stock.


:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I had a front tire go flat about a month ago. I noticed the pressure was low and before I made it back to the garage the tire spun on the rim (was in 4wd) and just like that the rest of the air was gone. I slowly drove it back and tired seating it myself with no luck (I didn't try too hard though). The lugs on the tire, AG, and the narrow width made the strap a no go (I even tried a rope with a pipe).

I had to run to Morrisville anyway so I just went a tire shop and for $8 (maybe it was $6) they seated it. They even put a new valve stem in. If it was a rear tire I would have tried harder but the front tire fit in the trunk of the Subaru so it was no big deal. If you do bring the tire somewhere in the trunk of a car that you like make sure you have a plastic bag or towel to put down. They tend to use a fair bit of soap.

 

[brain55]

If you think this will be a regular occurrence, I recommend spending the money for one of these.

I have seated some big tire beads with one.

Brian

 

[JerryK]

I have had success with old bicycle tubes... try a 12" or 16" to fill the gap between the tire and the rim... If you do it right, the tire will push the tube out when it seals on the safety rim... Once the tire is starting on the rim, pull the tube out... I did it years ago on a tire that would not seal even with a band around it. Maybe I was just lucky, but worth a try....

 

[Gordon Gould]

Well I limped the tractor back to the garage. I was concerned about doing that but RalphVa gave me some confidence. It was a snow road and the rim never even touched. I feel better now that it is out of the woods. Have some honey-dos to take care of so I will tackle it in the morning. You guys have given me a lot of good ideas. Thanks. I'll let you know what happens.

gg

 

[George2615]

I have tried the WD-40 trick and it works. I was using my tractor about a half mile into the woods clearing brush and cutting up downed trees when a front wheel hit a small stump while turning and popped it off the rim. I had limited tools with me so I couldn't take the wheel off the tractor. I was about to walk back through the woods to get a lug wrench when I remembered the WD-40 trick. I raised the front wheels off the ground with the loader, sprayed some WD around the rim and lit it off. The tire reseated itself and I finished my work for the day and drove out. I just gave it a small spray like the guy in /pines video did.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have had success with old bicycle tubes... try a 12" or 16" to fill the gap between the tire and the rim... If you do it right, the tire will push the tube out when it seals on the safety rim... Once the tire is starting on the rim, pull the tube out... I did it years ago on a tire that would not seal even with a band around it. Maybe I was just lucky, but worth a try....

:thumbsup: Great idea! :thumbsup:
larry

 

[MikeD74T]

I have tried the WD-40 trick and it works. I was using my tractor about a half mile into the woods clearing brush and cutting up downed trees when a front wheel hit a small stump while turning and popped it off the rim. I had limited tools with me so I couldn't take the wheel off the tractor. I was about to walk back through the woods to get a lug wrench when I remembered the WD-40 trick. I raised the front wheels off the ground with the loader, sprayed some WD around the rim and lit it off. The tire reseated itself and I finished my work for the day and drove out. I just gave it a small spray like the guy in /pines video did.

The WD40 (or starting fluid) trick works because of the sudden expansion of the heated air, which does not maintain pressure once cooled. How did you manage to drive without further inflation???? If you stop the video at the very end you'll see that although the bead is seated the tire sidewall is sucked in indicating the tire is deflated. I've used that trick to seat beads but never had a tire that didn't need inflation immediately afterward. MikeD74T

 

[woodchuckie]

How ever you get it seated the best thing to do is prevent it from happening again. I've had to do it so many times that I now keep the air pressure between 30 and 40 psi. I also have put valve stem guards on the wheels.

 

[jbarker855]

If you think this will be a regular occurrence, I recommend spending the money for one of these.

I have seated some big tire beads with one.

Brian

These things are great but REALLY expensive. Made one myself though for <$50. Works great. I usually charge mine to about 80 PSI before opening the 1.5 inch ball valve. Bead blasters can save a ton of time.
-Jay

 

[RadarTech]

+1 Had to do that to a hd trailer tire just yesterday. Just be careful releasing it after you have the bead set and the tire accepting air.

I have used the ratchet strap too!
Works real good..
But if you can take it to a tire shop.
Mine charged $8 and put a steel screw, nut type valve stem and double checked everything ...
The valve stem they used I saw at tractor supply for $5!

 

[Stihlrunner]

I wouldnt be so down on the ether. Any 4x4'er worth his salt has used that trick. ****, I did it 3 times last off road trip! Works like a charm.

WD40 doesnt work as well anymore because they changed the propellant in it. It used to work great for starting diesels and was safer than ether on them.

Just give it a quick shot around the rim and toss a burning rag or a rag on a stick at it.

 

[jimmer2880]

Add me to the list of people who have successfully used the ratchet strap method. I've done it many times. just keep tightening down the strap until it's close to the rim (not necessarily touching).

 

[George2615]

The WD40 (or starting fluid) trick works because of the sudden expansion of the heated air, which does not maintain pressure once cooled. How did you manage to drive without further inflation???? If you stop the video at the very end you'll see that although the bead is seated the tire sidewall is sucked in indicating the tire is deflated. I've used that trick to seat beads but never had a tire that didn't need inflation immediately afterward. MikeD74T

Just seating it on the rim held enough for me to drive out of the woods. The R4 tires are pretty stiff and though pressure was low the bead didn't come off the rim.

 

[2458n]

WD-40 changed because when grounded out with a battery cable /terminal the can would explode. Bad for business. I have had very little luck with a small air supply seating tires. A better use would be use the air for your impact gun. Running a tire with low or no air can damage the sidewalls inside the tires. Learned that the hard way.