Tire changing lubricants

[DB Pilot]

I have decided to change my own tractor tire, it is a 13.6 -28 Ag tire on my David Brown 780. I have taken the old tire off the rim, :thumbsup: Cleaned up the rim and some primer paint. I broke the beads with a HF tire changer set on maximum size and silicone spray to lube the Tire/Tube that has been on the rim since 1970. I'll get pictures later today hopefully. I will also use a remote tire inflater to set the bead.

At first thought I would use regular dish soap (like I use to find leaks) to lubricate the tire for installing on the rim but, now I see the gallon jugs of Tire Lubricants. So I'm asking what others are using? A neighbor told me he uses Tri-**** from Wally World That he thinks is also good for keeping the rubber pliable. Just in case I should have to dismount the tire again I would like to be sure I'm using something that will make that easier.

Lastly about the HF tire changer. You can bend EVERY part of that unit real easy if you force it (very cheap China steel). :muttering: But if you just work easy and use plenty of lubricant the bead will slowly move. It might take awhile but it will work. :cool2:

 

[DFB]

I have a jug of RuGLYDE from NAPA. We just use dishsoap down at the motorcycle shop.

 

[Tollster]

Liberal amounts of DISH SOAP under and over the bead, and if there is a TUBE, BABY POWDER. Same as DFB...motorcycles for 45 years now, and no need for anything else.

 

[arrow]

I have decided to change my own tractor tire, it is a 13.6 -28 Ag tire on my David Brown 780. I have taken the old tire off the rim, :thumbsup: Cleaned up the rim and some primer paint. I broke the beads with a HF tire changer set on maximum size and silicone spray to lube the Tire/Tube that has been on the rim since 1970. I'll get pictures later today hopefully. I will also use a remote tire inflater to set the bead.

At first thought I would use regular dish soap (like I use to find leaks) to lubricate the tire for installing on the rim but, now I see the gallon jugs of Tire Lubricants. So I'm asking what others are using? A neighbor told me he uses Tri-**** from Wally World That he thinks is also good for keeping the rubber pliable. Just in case I should have to dismount the tire again I would like to be sure I'm using something that will make that easier.

Lastly about the HF tire changer. You can bend EVERY part of that unit real easy if you force it (very cheap China steel). :muttering: But if you just work easy and use plenty of lubricant the bead will slowly move. It might take awhile but it will work. :cool2:

I used dish soap to change out my tractor tires and put them back on. Tire irons I used were two 30" spoon type from Northern Supply (9 bucks apiece). They did not bend. First painted rim with Chassis Guard then sprayed with epoxy paint over that then duct taped the middle of the rim. Mounted tire while rim was on tractor. Used a couple of vice grips to keep the parts of the tire I rolled onto the rim to stay on the rim as I was using tubes. Then filled with calcium. . Whole job with tires and all the rest of the crap to do the job (Tubes, pump for calcium, tire spoons, stem fisher, Two 20 gallon tubs for calcium, Chassis Guard, epoxy paint,) came to $900. I then traded the tractor in.

 

[Soundguy]

I have a jug of RuGLYDE from NAPA. We just use dishsoap down at the motorcycle shop.

that works... I use iut. you can get tubs of tire grease. a thick soap.

vegi or dish soap work fine too.

 

[Loadstar]

I just chopped the same tire off. Sprayed it down with gas leak detector soap. Another one I use is "great hand cleaner" hand cleaner. The best hand cleaner known to man.

 

[Winmac]

The tire lube pastes work very good but can be expensive so I use concentrated liquid bead butter and dilute it with water.

 

[farmer2009]

The tire lube pastes work very good but can be expensive so I use concentrated liquid bead butter and dilute it with water.

Both of these work well as does the dish soap. The key is to not use something (oil,wd-40) that will cause the rubber to break down and get hard.

The paste are nice also if you have a bead that doesn't want to seat or is leaking. Pack the leak with the paste (takes a lot) then continue to inflate it holds enough air to get the tire to seal. Then wipe off extra paste put back in bucket and good to go next time. Also some paste can be used to make a liquid soap so no need to have multiple kinds laying around.

 

[Soundguy]

ditto this. at work we have a pail of tire grease soap. thick like lard. but will water down.

use a putty knife / trowell to apply or remove.

most of my stuff at home is tubed so I just use the napa ruglyde mentioned earlier. mix it down with water in an old dish soap squirt bottle.

Both of these work well as does the dish soap. The key is to not use something (oil,wd-40) that will cause the rubber to break down and get hard.

The paste are nice also if you have a bead that doesn't want to seat or is leaking. Pack the leak with the paste (takes a lot) then continue to inflate it holds enough air to get the tire to seal. Then wipe off extra paste put back in bucket and good to go next time. Also some paste can be used to make a liquid soap so no need to have multiple kinds laying around.

 

[crazyal]

I've used soap and water but stopped because it left water inside the tire and would cause the steel wheel to rust if there was any bare steel. Now I use silicon spray (if I have any on hand) or WD-40. Silicon spray tends to dry out very quickly though. I've used WD-40 for decades on tires without any ill effects and always have a can or two around somewhere.

 

[Soundguy]

if you are worried about bare steel and a water dropplet or 2, add in a tablespoon of antifreeze.. it has corrosion resistance.

PS. you do know that on heat / cooling cycles, the NON dried air in your tires DOES condense water to the walls and rim..

 

[DB Pilot]

Here is a picture of the David Brown 12-28 Rim, tire changer used in the battle to break the 44 year old bead and a bonus, Just one of my 4 snow piles made this winter.
I am going to try the Ruglyde tire Lube as it has answered my question and will be used more than for just this tire.
The rim has been cleaned up and primed with heavy rust primer on the inside and white primer outside. I use Case Power White paint for the outside of the rim and my tractor hood/fenders as it matches the original DB color.

Getting the bead to slide off takes about 15 minutes per side. That consists of sliding the bead breaker under the rim edge which went easily. Then Lube and start a rocking action on the bar in 3 or 4 spots. Soon I saw a 1/8" gap and with lube at that point you can feel all getting easier.

The snow pile was made with the BX2200 bucket. A "Show me your Snow pile" thread for this year might be interesting.

The HF tire changer will be rebuilt this summer. The Bead breaker part bends easily and can be pulled back into position by hand. That's how soft the metal is. The base has been bent also. The Red breaker bar got bent on a regular car tire but if I had Lubed better it would not have. I can reinforce this changer, use better pipe for the bar and make it stronger but, why not make it solid the first time?

Thanks to everyone for the input I'll put the tire installation process on my "Enjoying my David Brown 780" Thread. But It will have to be during warmer weather.

 

[creekbend]

if you are worried about bare steel and a water dropplet or 2, add in a tablespoon of antifreeze.. it has corrosion resistance.

PS. you do know that on heat / cooling cycles, the NON dried air in your tires DOES condense water to the walls and rim..

Informative. Thanks for posting.

 

[DFB]

Was just looking over the RuGLYDE ingredient list...1- 5% Ethylene Glycol

Will not induce rust

Also says a use as lubricant for rubber bushings, shock absorbers mounts and stabilizers linkages, cleans tires leather and vinyl. Unless your changing tires on regular basis $15 jug should last a long, long, time round the shop.

 

[farmer2009]

I've used soap and water but stopped because it left water inside the tire and would cause the steel wheel to rust if there was any bare steel. Now I use silicon spray (if I have any on hand) or WD-40. Silicon spray tends to dry out very quickly though. I've used WD-40 for decades on tires without any ill effects and always have a can or two around somewhere.

Just passing along what the tire shop manager where I use to work taught everyone. It was a no no to use wd-40 there. He said it could damage the tire. He had only changed a few in his 25 + years there.

 

[DJ54]

A buddy of mine is an aircraft tech. They told him at one of the classes for changing tires on the Boeing 737 he maintains, to never use dish soap. Corrodes metal rims, and will break down the rubber compound due to the grease cutters.

Been using RuGlyde here for years. Still a partial jug in Pop's shop, and I know it was bought back in the 80's. Got a new jug myself in the mid- 90's, and still half of it left. A good dash on a shop rag goes a long way.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd have to take a haiiry eye ball look at that advice.

maybee some soaps with lemon oil or other acids.. but then.. soaks are an alkali base...

hmm.. I'd have to think that advice was limited to a very very few products.

glycerine based soaps should be TOTALLY safe .. eg/pg are VERY similar to glycerine.. pg is used in place of glycerine in some foodstuffs..

A buddy of mine is an aircraft tech. They told him at one of the classes for changing tires on the Boeing 737 he maintains, to never use dish soap. Corrodes metal rims, and will break down the rubber compound due to the grease cutters.

Been using RuGlyde here for years. Still a partial jug in Pop's shop, and I know it was bought back in the 80's. Got a new jug myself in the mid- 90's, and still half of it left. A good dash on a shop rag goes a long way.

 

[Loadstar]

I'll remember that when I fly my lawnmower down from 40,000 ft.

 

[crazyal]

If you read a can of WD-40 it says it's safe for use on rubber. I've never had an issue using WD-40 to mount tires, results could be different of others.

 

[troutsqueezer]

If you read a can of WD-40 it says it's safe for use on rubber. I've never had an issue using WD-40 to mount tires, results could be different of others.

Ditto. Just changed a set of UTV tires using WD40. Works well and doesn't cost much.