Tires and stuff

[Digger 258]

On my PT 425, I have the turf tires (if I remember right - 2 ply). My left front goes flat overnight. Should I fill it with slime? Tube it? Get a new tire? If you recommend a new tire, which ones are best for your PT? I operate mostly on a mowed field, with some slight mud work in my future. Thanks for your thoughts and experience.

 

[MossRoad]

I've tried slime in some very harsh, blackberry and rose bush environments and I've still had flats. It did O.K. for that. Slime will plug a small thorn puncture. But it won't seal a leaking rim. Buy a tube. They are about $15.00 at Tractor Supply or Rural King, as I recall. When you remove the wheel from the tractor, you may notice that you have two fill stems. One on the inside of the rim and one on the outside of the rim. If I had it to do over again (and I'm sure I will), I'd weld the inner stem hole shut and put the tube stem through the outer hole. Otherwise, you'll have one fill stem going into the tube and one going into the tire. It may confuse someone (me). Unless you are ever planning on reversing your rims for a wider stance (and more stress on your wheel motor shafts, bearings and seals), there's no reason to have a fill stem on the inside of the rim.

Also, some folks have welded stem guards onto their rims (a piece of pipe to protect the stem). I have never ripped or damaged a stem, but some folks also have larger PTs and different conditions than I do.

I'd replace the tire with the exact same tire as the other three. I still have three of my original turf tires and they are 90% still good tread. I destroyed one of the original tires by running it off the rim, and I went with a different tire tread style. I regret it. It has worn down tremendously and I only have about 20% tread left on a tire that is 3-4 years newer than the originals. And it doesn't have as good of traction as the originals in my snow and sandy loam.

As I recall, it came with Carlisle Turf Master tires like this...
Carlisle Turf Master Tires


And my replacement was a Carlisle Turf Saver tire like this...
Carlisle Turf Saver Tires

 

[Digger 258]

Thanks MR, I had no idea there were two stem holes! I think I'll do what you suggest and tube the tire for now. I think there is some dry rot on the sidewall, so maybe I'll have to look at another tire in the future and I am glad to hear your lesson.

 

[Kent]

When bush hogging tall grass the cut material tends to wind around and form a ball behind the left front wheel. Normally I just back up a few feet and it goes away. This season that ball of grass built up so much it actually ripped off the inner valve stem, resulting in an instant flat tire. I think that inner valve stem contributes to the grass build up.

So I bought 5/8" Rim Hole Plugs (toolsbyotto on ebay/also made by Hanco and available elsewhere) to fill the inner hole (I don't have a welder) and an inner tube. So far so good, though grass still balls up, though not quite as much, and with no risk of losing the inner valve stem. The hole plug needed a little cutting away of some rubber seal to fit.

I slimed the right front tire a few years ago and it still occasionally loses air (when using the bucket). So eventually I'll do the same treatment as the front left.

 

[jfh28]

when I first got my pt I had two flats in the first two weeks and like you decided I can't be dealing with this..........went out and got bulletproof tire sealant and filled all four tires and the ones on the brush hog........haven't had a flat or even needed to add any air to any of the tires in 10 years......here's a link..... GEMPLER'S® Ultraseal? Tire Sealant -- 1-gal. Bulletproof Grade | GEMPLER'S ........it says it will seal a 1/2" diameter hole and although I have not fired my gun at the tires to test it I can say it has sealed up some pretty good size gouges I have put in the tires.......Jack

 

[MossRoad]

I'll second the build up of debris on the left, front wheel motor when brush cutting or mowing. That's just the natural direction of the discharge and it all goes in there. I use a metal stick with a handle (similar to a headless golf club) to poke out the debris from around the wheel motor between the tire and body of the machine.

 

[SpringHollow]

I have not added air to my Ag bar tires for a couple of years since adding the bullet proof sealer. I used to have to add air every couple of days. The turf tires/rims from Surplus Center that JJ told us about have not required air - I do not seem to get rim leaks with them and I think the turf tires provide better protection from thorns etc (much more of the tire is covered by tread).

Ken

 

[BobRip]

I put some of the Gempler's Tire sealant as mention by JFH28 in all of my Power Trac tires. I hardly ever have to put air in the tires. It seals rim leaks and tire leaks. I could not be more pleased. I have used tubes in the mower tires and that has also worked very well. The get some weird forces that knock them on the rim. I have not had that happen in three years (or more) with the tubes.