Wierd incident today

Ken45101 · Jul 20, 2009

I was mowing the pasture this afternoon (new TT60A with 20 hours on it) when I felt a couple of drops of water on my arm. What the heck? Sunny sky.

Then more water! Every time the rear wheel went around, there was high pressure stream of water coming out!

The nut had come off the stabilizer bar on the 3 point lower arm. The stabilizer tube swung against the tire and destroyed the valve stem!

I headed for the barn and managed to get a jack underneath before the tire went all the way flat.

Just then, my wife comes up and tells me she got a call from the waterworks about my dad's house, asking if we had a swimming pool! Seems 10,000 gallons was used! No pool, must be a major leak ($$$). Head over there, can't find a leak. Call water company. They didn't clear off the meter face and misread a "5" for a "6". Whew!

Dealer is going to pick up the tractor and repair it and replace the Rimguard. I don't know how they are going to get it on the rollback without the jack underneath

I'm just very glad that the tire mishap didn't happen when I was down on a hillside trail with no way to get out quickly. How DO you repair a flat down in the woods?

Ken

CAB/AIR5225 · Jul 20, 2009

Is the valve stem on the inside of the tire?

BigD23 · Jul 21, 2009

Could have been worse, like turning towards uphill with a flat on the downhill side...Thanks for sharing.

Don

MikeInEburg · Jul 21, 2009

I had a flat in the woods once. Removed the tire and rolled it out for repair then rolled it back in and reinstalled. And yes, it WAS a rear tire - from L2550. Not huge, but not small either. It taught me to be a bit more careful and observant!
Mike

Ken45101 · Jul 21, 2009

CAB/AIR5225 said:
Is the valve stem on the inside of the tire?

Yes. And there are tubes in the tires for the Rimguard.

MikeInEburg said:
I had a flat in the woods once. Removed the tire and rolled it out for repair then rolled it back in and reinstalled. And yes, it WAS a rear tire - from L2550. Not huge, but not small either. It taught me to be a bit more careful and observant!
Mike

These are pretty good sized tires, about 5' high and probably approaching 1000# with the Rimguard in them, probably a couple of hundred pounds without the Rimguard. Maybe tractors like this don't belong in the woods

Ken45101 · Jul 21, 2009

BigD23 said:
Could have been worse, like turning towards uphill with a flat on the downhill side...Thanks for sharing.

Don

Yes. Or without the Rimguard, I probably wouldn't have noticed it until it was flat. It was also the downhill tire in an area with some small gullies. You are right, it could have been dangerous.

firemanpat2910 · Jul 21, 2009

"Maybe tractors like this don't belong in the woods " what do the woods have to do with the 3 pt lever losing a nut and breaking the valve stem? there are several ways to protect a valve stem from brush, and even trees but doubt they would withstand getting whacked with a peice of steel.

jinman · Jul 21, 2009

If I were mowing with a TT60A and a rear tire went flat, I'd position myself on a fairly level spot and remove the mower. Then, I'd slowly drive the tractor with the flat back to a place I could work on it or get help with the tire. Those rear tires are big and tough. I don't think the weight of a TT60A on a flat would be all that great at the slow speeds we normally drive tractors. If the tire is completely destroyed by a blowout, you don't worry about it anyway. If it is leaking and can be repaired, you want to get the implement weight off the tractor if possible and move the tractor to a workable place. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

On a tractor like my much smaller TC45D, the industrial tires can support the tractor's weight even when flat. Or as my Mom would have said," It ain't flat, but it sure is pooched out."

radioman · Jul 21, 2009

Ken45101 said:
Just then, my wife comes up and tells me she got a call from the waterworks about my dad's house, asking if we had a swimming pool! Seems 10,000 gallons was used! No pool, must be a major leak ($$$). Head over there, can't find a leak. Call water company. They didn't clear off the meter face and misread a "5" for a "6". Whew!

what do you mean by 5 for 6? not sure exactly what happened here?

Dealer is going to pick up the tractor and repair it and replace the Rimguard. I don't know how they are going to get it on the rollback without the jack underneath

It's possible the dealer can break it down and install new tubes and put air in it and drive on rollback. He would then be able to take it to the shop and fill with rimgaurd. Another possibility would be drive it anyway with no air and if tire does come off, you could put in a regular tire stem. you would then be able to jack it up and attempt to reseat the tractor tire bead and put air in it.

I'm just very glad that the tire mishap didn't happen when I was down on a hillside trail with no way to get out quickly. How DO you repair a flat down in the woods?

Ken

If there was a usuable tire stem , I would've used a portable air pump. however in your case, I would've taken the tire off the tractor and take it with me back to garage/barn and attempt to fix it with air only so I can bring the tractor home with no further issues. Yea, it gonna be a few trips to get everything you need but it will git er done!