[AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?

[Matthew]

I just got a pair of old lawn tractors (Ariens Emperors) and the tires are 
pretty dry rotted on them.  These things are built solid as a rock so I am 
in the process of restoring them back to running condition.

I put a new rear tire on one of them, and it turned out to be a most of the 
afternoon project.  Getting the old tire off, and the new one on was easy 
enough.  Getting the bead started was the fly in the ointment.  

I started with crossing my fingers and hoping that my compressor would 
blast it hard enough to get both sides to catch.  Not a chance.

Next, I tried a ratcheting tie down around the center to pull the beads out.
This looked like it was going to work, but you reach a point (before the 
bead starts to catch) where pulling the center in starts to pull the beads 
in too.

Next, the pyro in me came out and I tried the gas trick.  I have had good 
results with this on car and cycle tires, but there is something bout the 
fat little tires that keeps it from getting a good pop..  

I resorted to beating on it with a mallet for a while.  It did no good, but 
I got some aggression out.

In the end I got it, with a rope around it, and a bunch of sticks to twist 
the rope with.  As soon as the bead would start to cave in someplace, I would 
loosen the whole thing up and stick a stick in that place and start over.  3 
or 4 sticks later and I was able to get just enough air in to get it to seat.

Once it is that far, you are home, but what a long, drawn out trip it was.  Is 
there an easier way to get these things to seat?

--Matthew