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

[Bigdog]

I have used various sizes of bicycle inner tubes well coated with bead lube placed between the tire and the rim.  inflate it enough to fill the space between the bead and the rim.  As the sidewall expands it will start to push the bicycle tube out.

Bigdog



  *********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

  On 7/22/2004 at 8:57 AM Matthew wrote:

  >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
  >
  >
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