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

[Steve W.]

The easiest way I have found so far is to install the tire on the wheel,
then I look at the rim and force as much of the bead on the side
with the shortest shoulder. Then I set the tire/rim on to another
unmounted tire that is either the same size or one size larger, step on
the center of the wheel to force the tire closer to the other shoulder
on the rim. Then I inflate the tire. No muss no fuss. I have also used
wood blocks and just leaning the tire against the wall.

Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown NY


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Spencer Yost" <yostsw at atis.net>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?


> I always had luck with the rope and stick thing.   If I do it tight
enough,
> then hit it with everything my air compressor gives out, I have been
able
> to do it.  By the way, I take the valve out and place a blowgun on the
stem
> for fast air attack, though usually even just leaving the valve in and
> using the regular filler/gauge does the trick. Sounds like you have a
> strange tire size that doesn't yield as easy.
>
> A tube will seat it too if one will work in this situation, even if
the
> tire doesn't usually need one.  That's always a cheap $5-8 fix.
>
> The gas trick I've never tried but I have tried the ether trick - Much
more
> flammable, explosively so, and may make the difference.  Be darn
careful
> though please
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Spencer Yost
> Owner, ATIS
> Plow the Net!
> http://www.atis.net
>
> *********** 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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> >http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
>
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