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

[Steve W.]

I have a few "doughnuts" around here someplace.They are a LARGE silicon
filled O-Ring that you put around the rim and then hit the tire with
air. They pop out when the bead starts to seat itself. BUT they are not
as easy as the stacking method I gave earlier.
Stacking is easy and for most small tires you can use an old 14" tire
rim as the stack base. There are also air cannon type units that seat
tire beads also, They are basically a large tank with a BIG valve and
outlet to dump a LOT of air in a hurry.
Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown NY


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CEE VILL" <cvee60 at hotmail.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 6:42 PM
Subject: RE: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?


> Holy cats, guys.  Before we lose a valuable A.T.I.S. list member to an
> uncontrolled explosion, does anyone know if bead expanders are still
> available.  As I recall, in the last century (1959 or so), that is
what I
> used when pumping up new mounts at the new car dealership where I
worked.
> If I remember correctly, there was a flat strap about 1/4 of the way
around
> where the adjustment was made for tire diameter. The rest was what was
> probably an inflatable hose, wrapped with a woven nylon material, and
having
> a valve stem into it.  The unit is put around the center of the tire
tread
> and adjusted snug.  Air is pumped into the valve stem on the unit to
cause
> the hose portion to pull in on the tire evenly all the way around,
pushing
> the beads to the rim.  Tire usually takes inflation the first try.  As
soon
> as the beads seal, expander must be deflated and removed, so it
doesn't
> become overstreached and go flying into left field.  Perhaps our
resident
> tire dealer will know where these can be purchased.  I can't guess
about the
> cost in this day and age, but will try to google it.
>
> Charlie V.
>
>
> >From: Matthew <matthewx at dogod.com>
> >Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> ><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> >Subject: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?
> >Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:57:11 -0400
> >
> >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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