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

Mon Jul 26 16:11:52 PDT 2004

Thanks for the explanation George, sounds simple enough.

Lane Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Willer" <gwill at toast.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?

> Lane,
>
> I really don't know about the danger, but it seems harmless enough to me.
> I'm only guessing, but I think the danger is greatly over blown.  I've not
> been able to find out how much maximum pressure can be developed by the
> ignition, but I suspect it is much less than a tire or rim can stand.
Maybe
> someone like Steve O. knows.
>
> Here's what I have done.  Shoot a little more ether into the tire than you
> would use to start an engine.  With the valve core removed and a clip-on
> tire chuck connected, stand safely aside and wave a lit propane torch near
> the opening.  If enough ether is inside with the air, it will give a
gentle
> "whump" and the bead will be seated, and the air already flowing from the
> chuck will begin the inflation.  Immediate inflation is very important
> before the gasses have time to cool.  If too little ether is present, the
> bead won't be seated, and if too much there won't be enough oxygen to burn
> it.  If too little is used and the bead isn't seated, it will be necessary
> to purge the products of combustion before another attempt.
>
> George Willer
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lane Freeman" <lmfree at ptd.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 8:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?
>
>
> > George, I've been hearing about the ether method and understand it needs
> to
> > be done correctly or it can be dangerous.  Can you explain exactly how
it
> > should be done.  I've had my share of wrestling with beads over the
years
> > and mostly used a 10,000lb ratchet strap but the ether method sounds
like
> > something I need to learn.
> > Inquiring minds want to know!!
> >
> > Lane Freeman
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "George Willer" <gwill at toast.net>
> > To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 7:20 PM
> > Subject: Re: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?
> >
> >
> > > Larry,
> > >
> > > I think you've just been lucky.  You haven't had to inflate  a 12 ply
> tire
> > > that has sat flat for a few months on a loaded dozer trailer that's in
a
> > > position that makes jacking or removal impossible.  (within 3" of a
> wall)
> > > You haven't lived until you've inflated one of the badly distorted
stiff
> > > ones.  No amount of strapping or sealer or other gadgets will help.
> > That's
> > > the time to learn about the ether method.  It saved the day.  A gentle
> > > "whump" and it was ready to inflate.
> > >
> > > George Willer
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: "Larry D. Goss" <rlgoss at evansville.net>
> > > To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'"
> > > <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > > Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 5:54 PM
> > > Subject: RE: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?
> > >
> > >
> > > > I used to have those problems before I discovered that bead sealer
> takes
> > > > most of the work out of that job.  On occasion, I need to use some
> sort
> > > > of rope or ratchet hold down or what have you to expand the bead a
> bit,
> > > > but the liquid bead sealer bridges across the gap well enough that I
> > > > just don't seem to have to fight that problem any more.  Maybe I've
> just
> > > > been lucky.
> > > >
> > > > Larry
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > > > [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Matthew
> > > > Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 7:57 AM
> > > > To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > > > Subject: [AT] How to seat the bead on lawn tractor tires?
> > > >
> > > > 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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