[AT] Sealing a tire to a rim

Landen Schooler skoullar at ix.netcom.com
Sat May 1 06:46:01 PDT 2004


When I worked in town at a shop, an old timer showed me this trick....

soak a rag with brake fluid and rub the bead part of the tire. It softens 
the rubber so it will seal against a irregular rim.

Landen Schooler
Palmyra, Iowa

charlie hill wrote:
> 
> Larry apparently you haven't read the entire thread.  Yes I know precisely
> where it is leaking and at what rate for that matter.  The tires are nearly
> new.  I certainly don't intend to replace this one with a tire from the
> salvage yard.  If I intended to pull the tire off the rim for any reason I'd
> put it on a different rim.  This tire leaked at the bead when it was
> orriginally mounted.  The guy that mounted it is a friend of mine and I
> helped him mount them. We mounted and remounted the tire 2 or 3 times and in
> the process filed on the bead of the rim but for some reason it would not
> seat.   The rim looked fine with only minor pitting which we filled smooth.
> The problem is that these tires have very stiff ( not hard or brittle)
> sidewalls.   When the tire was first mounted it only leaked a few pounds
> over a period of a week or so.   We figured after the tire ran a few miles
> that it would seat but it didn't. (that was not a problem because I check
> the air in the tires every time I put a load on the trailer) This winter the
> trailer went unused for several months and the tire leaked completely down.
> When I re-inflated it it had developed a 24 hour leak down.
> 
> Since then and with the help of some soapy water, 50psi presure and a 2
> pound hammer I have it back down to a very minor leak.
> By the way, the tire that was on the rim previously did not leak.  If I
> really wanted to get scientific about it I would mark the rim, pull the tire
> off, remount it and see if the leak was at the same place on the tire or at
> the same place on the rim but I'm just not inclined to do that.  I'm kind of
> like Cecil and Farmer.  I have about 40 tires and wheels to keep up with and
> playing with tires and wheels is not my priority in life.
> 
> There are two small places where it leaks.  It is a very slow leak and is
> not a problem to keep it inflated.  If I need to remove the tire for any
> reason I will replace the rim at that time.  Right now I am only looking for
> a way to seal THIS tire to THIS rim.
> 
> Guys I appreciate all the helpful offers but I grew up in a service station
> and on a farm and spent my early adulthood driving a tractor trailer.  I've
> seen lots of tire problems and know how to handle most of them.  In this
> case I was looking for information on sealants that are available now that I
> don't have any knowledge of.   Some folks have answered my question
> precisely and with some good information.  It is not a matter of time.  It's
> not a matter of doing it right or wrong.  I just wanted some information
> about bead sealants and fix-a-flat type products.
> 
> Thanks again for your help.
> 
> Charlie
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry D. Goss" <rlgoss at evansville.net>
> To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 6:23 PM
> Subject: RE: [AT] Sealing a tire to a rim
> 
> > Charlie, have you coated the sidewall and bead with soap solution to
> > check for where the air is really leaking?  If the tire is as stiff as
> > you say it is, I'd suspect that you're loosing air right through the
> > sidewalls.  If that's the case, go down to your local salvage yard and
> > get a different tire.  If the leak really is at the bead, then get a can
> > of bead sealer at Rural King or TSC.  George said it right -- if you
> > don't have the time to fix it right the first time, when are you going
> > to find the time to redo it?
> >
> > Larry
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of charlie hill
> > Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 7:57 PM
> > To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> > Subject: Re: [AT] Sealing a tire to a rim
> >
> > Hey Len,  I qualify for redneck solutions.  I might just try some
> > silicone
> > gasket sealer.  The problem is that the rim is pitted or slightly
> > deformed
> > and the tire is so stiff it is not conforming to the rim.  Anything that
> > will smooth the rim surface will work as long as it is tenacious enough
> > to
> > stay put.  I know it is not the correct way to fix the problem but
> > sometimes
> > the bailing wire and duct tape solutions work just fine.
> >
> > Charlie
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Len Rugen" <lrugen at c-magic.com>
> > To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
> > <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 3:50 PM
> > Subject: Re: [AT] Sealing a tire to a rim
> >
> >
> > > OK - this is the "redneck" answer, so don't shoot me.  I'm trying to
> > get
> > > over my past...
> > >
> > > Most of the "flat stop" products won't fix a bead leak, they never get
> > > there.  They are OK for thorns.
> > >
> > > You are going to have to break the bead one more time, but don't take
> > the
> > > tire off.  Get a tube of
> > > silicone and "glue" the bead on the rim.
> > >
> > > I've seen it done, but don't know how long it lasted.  I wouldn't
> > trust
> > > anyones life on such a repair, etc...
> > >
> > > Len Rugen
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > AT mailing list
> > > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT mailing list
> > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT mailing list
> > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at




More information about the AT mailing list