So, I haven’t used my Yardman roto-tiller for a couple of years. The tires are so flat the beading had detached from the rims. Unlike my lawn mower, where I can pound them into place, these tires are too stiff and after 40 minutes of hard work I gave up. I have no special tools at present. How can I inflate the darn things. Ihave to get the rubber on each side against the rim and cannot figure out how to do it. Is there a tool or a trick that will help with this?
If you have a ratcheting strap hook the ends together and tighten arount the outside of the tire. Tighten the strap till the tire bead is against the wheel flange. Inflate just enough to seat the bead and remove the strap. Inflate to the recommended pressure. Back in the days of bias ply tires that was the only way to inflate some of the tires. Sometimes the tires can be real stubborn you will have force one bead on then use a strap. A heavy rope and tire iron can be used in place of a strap, make a loop of rope a bit bigger than the tire, hook the rope with the tire iron and twist. Remove before fully inflating.
Hey thanks, that is very clever and I never would have thought of it myself. I will give it a try.
Automotive tires can usually be reseated by removing the valve stem and applying compressed air through the valve. The blast of air pops the tire beads onto the rim. Of course the air comes back out when the air hose and chuck are removed, so you replace the valve stem and refill with air. It should be easy to do this at a service station or auto repair shop if you carry the wheels in.
Let me clarify that it’s necessary to remove the valve stem to allow enough airflow for that technique to work. A hand/foot pump won’t do it. It requires an air compressor and an unobstructed valve.
Here’s another method that could work.
Disclaimer: I’ve seen this done, but never tried it myself, and probably would not try it myself.
With the wheel and tire secured on a tire mounting tool and one bead loose, shoot some starting fluid into the tire. Then flip a match into the tire. The starting fluid burns rapidly, OK explodes maybe, and the rush of gas pops the bead onto the wheel. Immediately add air through the valve.
It was impressive to watch, but as I said I’d hesitate to do it myself. The strap previously mentioned is much safer.
I’ve seen that as well, the starting fluid. Looked pretty hazardous. The guys doing it were driving across the arctic, using extremely low pressure tires for traction. The beads would pop frequently because of the low pressure, and the starting fluid trick was their only choice.
This definitely works. I moved into my sister’s weekend house earlier this year, and their wheelbarrow tire was totally flat. I used a canoe roof-tie-down strap around the circumference of the tire like a ratcheting strap, and poured air into the valve using an electric air compressor for a good five or ten minutes before it finally re-sealed. What a pain in the ass.