After figuring out that the suddenly uneven cut of my new 46" Cub Cadet lawn tractor was a deflating rear left tire with a bead leak, I now must determine what tools I need to remove the wheel. Any pointers to expedite this ?
Mick
I think the advice from Fish to leave the tire on the tractor is probably good.
The first thing I'd try is to reinflate it and run it until it happens again. Getting that bead to reseat may or may not be easy,
- Let your air compressor build up to maximum PSI, giving maximum air force to pop the bead back to the rim.
- Remove the valve stem core, which will allow a little stronger in force of air into the tire putting more outward pressure to reseat the bead to the rim; once reseated, replace the valve stem and inflate tire to desired PSI.
- Like motoman says, a nylon strap or other tensioning tightening strap, even a piece of wire, wrapped around the the tire tread and pulled tight will force the bead outward closer to the rim, helping to reseat it when inflating.
Beak leaks on lawnmower tires perplex me! There are some reasons why, I know. Some are
- There is rust around the rim where the bead seats
- The rubber is losing is softening, maybe cracking, with age, making it harder to remain seated at the bead, especially at the low PSI we run in mower tires
- You underinflated the tire, allowing too much slippage, especially if on a ditchbank or other slope.
Solutions are limited, but include:
- Cleaning the bead area of the rim with a steal brush and smoothening it throroughly with steel wool.
- Adding an inner tube.
- Inflate to maximum recommended pressure (maybe more).