J B Weld wheel repair

[PeterK]

Even if it holds air, my concern would be the strength of a rusted out rim on a tractor. Not something I would use as the strength of the wheel is already compromised from rust through and that wheel looks like it would buckle if given the opportunity.

 

[Kent B]

Even if it holds air, my concern would be the strength of a rusted out rim on a tractor. Not something I would use as the strength of the wheel is already compromised from rust through and that wheel looks like it would buckle if given the opportunity.

We will find out if it buckles or not.
I might agree with you if it were a 4x4 and / or a FEL but the whole tractor only weighs in at 2500 lbs not counting extra weights or ballast.
I hope I am right anyway. I appreciate your perspective and opinion. That is why I'm here.
Thanks,
Kent B.
If it was a 4wd I would have done something a little more professional.

 

[Soundguy]

are the centers intact? if you have good donor rims and good centers. then it is just cut n paste...

Interesting patch job.

I assume you are running tubes in the tires. So, it doesn't really have to be airtight, it just has to hold the tube in place, not fall apart, and not damage the tube. I still might have brazed it all in place, but the JB might hold.

What I've decided to do on my Toro (not completed yet).

One of the rears was rusted out, and the other was in pretty bad shape.
I needed a pair of wide 12" wheels.

I found a set of Yellow 12" rims (I'll have to repaint to a more pleasing color) with a very large bolt circle.

View attachment 326205

I'll cut an adapter plate out of 1/2" plate steel (which will also give me some wheel weight, as well as improving the offset, I think). Anyway, my plan is to make rim bolt pattern adapters to match what I need. The Toro bolts should fit just inside of hub circle on the yellow rim. I guess many rims are designed to sit on a hub for additional stability, although I suppose I could carefully machine the adapter to fit against the rim for stability, perhaps in conjnction with

As far as relatively narrow 15" wheels.
The VW bug had 15" wheels with a large bolt pattern circle.

 

[Soundguy]

By the way a JD 870 2wd uses a 3x15 rim. It seems to be a popular size. Just the center section is the challenge. My brother had some steel wheels made for his car. If you have the good center then welding a good outer should not be a problem for a qualified welder. Or a shop that has a cnc plasma cutter can make a center. But I am sure the repair you did will work for a while. Just keep new used wheels on your shopping list and some will pop up sometime.

there ya go. 3x15 rims. that and the oe centers and it's an easy cut n weld job..

 

[CliffordK]

Assuming this is personal, on the farm use, I'd just use what he has, and see how it works.

One of the narrowest Auto rims would be from spare tires. I believe one of the most common sizes is 125/70R15. I'm not sure of the rim width, but probably about 4", or perhaps 4.5".

There may be narrower rims for the dragster market, but the spare tires above should be dirt cheap (about $5 each).

Anyway, you could cut new centers with a bit of lathe and mill work, although the size is probably a bit big for many home style lathes.

However, again, just see how the repairs above hold up. Unfortunately much of the work is internal, but one might be able to look for cracking around the valve.

 

[CliffordK]

Ahhh
Looks like you can buy new-fab rims.

3x15, 5 bolt.
https://www.tractorpartsasap.com/3_x_15_Front_Rim_5_Hole_3_500_Back_Side_p/103753.htm
15x 3, 5-Bolt Wheel - m. e. MILLER tire

3x15, ring only (blank)
https://www.tractorpartsasap.com/3_x_15_Front_Rim_Blank_p/103751.htm
15x 3 Rim Blank - m. e. MILLER tire

Custom rim fabrication may also be available from other suppliers too.

Welding your centers onto blanks should be easy enough. Or, perhaps you could either get one of the manufacturers to fab up some custom rims (with any luck, they would be interested in custom sizes), or a local shop to do it.

 

[Soundguy]

it's REAL common to buy blank rims and weld in your own centers. many places sell blank rims jsut for that purpose..

 

[paulharvey]

On my tractor, one front rim the guy who had it before me bronze brazed the old hole and drilled a new valve stem hole. Make sure you deburr and smooth your new hole because if its at all rough you will wear through you valve stem on the tube. I also would make sure you have no rough edges on your patch, or that could cause problems with tube when you air it up.

 

[Kent B]

Ahhh
Looks like you can buy new-fab rims.
15x 3 Rim Blank - m. e. MILLER tire

$50 rim blank ... Now that is looking like a possibility right there. Great find. Thanks.
I think that my patch will hold but that is a great back-up plan.

 

[Kent B]

On my tractor, one front rim the guy who had it before me bronze brazed the old hole and drilled a new valve stem hole. Make sure you deburr and smooth your new hole because if its at all rough you will wear through you valve stem on the tube. I also would make sure you have no rough edges on your patch, or that could cause problems with tube when you air it up.

Excellent advice on the new drill out hole. I did my best smoothing it over, likewise with the patch, I gave it a fighting chance.
That's why I didn't want to weld it myself. My welder is not gas assisted and I splatter a lot.

 

[Soundguy]

Excellent advice on the new drill out hole. I did my best smoothing it over, likewise with the patch, I gave it a fighting chance.
That's why I didn't want to weld it myself. My welder is not gas assisted and I splatter a lot.

i've always just used a stick welder... they are notheing but spatter.

that's what a grinder is for.

 

[Kent B]

There they are!!
I had to hold off on the rear tires until I can find my best price. Locally the prices range from :dollarsign: $250.00 to $440.00 :dollarsign: each not counting tubes or mounting.
I am calling the local Firestone dealer today. 11.2 x 24 Ag tires.
The local John Deere dealer put me on infinite "hold", plus hung up on me once, then never called me back after taking my request.:thumbdown:

update: I found GCR / Firestone tire center with "Samson" brand for $196.83 plus mounting and tubes. That looks like the best price.

 

[Kent B]

Now I am looking into "foam filling" the rears. The old tires are Firestone with plenty of tread. The rubber is cracking but the insides of the tires look good.
So I would be disappointed if I bought cheap tires and they didn't last. If I buy a tire like I have it will cost $500 a piece.
I guess I will have to think on it for a while.
The good news is that the front tires are installed and they look pretty good. JB weld patches are holding for now.

 

[CliffordK]

A lot will depend on how much you are using your tractor, and whether you are storing it in the barn. If you are taking care of them, with intermittent use, new tires could easily last 50 years or so.

I've decided to upgrade the tires on my Freeman Baler because I could watch the MONSTER cracks opening and closing as the wheel rotated. And, if I get everything working, I may end up driving it on the road a bit. If I was just keeping it in one place, I might drive it until I blew a tire, but even so, it would probably happen during the worst possible time. Foam, of course, would likely prevent blowing a tire, or at least allow it to happen slowly.

 

[Larro Darro]

You did a great job with the rims, Kent. I think they will do fine.

I did a patch job on a plastic fuel tank with J B Weld this week. The tube cost a lot less than the five gallons of gas that leaked out.

 

[Soundguy]

get some paint and paint the tires.

paint with uv protectants can be had. the uv protectant will let the paint take the uv hit mostly.. vs the tires..

bu the time the paint wears off the side walls yuo will be down the line a while.. with tires that have been a lil more protected.

 

[acraiger]

Kent,
Just wondering how the JB Weld is holding up. I have the exact same problem with my rear tires on my tractor. I'm going to try your fix with the JB Weld to patch the hole by the valve, and drill a new hole for the valve.

 

[Kent B]

My JB Weld is holding strong. I only patched the front wheels though. My rear wheels were still solid.
I recommend taking your time to make sure that all the edges are smoothed down before applying the JB Weld. Since that stuff takes hours to cure it continues to settle / flatten out before it dries.

I made my patches from angle iron. After cutting to the right size I clamped them in the vise to hammer in some curve so they would fit better in the wheel. I also used the bench grinder to help smooth out the edges before installing.

I never even think about it now. After painting the wheels I never notice the patch unless I look for it. They haven't lost any air since the fix. I did have new tubes and tires put on so it should keep on keepin' on.

Good luck.
Kent

 

[acraiger]

Thanks for the excellent advice. I think you did an great job. Hopefully mine turns out just as good.
Here is picture of my rims after attacking it with a wire wheel. May try the grinding wheel to get it down to the bare metal before applying the JB Weld and patch to the hole spots. Then get as much of the rust off the rest of the rim. Then a coat of Rustoleum Reformer, then a coat rustoleum paint.
The tubes were filled with calcium chloride that leaked, and was probably eating at the rim for quite some time. It was a real pain getting the tire off.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Thanks for the excellent advice. I think you did an great job. Hopefully mine turns out just as good.
Here is picture of my rims after attacking it with a wire wheel. May try the grinding wheel to get it down to the bare metal before applying the JB Weld and patch to the hole spots. Then get as much of the rust off the rest of the rim. Then a coat of Rustoleum Reformer, then a coat rustoleum paint.
The tubes were filled with calcium chloride that leaked, and was probably eating at the rim for quite some time. It was a real pain getting the tire off.
View attachment 342981View attachment 342982

If you are going to the trouble to fix it with a patch and paint, I would get the entire rim abrasive blasted and ready to paint. The blasting will also give the JBWeld something to hold on to. I would get my plate patch ready by heating and beating to shape, then get it blasted, put on the JBWeld and when hardened, apply the primer to prevent rust bloom. KentB did a fine job on his rim. Your hold is much bigger but a piece of 10 gauge plate might work fine and should give you plenty of strength.
I patched the plastic fuel tank on my LS tractor over 2 years ago and it is still holding. The new tank (supplied under warranty) is still in the box taking up room in my shop. I suppose I should put it in the attic for storage to get it out of the way. JBWeld if excellent material.