Flat Front Tire on DK45

[ritcheyvs]

When I pulled the tractor out of the shed just now, it felt like I was driving with the brake on. Turns out the left front tire was flat and the valve stem (rubber thing) was completely gone. The old valve stem was just rubber, like on a car, and the hole is about 16mm in diameter.

Does anyone know if this is a standard US size valve stem or is it something special? I assume I can just pull a new rubber stem into the hole and reinflate the tire after swabbing the bead area with soapy water (front jacked up, of course).

Can anyone advise if this will work or if I need any special techniques? Thanks.

 

[DK35vince]

Nothing special that I am aware of.

 

[5030]

It's only flat on the bottom...............lol

Is it a tube or tubeless?

 

[ritcheyvs]

Tubeless. That tire seemed a bit low yesterday but I chalked it up to the mud where I was parked. So I was losing air and the valve stem was totally gone today so I'll (for now) assume the tire is OK and the stem was the problem. There are two sizes of valve stems (in several lengths) and I need the bigger size for a 5/8 inch hole, which I assume is standard for tractors. I'll leave the tractor jacked overnight so the tire can relax and get a new valve tomorrow. I think the "fish" type valve installer tool will work best. The tire is very stiff so it may be hard to get the valve started otherwise.

 

[k0ua]

Tubeless. That tire seemed a bit low yesterday but I chalked it up to the mud where I was parked. So I was losing air and the valve stem was totally gone today so I'll (for now) assume the tire is OK and the stem was the problem. There are two sizes of valve stems (in several lengths) and I need the bigger size for a 5/8 inch hole, which I assume is standard for tractors. I'll leave the tractor jacked overnight so the tire can relax and get a new valve tomorrow. I think the "fish" type valve installer tool will work best. The tire is very stiff so it may be hard to get the valve started otherwise.

Please report back how you fared with it. I am interested.

 

[murphy1244]

Isn't there a guard to protect that valve? There is on my DK.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Isn't there a guard to protect that valve? There is on my DK.

There is a guard but I don't recall doing anything or going anywhere that should have damaged the valve. But the tire and valve are original (2006) and could have been damaged in the past. In any case, I plan to buy spare valve stems to have on hand and check tire pressure more often.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Isn't there a guard to protect that valve? There is on my DK.

There is a guard but I don't recall doing anything or going anywhere that should have damaged the valve. But the tire and valve are original (2006) and could have been damaged in the past. In any case, I plan to buy spare valve stems to have on hand and check tire pressure more often.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Update: Installing the new valve stem was easy. But I could not get the rim to re-seat even though I broke a cargo strap trying to spread the tire. So I removed the wheel so I can to take it to a tire shop where they have a bead seater. Having encountered the same problem on my riding mower, I'm thinking about getting an air-blast bead seater.

 

[k0ua]

Update: Installing the new valve stem was easy. But I could not get the rim to re-seat even though I broke a cargo strap trying to spread the tire. So I removed the wheel so I can to take it to a tire shop where they have a bead seater. Having encountered the same problem on my riding mower, I'm thinking about getting an air-blast bead seater.

I wonder if a come- along would have "fixed ya" . wrap the cable around and hook to the other end.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Ok, here's the (hopefully) final update. Yesterday I tried two cargo straps around the circumference to spread the tire beads. The tire almost held air but my air chucks only work with the Schrader valve installed so I couldn't get air into the tire fast enough as it leaked slowly at the rim. I took the tire to a tire shop today and they got it seated but they had to use an air blast bead-seater. This is a regular car tire place, not a place that usually does tractors. I previously had to use this air-blast method to install new tires on my riding mower. This air blast thing seemed pretty handy so I ordered one on ebay for about $60.

 

[k0ua]

Nothing better than having the correct tool for the job.

 

[Patches]

Think I might have acquired a new air chuck for $10/15; I hate those air chucks that work only against a valve core

 

[Egon]

Got the hole patched. Gotta be a reason it went flat.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Got the hole patched. Gotta be a reason it went flat.

I think a faulty valve stem caused the problem. The valve stem was totally missing when I realized the tire was flat (and unseated from the rim). I had it seated and filled to 30 PSI on Tuesday and it's still at 30 PSI after three days. I'm hopeful there is no other leak but I'll watch the tire pressure more often now. With fingers crossed.

 

[o2batsea]

A little starting fluid spray inside tire. Stand back and toss a match. PoP! Tire reseated.

 

[ritcheyvs]

A little starting fluid spray inside tire. Stand back and toss a match. PoP! Tire reseated.

I guess I'm chicken. Having had this problem before, I bought an air blast seater on ebay: New 5 Gallon Air Tire Bead Seater Blaster Tool Seating Inflator Truck ATV 145PSI | eBay

It seems to work OK but I had to replace the QD fill connector and the threads were not NTP standard. The gauge reads in something odd (not PSI or bar). The ball valve is only 1 inch (vs 1.5 on other models). But it will knock me over if I'm not braced when I throw the ball valve. So it looks like it'll do the job.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I've twice lost stems while working in the woods. I presume that, despite the metal stem protector, some debris managed to poke the stem hard enough to let it blow out. The last time this happened, I didn't notice until I had destroyed the tire...it doesn't take long!

 

[95ram]

We've always just used starting fluid and a lighter to seat beads.