Front Tire Leak-Can't Find It

[disk_drive_eng]

Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

I have a leak in a front tire of my B2910, which I cannot find! I've put it in water twice, can't see any bubbles anywhere. I'm beginning to think there may be a problem with the tire bead sealing on the rim when the tractor is being driven.

Anyone else had such a problem?

 

[keeney]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

I had two problem leaks in my front tires.

One I fonally found by taking the wheel off and putting the whole tire underwater in a lake. Was able to finally see some bubbles.

The other problem I had was an intermittent leak in the valve stem. The rubber was cracked a bit. When dirt would get caked in the wheel just right, it would leak. When I cleaned off the dirt to look for the leak, it would spring back, close up the crack and stop leaking. I finally heard the leak while re-filling the tire and noticed that the sound changed depending on how I pushed on the valve-stem.

Bead-sealing problems can also be hard to find sometimes.

- Rick

 

[ronjhall]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

Bob

My B2910 had a leak especially when I was using the loader.
I suspect the problem was a very small leak at the bead.
Used slime to stop leak. It did not fix problem. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Finally put tubes in. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have not had a problem since. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Junkman]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

Sounds like a good enough reason to trade it and get an updated model..... Tire leaks are a problem only if you are not equipped to handle it properly. If you put soapy water all along the edge of the bead, you might find it. Remove the wheel from the tractor and check both sides. Sometimes it is the sidewall itself that is the problem. A small crack in the rubber and casing is the culprit. Sometimes you have to dismount the tire and clean the rim at the bead and then reinstall. Put a tube in as a last resort......

 

[ronjhall]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

<font color="blue"> Put a tube in as a last resort...... </font>

Junkman

That's easy for a Retired gentleman to say. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But us working fellows may get a little aggravated if every time we went out to use the tractor (in our limit available time) to find a flat tire. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Kind of takes away from the seat time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

Bob, I always kept a little squirt bottle (spray bottle) of soapy water in the shop; about 4 to 1, water to dishwashing liquid soap. Naturally, it's easier to find those little leaks, or slow leaks, if you take the wheel off so you can roll it around, lay it down flat, etc. Most are quite easy to find that way. I've had two of what I'd call "unusual" leaks in the last 3 or 4 years, but not on my tractors. I found a very slow leaking valve core on my pickup and when I removed it, the core was badly bent (I'd had new tires put on it a couple of weeks earlier and suspect the installer bent the core putting it in). And on my wife's car, after checking the tread, bead, valve core, etc. on one wheel, I finally found that the slightest movement of the valve stem caused it to leak around the base of the valve stem; only time I've actually had a defective valve stem that had to be replaced.

 

[Bilser]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

You could just put pneumaseal or "Slime" available at TSC or other stores in the tires. It'll plug your leak and you won't have to worry about leaks in the future. Great stuff.

 

[Egon]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

Perhaps replace the valve stem, clean the rim bead seating area well and put some sealer on it. Put a little more air in than is called for and hope for the best. Check in water before mounting on the tractor.

Of course if you have custom aluminum rims and the weather is cold you just plain have a problem.
Egon

 

[milkman]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

Egon

You busted my bubble, that was my next upgrade, aluminum wheels. Guess I'll have to wait for warm weather. Can't decide if I want the polished aluminum or the chromed aluminum. If I go with the chromed, I'd have to get the stainless muffler, and enlarge the exhaust outlet in the hood. Wing sure would look cool on the ROPS. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

Re: Front Tire Leak-Can\'t Find It

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> Put a tube in as a last resort...... </font>

Junkman

That's easy for a Retired gentleman to say. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But us working fellows may get a little aggravated if every time we went out to use the tractor (in our limit available time) to find a flat tire. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Kind of takes away from the seat time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

Who you calling "gentleman???????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

It takes a little longer to do it right, but less time than it takes to do it twice. I have seen many tubeless tires in my lifetime that have had nails, etc., in them that would leak down slowly, and you could easily put air into them and repair at a later date, but never have seen the same thing with a tire with a tube in it. Fix a tubeless tire properly the first time and you will extend your seat time. Put a tube in it, and you might be doing more flat repairs in the field. Just my opinion, your may be different and you are entitled to your opinion even if it doesn't agree with mine. After all, it is only an opinion and nothing more.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif