Tires Handling Liquid-Filled Tires

[Ortis]

I just got a 1954 Ford NAA. It runs well, but needs some work. The brake return springs are shot, and I need to take the wheels off to get to them (drum brakes). BUT, I have liquid filled tires! How do I get the wheels off without killing myself, or my wife who I may try to coax into doing the job?

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Volfandt]

The key is to not let them tip over on their side. They can be a bear to get righted again. BTDT! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

What I've done is to break the nuts loose 1st, then raise one side at a time. Raise the tractor just high enough to where the wheel lug nuts are centered in the wheel lug holes. Remove the nuts and then wiggle the wheel out to where it clears the lugs then roll it over and slightly lean it against the wall or similar. Block that side of the tractor up then go at the other side. I did my old TE20's rears like this many times. I had to use a 3/4" breaker bar with a thick walled 4' long pice of galvanized pipe to break the nuts loose! Thats why I recommend to break 'em before you start jacking the tractor up.

Good Luck
Volfandt

 

[PineRidge]

Otis ideally if you have a friend who has a loader on his tractor close by then it's a fairly easy job with a chain and the loader doing all the grunt work.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here

 

[Henro]

In addition to what the others have said, I would also put it in my mind that if something goes wrong and the tire starts to fall my way, I am going to jump out of the way and worry about picking it back up later...

May be a good idea to have a friend around to help the first time, even if he does not have the tractor/loader that PineRidge suggested. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It is probably not a big deal to do by yourself...but there is a lot of truth to the old saying "better safe than sorry..."

 

[GATC35]

Years ago before I had my TC-35 I borrowed my FIL's 1920. While clearing land I punchered one of the rear tires with a small tree stob. It's a bad feeling hearing that hissing sound with anti freeze and water spraying all over you. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Anyway I got the tractor parked in the barn on concrete before the tire went flat. I went ahead and jacked the tractor using railroad ties as a platform with a bottle jack on top of the platform. I have a small bank close to my barn. I backed my truck up to the bank, rolled the tire up the bank and simply flipped the tire over on the tailgate. Keep in mind this was not so bad due to the tire was now empty of fluid. After the local tire shop repaired the tire the real fun began. Returning home I backed to the bank and managed to wrestle the tire off the tailgate in an upright position. Rolling the tire back to the tractor was pretty tuff. I work as a mechanic for a magor airline and have handled large tires for years, but wresting this thing on gravel was a real chore. I'm 6' 2'' and weigth around 250 lbs. It was all I could do to get the tire back to the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Getting the tire back on the tractor was not too bad. The height adjustment was easy due to the bottle jack, getting the tire rotated to the proper position was the challenge. So I took a piece of half inch electrical conduit and cut it in 6 pieces about one foot long. I laid them out on the floor about 8 inches apart, just under the axle hub. I then laid a 6 foot long piece of 2 x 12 on top of the pipes. Visualize making a see saw, but instead of having a single pivot, you would have the pipes acting as wheels spaced 8 inches apart. I rolled the tire on top of the 2 x 12. I could then slide the 2 x 12 and roll the tire to line up the bolt holes. The pipe and 2 x 12 worked great, it was actually the easiest part of the job.

Hope this helps. Be careful !

 

[Poppa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( .... I could then slide the 2 x 12 and roll the tire to line up the bolt holes. The pipe and 2 x 12 worked great, it was actually the easiest part of the job.

Hope this helps. Be careful ! )</font>


Truly ingenious. I know that just moving my little foam-filled fronts around was hard enough on my back. I can't imagine trying to line up the lug holes on a rear. Your solution is simple and effective.


Thanks

Mike

 

[JJT]

Get a pair of helpers. Even if you have to pay then, it's not worth the risk of injury.

I've had 2 flats in my rear loaded tires, I called the mobile service for each. The callout was only $40.

 

[Mith]

get an engine crane - basically it will do the hard work so you dont have to - may cost a bit but youll have it for life /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JeffRey30747]

We (the more the better) have also done it with a 16hp Mitsubishi and a three point carryall for a loaded rear off a Kubota L3130HST. The additional tractor takes most of the grunt work out of it, though.

Jeff

 

[Ortis]

Thanks to evryone on answering the mail. I now have more trickes in my mental tool kit. I do have another tractor, so the carryall makes sense. But I really like the engine hoist and the conduit ideas as well. I now have an excuse to buy a hoist AND pave a spot so the hoist or the conduit can roll.
OrtisEvans

 

[KiotiOrange]

Ortis,

If you have one, you could try using an ATV/motorcycle lift to manuver the tire. These can be purchase almost anywhere for about $100, most come with straps, can support/lift up to 1500 lbs, and include tie down points to secure the lifted object.

The procedure would be 1. jack the tire up high enough to clear the jack, 2. put the jack beneath the tire, 3. strap the tire to the jack, 4. unbolt the tire, 5. pull the jack (with tire securely attached) back and 5. get to work.

This method allows you to:
1. not risk injury due to lifting/steadying tire unaided
2. lift and/or raise the tire with the jack when you want to reinstall.

I hope this proves helpful. Good luck and by all means, be safe.

KiotiOrange

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I hope this proves helpful. Good luck and by all means, be safe. KiotiOrange )</font>
Welcome to TBN KiotiOrange. When is your tractor coming? You're going to love it. Don't forget to come see us in the Kioti forum, with PICS.
This idea you've posted sounds like a real winner to me. Much easier, and safer, than many other methods. thanks, John

 

[jinman]

Ortis, nobody has suggested it, so I'm gonna be the oddball and say that you could drain some or all of liquid from the tire and that would also solve the problem. Personally, I'd just carefully take the tire off and roll it forward a little so I could lean it against the front of the tractor while working on the brakes. I've removed and rolled tires further, but it wasn't a lot of fun and there were a couple of exciting moments. The good thing about Jubilee ag tires is they are not nearly as big as industrials. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Otis I was really hoping that since you first posted in January another TBN member living close by might offer to give you a hand with the tires. If you were a bit closer to me I wouldn't give it a second thought I would PM you and offer you a helping hand, and be glad to do it. How bout it Maryland TBN members, hint, hint.

 

[justforme]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( getting the tire rotated to the proper position was the challenge. So I took a piece of half inch electrical conduit and cut it in 6 pieces about one foot long. I laid them out on the floor about 8 inches apart, just under the axle hub. I then laid a 6 foot long piece of 2 x 12 on top of the pipes. Visualize making a see saw, but instead of having a single pivot, you would have the pipes acting as wheels spaced 8 inches apart. I rolled the tire on top of the 2 x 12. I could then slide the 2 x 12 and roll the tire to line up the bolt holes. The pipe and 2 x 12 worked great, it was actually the easiest part of the job.

Hope this helps. Be careful ! )</font>


i did my first loaded tire yesterday.

instead of messing with the tire to aline the lugs i turned the axle.

i get the jack set at the right height, the tire closer to the tractor on the bottom (top tipping out a little), then using a 5' pinch bar i lever the tire on.

the pinch bar makes all the difference.

 

[KiotiOrange]

Thank KiotiJohn. I've been hanging in the wings for a few months now. Gathering intel and learning from others' experiences. Gotta say this group is among the best I've ever been involved with.

The tractor should arrive late next week or so. All at Carver Equipment said they should have all the parts this coming week and then I get to work (play).

I have a motorcycle jack and it made sense to recommend its use in this application. Of course I considered recommending jinman's suggestion of letting some ballast out of the tires, but hey, I gotta play with ALL my toys right?

Great to be a part of such a diverse group, and don't worry, I'll post an "It's here".
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[EastTexFrank]

You've got some good ideas to get you thinking, just be very careful. Doing that is how I first hurt my back all those years ago. Up till then I always thought I was immortal and invincible. In the end I completely drained the rear ag tire, it killed all the grass for about 2 years, but handling it was still a chore without a FEL. Give yourself plenty of room to work (and run) because if that sucker decides to fall over, your not going to hold it. Good luck.