how to replace a tire?

bdog · Mar 27, 2004

Here is a stupid question. I just bought my first tractor this week and today I screwed up with the box blade and stuck a ripper into the back tire. The tire is a 15.5-38 on 14" rim. How do I go about replacing it? Do the tire dealers come install a new one for you? I see how the tire unbolts and I guess I could jack up the tractor and remove it but it looks to be so heavy that I would never move it. or get it loaded in my truck to take to town for repair.

Junkman · Mar 27, 2004

Call your dealer and let him deal with it. If you live near a large city, possibly the tire damage can have a vulcanized repair done to it. If not, you will need to purchase a new tire. Considering the size, you would be better off letting the people that know how to handle the tire remove it. If it fell on you, it would do more damage to your body than the cost of the service call. The proper equipment to handle the weigh is important. The tire service truck will have a crane mounted on the rear that will lift the tire and place it onto the bed of the truck and take it back to the shop for dismounting. They will have wooden blocks that the tractor will be placed on while the tire is off for repair.

RoyJackson · Mar 27, 2004

Since you didn't mention any liquid coming out, I'll assume your tire wasn't ballasted.
If you have wheel mounted weights, remove them first.

If possible, get the tractor on the most level place you can find, preferably on a concrete or asphalt drive or parking pad (or, in the garage or outbuilding if you have one).

Have a buddy standing by to help you.

Break the wheel bolts (or nuts) loose just enough to be able to turn freely with your wrench.

Jack the tractor up under the draw bar bracket (not on the draw bar). Jack just high enough to get the tire a ¼" or so off the surface.

Put a JACKSTAND UNDER THE AXLE CLOSE TO THE HUB and lower the jack until the axle is seated on to the jack stand.

Remove the wheel bolts (or nuts, if that's what you have).

Do your best not to have that tire/wheel fall over unless you plan on repairing it right there. Roll the tire to your truck...you and your buddy should be able to pick it up or at least pivot it over the tail gate.

Obviously, once repaired, installation is in the reverse order.

You can call a tire shop specializing in truck tires to come fix it, or your dealer may do it...won't be cheap though.

When I had to have mine replaced, I just left the jack under the the draw bar bracket (along with the jack stand) for the couple days it took to get the tire replaced (mine was cut on the sidewall, hence not repairable).

Bird · Mar 27, 2004

Both the other guys are right; Junkman for safety and Roy if you want to try it yourself. I've done a few and like Roy said, have a helper with you and be careful. Of course we don't know where you are or what experience you have had with tires. I don't consider it a "bad" job, but it's usually a dirty job and can be dangerous. In my area, there was a company that would send a truck out to repair or replace a tire for $65 (plus the cost of a new tire if required).

GerardC · Mar 27, 2004

( Here is a stupid question. )

BDOG....

RichZ · Mar 27, 2004

bdog, I don't know where you live, but if you live in farm country, there are probably agricultural tire specialists, like we have around here. I've used them for my tractors. They're usually so reasonable, it isn't worth doing it yourself. They usually have everything they need on their truck, including a gas powered compresser, torches, tubes, and anything you can think of.

Last summer, I noticed that one of the rear wheel rims in my 1951 Ferguson was corroding. I got a new wheel rim at my local tractor parts shop, and I asked him what to do about removing the old wheel rim and installing the new one. He called up the local ag tire guy. The guy came over the next day. The wheel was original, and probably had never been removed for 53 years. He had to torch each bolt until he could break it. It took quite a long time. Then the rim was actually corroded to the axel. More torching. Finally he got the rim off, and put the new one on. Removed the tire, and the tube was shot. He had the right tube on his truck, he installed the tire and loaded it. Believe it or not, the whole job took over an hour and a half. The price, including the tube was $75. I think that was real reasonable, considering the amount of time it took.

5030 · Mar 27, 2004

If I am in a pinch, I do them myself. I have a set of Kal Van tire spoons (available at TSC or a farm store) and you use them to remove the tire from the rim. Most ag. tires are tube type and you can patch the tube. If it is a tubeless tire, you have to "boot" the tire from the inside. The "boot" is a tire patch just like a tube patch but placed inside the tire carcass.

We break our tractor tires too, but not on a regular basis. Once in a while we have to fix a large tractor tire. We use what is called a Bead Cheata. It's a tool that will lever the bead from the rim using a 1/2" drive ratchet or an impact wrench. The Bead Cheata is about $150.00.

Probably the easiest way if you have the time is to dismount the rim and tire and take it to a tire place, one that does ag. tires. I just had a set of 2 implement tires mounted with new tubes. It was $30.00.

AndyMA · Mar 27, 2004

Last year I was unfortunate enought to have to have several tires fixed. When I had a ag tire remote service van come to my farm for a 16.9x30 filled R! it was $150 plus $40 tube plus $140 fluid. The nest time I took it off and had it done in the shop. This time the tube was repaired and the repair cost was $30. Quite a difference. We used a second tractor to move the tire.

Andy

herdfan · Mar 27, 2004

I haven't blown out a tire -yet, but was contemplating replacing the brakes on my 1972 Ford 2000. Considering the weight of the large, loaded ag tires, I just paid the local tractor dealer to do the job. We drove the tractor there (2 miles) to save the delivery fee and he charged aroung $300 parts and labor. I'm sure this is kinda high, but it is sure cheaper and less painful than a ER visit and 6 weeks in a cast waiting for a broken leg to heal!

Slamfire · Mar 28, 2004

Mine are small enough I can handle them alone, but you need help. If you can possibly do it, taking the wheel with busted tire to the dealer for replacement is a whole lot cheaper than having them come to you. Now you have to temper that statement with the one about being cheaper than the hospital bill.

PineRidge · Mar 29, 2004

Yesterday I had my rear tire off because I was installing rear remotes on my TC-40D. My tires are not filled and that tire was still an accident looking for a place to happen. If they were filled there is no way that I would ever attempt to remove one myself.

RalphVa · Mar 29, 2004

This is the main reason, other than not needing a large tractor, for my looking at sub and CUT tractors and NOT using any tire liquid ballast. Those things can be VERY HEAVY, and the large ones are too bulky, too.

My neighbor has a large JD with bum rear tires. I won't touch them, other than to add air. For hers, you need a very tall jack or jack stands to hold up the axles.

Ralph

jwstewar · Mar 30, 2004

I call Dad /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, that is what he has done for a living for the past 40+ years. He has done pretty much done them all from bicycles to cars, trucks, semis, tractors, large tractors, skidders, and other misc. logging equipment. Funny thing is Dad only weighs about 120 lbs. You should see him wrestling those big tires. I'm glad he is finally starting to slow down some. He is actually taking an occassional Saturday off now. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Inspector507 · Mar 30, 2004

Yeah Jim,
He prefers helping you on the barn /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jwstewar · Mar 30, 2004

Actually, no he doesn't. He was complaining on Sunday about doing the shingles. He said he was glad he stopped building houses years ago. "Roofing was too hard of work." This from a guy who I've seen take a sledge hammer and beat a tire 100x w/o stopping because it was stuck to the rim. I sometimes miss those late night service calls that I used to go on with him - though I know he sure doesn't.

mikim · Mar 30, 2004

I ran over a dead fall cedar and put a silver dollar size hole in my new rear tire on my TC45. I followed Roy's procedure and had no trouble lifting it into my truck myself. I was in the woods however and had to roll the tire to the truck - drove the truck as close as I could but it was still a bit of distance. I used a farm jack to jack the tractor just as Roy has suggested, and a jack stand to hold it for a coupla days. Took it to town, new tire, turns out it was covered by field hazard - cost me less than $100 (don't remember the amount but it was sure less than I expected) Toughest part was walking back to the house to get the truck & tools. Tractor was so new at the time, the "nubs" weren't even worn off the tires yet.

Wannafish · Mar 30, 2004

Mike,

Here's a 'nudder dumb question...

If the tire was bad anyway, why not just drive the tractor on the flat out to where your truck was able to get to. I wouldn't think a short distance like that would hurt the rim... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

mikim · Mar 30, 2004

I wouldn't think a short distance like that would hurt the rim... 

Ya know - yer right.
I guess I didn't think I could - it was fairly flat where I was - so setting a jack wasn't too bad... the loader was squeezed between two trees (when the tractor tilted on the flat) and jacking the tractor freed it up ... and truthfully -- I didn't even consider driving on it flat .... how's dat fer a DUH! Like I said the hardest part was walking back to the house - rolling the tire was a little ways - through trees - but it was flat ground and maybe 50yds or so .. so it was certainly close enuff.

billlin · Apr 7, 2004

I have a bad back and could not work on my tractors which are not large with out a $200 + - rolling hydraulic boom from Pep Boys lifting varies from 4000 Lb to 1000 Lb depending on the length of the boom which slides in and out. The only problem in useing it is the base is as long as the boom when extended. But working on the tractor most times I can slide the legs under what I am working on and lift it. My 12.5 x 24 tires are filed and heavy. Jack it up , roll the boom over the tire put a strap around the rim pump hydraulic lift until tight 4 bolts and I take away the rim and tire and roll it to my truck

TBAR · Apr 7, 2004

I built this to help with the heavy chores like changing tires. It's not pretty but it works great. Remove tire, load it up and take it into town.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/43399132/120093513uSPTjf

TBAR