John Deere 5085 Flat Tire Question

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

I was out on the land this morning and mowed about 30 acres. Came in the house to take a break and grab some lunch. Went back out and noticed that the left rear tire was flat as a pancake. There is a hole that is about 1-2 mm more or less a very very tiny hole. I know that these tires cost $1,000 and this is a brand new tractor not even a 100 hours on it.

My question is this.... Can a tire like this be patched just like a car tire? I know that it had anti freeze inside the tires for ballast. Anyone have a recommendation where I don't have to spend $1,000. We have a baby on the way and by no means can afford this at the moment, a $1,000 that is!

I really appreciate any feedback I could get.

Johnny g · Oct 19, 2014

You can always put a tube in it, not sure if they can be patched, but I would check with a tire shop

whis · Oct 19, 2014

it can be fixed, if it has a tube in it you can patch the tube, if its tubeless you can plug the hole. call around and find tire dealer that has service truck

Tx Jim · Oct 19, 2014

Rear tire flat be it tube or tube type can be repaired by a competent tractor tire repairman.

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

Dang so this is going to cost me $200-$300 probably. I don't know if it's tubeless or not. I know that they placed anti freeze in the tire for ballast. I guess I'll have to phone John Deere in the morning. I can't catch a break!

They were just here on Friday, had to order an expensive part and their going to come out and do an oil change and filters considering I'll be at100 hours very soon.

beenthere · Oct 19, 2014

Antifreeze not likely, but windshield washer fluid more of a possibility. No advantage to antifreeze for weight over WWF, and some don't like the risk to animals that can drink it if it spills out. You have any animals lined up drinking it while you were at lunch?

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

I don't have animals on the land. But I also didn't even notice fluids coming out at all.

whis · Oct 19, 2014

no need to call the dealer call tire store that has service truck. if you post a picture of valve stem we can tell you if it is tubeless or not

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

@ whis - I took a pic of the stem and the puncture. I really appreciate the help. If it's tubeless would that be a simple fix compared to tube? What part of Bama are you from

Zebrafive · Oct 19, 2014

Watching this thread. The valve stems on the rear tires of my 6415 are different (from each other), so I suspect one is a tube and that tire suffered flat before I bought the tractor. Mine are filled with Calcium Chloride (not my choice) by previous owner.

whis · Oct 19, 2014

its tubeless looks like plug patch will work will need to be broke down to do it, for quick and temporary fix you can just plug it. I am from Arab

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

I'll make some calls and see if I can get a truck out to take down the tire and patch from the inside. I have no idea what this will cost but what else is new. Thanks for all the help fellows!

2458n · Oct 19, 2014

If it is not leaking fluid what makes you think it has calcium or anything else in the tire for weight? Some modern patches are put in the tire thru the outside. They have a rubber plug that is pushed in and a round patch opens up on the inside of the tire the gun pulls the plug back out. The plug is cut off like normal on the outside of the tire. To fix it correctly have a boot type patch put on. I have ran new E range tires patched this way and have driven the tires past the legal limit with no more flats or leaks. Just be glad the tire can be saved. much worse case would be catching a steel T type fence post and ripping the sidewall out.

JimRB · Oct 19, 2014

A few miles up the road is a tire repair store. They fix cheap $600 tires and tires that cost tens of thousands of dollars. I have seen tires I thought were bald and shot they were applying patches to. Grind, clean and vulcanize a patch. Even chunks missing from the tire can be fixed by a good tire repair shop.

bravo2zero · Oct 19, 2014

2458n said:
If it is not leaking fluid what makes you think it has calcium or anything else in the tire for weight? Some modern patches are put in the tire thru the outside. They have a rubber plug that is pushed in and a round patch opens up on the inside of the tire the gun pulls the plug back out. The plug is cut off like normal on the outside of the tire. To fix it correctly have a boot type patch put on. I have ran new E range tires patched this way and have driven the tires past the legal limit with no more flats or leaks. Just be glad the tire can be saved. much worse case would be catching a steel T type fence post and ripping the sidewall out.

I was told by the JD dealer that anti freeze in tires to give weight. I also watched them do this but the thing is I noticed they placed water and anti freeze in the tires. Is that usual?