leaky valve stem repair on a fluid filled rear?

Bob_Skurka · Mar 23, 2004

I took the Kubota B2910 to the warehouse where we have an overgrown field that is filled with scattered debris. I couldn't use a bush hog because as I inspected the field I found a KITCHEN SINK, several tires, some pallet racks, a TV antenna and lots of other stuff. All that stuff had to be revomed so I went to work with the FEL basically scraping the area clean and mounding the debris up in piles so it could loaded into a roll off dumpster.

Somehow in the process I seemed to have damaged a valve stem on my left rear tire and I started hearing a hissing sound. Took the tractor right into the back of the warehouse and threw a truck jack under the rear end to take the weight of the tractor off rear tire.

My question is can the valve stem be repaired without removing the entire wheel (which is fluid filled) and dealing with the mess of fixing a fluid filled tire?

 On a side note, since this is a work related repair on a personal tractor, can the repair be paid for by the company and deducted as an expense?

Bird · Mar 23, 2004

( can the valve stem be repaired without removing the entire wheel )

If the valve stem itself is damaged, I've never heard of any way to repair one; you simply replace it. If it's a tube type tire, you replace the tube, and if it's a tubeless you replace the valve stem. In either case, it is possible to do (may or may not be preferable) without removing the wheel from the tractor, but you have to break the bead loose and you may or may not have a way to do that with the wheel on the tractor. For a tubeless, if you can just break the bead loose and push it all the way in on that side, you can replace the valve stem. For a tube type, you'll have to not only break the bead loose, but then pry it out over the rim all the way around. In either case, you're going to have to get most, if not all, the liquid out.

Not the kind of answer you were hoping for, I'm sure. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bob_Skurka · Mar 23, 2004

Bird. . . I was hoping for an answer that would allow for a quick repair here at the warehouse without draining the tire. Doesn't seem possible.

AndyMA · Mar 23, 2004

Unless you can see obvious damage to the stem I wouldn't be so sure that it is the stem. A hole anywhere in the tube with allow that squishy air to leak out the easiest point which is the valve stem. I've had a couple of fluid filled leaks that sounded just like yours and the problem was never at the valve stem. Working in an area with scrap metal is almost a sure flat ifor my machines. That's what metal tracks are for. A good tire guy just pumps out all the fluid, saves it and in many cases can patch the tube or if it is a tubeless tire pumps out al the fluid, replaces the stem or plugs the tire as necessary and refills it with fluid and air. As I mentioned in another post today, I usually manage to save over 70% of my fluid if I put the leak on top and jack the tire off the ground. Also shop around, I got prices from $40 to $150 to do the pumping plus repair the tire plus the fluid needed.
Find somebody who does a lot of big truck and tractor tires and they'll think your's is a toy and won't charge you much /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif None of the tractor dealers I know do their own tire repairs and that even includes those who do the initial filling.

Andy

Soundguy · Mar 23, 2004

In what way is the stem damaged.. guess your not lucky enough to just need a core replacement? eh

What about a valve stem extender? Perhaps you could find on ewith its own core valve.

If nothing else.. as a stopgap procedure.. just to get the tractor somewhere to fix it.. you could air the tire up and put some teflon tape or paste ont he valve stem threads.. and then screw one of them metal valve stm caps down.. hecksome of them even have a little o-ring in them.. and you wouldn't need the teflon. This might let you finish the work etc.. ( though if the co. is paying for it.. let the tire place break it down and replace the tube or stem... they don't charge 'that' much.

I decided I was squirly enough to change the bad tube and tire on the front of my 8n.. 3x19 rim.. 4x19 tube and tire... man what a job... tire store next time.

Soundguy

Bob_Skurka · Mar 23, 2004

I rotated the tire so the valve stem was at the bottom and fluid was leaking out around the stem. Rotated up, air leaks out. We called around and found a tire company who repairs large truck tires, they are coming out to pull the wheel and said they'd have it back on the tractor in a couple hours. I don't know the price, but the company that is doing it sells us fleet tires for our trucks. The tractor dealer wouldn't do anything with fluid filled tires, we called the tire stores near the warehouse, none of them understood how the fluid got into the tires!

I'm not sure what did it, but there was lots of all sorts of scrap out there in the field.

The only good thing is that I got to play with a tractor during working hours on a nice sunny day and got paid for it too! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Things could be worse!

JJT · Mar 23, 2004

I had a mobile tire service come out to the house a few months ago. I'd been living with a slow leak in 1 rear tire and the other developed a catastrophic leak. I picked up a pair of tubes at the local farm store for $20/each, the service wanted $40/ea. They pumped out the tires, broke the bead and found both tubes had been installed with a fold that had eventually sprung a leak. Washed off the rims, installed new tubes and pumped the CaCl back in. Took less than 2 hours and cost less than $150 including the tubes.

gone · Mar 23, 2004

When i hade the BX i replaced both stems from outside not easy but i did it. i pulled old ones with pliers and soaped up new ones good worked them in with blunt scewdriver and added air it worked. the old stems wer jap junk the iner metal stem kept sliding out of the outer rubber. first time i saw that but first time for every thing.