The loose nut

ctgoldwing · Jun 8, 2010

My L3400 is only 10 months old. A few months ago while working in the woods I managed to get a flat in the rear tire. At the time I assumed I had come along side a rock & popped the bead.

Fast forward to yesterday. The machine has been sitting in the garage for almost a month. I start backing it out when I (literally) get that sinking feeling. Same tire is flat. So I look around and discover that the right turnbuckle on the 3 ph has loosened and the BX42 apparently has been rubbing on the inside of the (now) flat tire.

So I asume the chipper must have come around and given the tire a big enough whack to break the bead.

Again I am unable to get the bead seated so I call my friendly commercial tire dealer. After he fills it he says lets just check everything and gets his 'soapy water' jug. He quickly discovers the stem nut is not very tight and we can see air bubbling from the gasket. A check of the other 3 wheels showed 2 of them were low in air pressure and their nuts were also not fully tight.

I guess the lesson here is always check your nuts.

Monster5601 · Jun 9, 2010

I had a similar problem, the valve was loose inside the stem allowing pressure to escape.

Mousefield · Jun 9, 2010

Monster5601 said:
I had a similar problem, the valve was loose inside the stem allowing pressure to escape.

I was wondering if anyone would respond to this original post in this thread.

Thomas · Jun 9, 2010

I have snug rear loaded tire couple times last year an half..figure it was do to working also cold/warm air temps over time.

lakngulf · Jun 10, 2010

I saw the subject for this thread "The loose nut" and thought you were referring to me.

Baby Grand · Jun 10, 2010

ctgoldwing said:
... I guess the lesson here is always check your nuts.

I won't comment.

clemsonfor · Jun 10, 2010

to seat the bead use a flammable spray like starting fluid or carb cleaner and spray in and around the bead and in the tire and then light and it will burn then WOOOOF and seat the bead and put a pound or two of air in it. Have water to put and flame out that did not blow out.
I did this several weeks ago to seat some lawnmower tires that were of the bead and would not seat even with pressure on them.

OK now the safty police can tell me how unsafe this is. Bottom line is many farmer, loggers etc do this all the time, just be concious of what your doing, and please be smart and dont use something as flamible as gas.