seating a tire bead in the field --

howdy fellas,

been a while since I've had to DO this and i've forgotten how I used to git it done -- sides usin my air tank -- had occassion to NEED to do it to git a littl lady outta her distress beside the I8 EB yesterday as her RF was blown & shredded and her donut spare at some time had been used and encounterd some object that had bent the steel rim and knocked the tire beads loose -- straightened the wheel edge w my 5# hammer and ran my 10gal tank empty tryin to git the beads seated

seem to me I remember usin somethin flamable spray to POP tires onto their rims in the past in this kinda situation - but it's been a while

any suggestions?

 

I've seen a video of starting fluid being used. Never tried it. I have used a ratchet strap on two different tires over the years. Amazing what you can think of when you are in the middle of nowhere. Someone might know the link to the "ether" video.

 

ether.... not as good as it once was

 

I've seen a ring of lighter fluid squirted around inside of tire with a line of it to the rim. Throw in a match to ignite, the air heats and expands and the tire seats on the rim.

Not endorsing this method just saw it once.

 

We use to just bounce the tire while filling it.

 

ratchet strap around the tire usually does the trick.

 

Either w a clip on air chuck
　
1. Kink air line … clip chuck to valve stem
2. Spray either around rim and into tire and make a trail
3. Light either trail and un kink air line at the same time (works best w 2 people)

 

Blown and shredded tire.
No useful spare.
No AAA

WTF?

 

Ive used the ratchet strap, ive also used the starting fluid. Just a quick ring around the tire and a little spray on the sidewall so you dont have to stick your thumb in there with the lighter. Gasoline can also be used, pour just a little in then spin the tire to spread it all over, a dab on the sidewall and be ready to put it out.

 

a couple squirts of carb cleaner, or any similar flammable, and a quick sqiurt over the cigarette lighter, or use a propane torch to ignite. If you haven't done it before, watch a couple you tube videos, to see how to do it, and a couple how not to

 

yup... what they've said. Flamable fluid/aresol and some flame.
Just not too much or the tire will jump in the air and bite ya!

 

BINGO! .... Or a rope with loops on each end, put the rope around the tire breaker bar through both loop and turn until it winches the bead down while adding air.

 

Have used the ratchet strap method before and it worked great.

Using started fluid or ether, etc., I've also heard it's a good idea to remove the air valve from the valve stem to keep from exploding the tire.

 

Saw the fire trick on an episode of ice road truckers ! Worked on a large trailer tire.

 

Just did the ether trick this week. After it popped both beads in place I put my finger over the valve stem to stop all the air from escaping. MF burned my finger it was so hot!

 

The purpose of removing the valve stem is to prevent the bead from getting sucked back off the rim when the air cools down. You have to get air in very quickly to keep the tire from collapsing.

 

beating on rim with a hammer is a bummer, Use a crescent wrench instead to straighten a bent rim

 

The ratchet strap method works ok most the time ive done the flamable fluid thing a couple times too way more fun but dangerous but will put some air in the tire as well if you dont have a pump handy but i usually pull the valve core out to keep from exploding the tire. i one had a bad valve stem and a flat and no spare ended up doing reverse donuts to get the flat tire unseated to install a new valve core. it worked but not the safest method.

 

As a few have mentioned, after lighting the ether, be ready to quickly add air or else you will have to start over and the second time is not as easy because the oxygen has been used up.

Neal

 

The ratchet strap trip works great, but, you still need a good air supply.

I learned the ether trick early on when offroading. It's not at all uncommon to knock a tire off the bead at those low pressures. It's often said, of the guys that do this a lot, that you can get good enough at it to get the PSI right. I eventually stopped dismounting the wheel from the vehicle to save time/effort, and to keep the wheel from jumping around.

My best advice for those wanting to try this: You can always add more ether and try again, but, growing new eyebrows takes time.

 

Been off roading most my life. I always had a can of starting fluid and a BBQ lighter with me. Knocked the bead off the rim many times on my rail buggy. Most times it would seat the bead and leave 3-5 psi in the tire. Just enough to get back to camp.

 

Thx fellas -- it's been a while since I've done this, and my Merc don't have all the wealth of acculmuated supplies and parts that my Beulah has [ still in her storage compartments ]

sometimes, I git frusterated thinkin "this is gonna be easy" and then realize "I don't have what I usta"

have both startin fluid and carb cleaner in Beulah

GOOD onya all fer yer answers

highwayman out

 

I have actually ballooned a tire over the rim on both sides... That was the last time i used starting fluid, and started using my brain and do the old wiggle with some soapy water on the bead area to catch the bead faster and slip right back on....

 

ive seen a light coat of grease or p-jelly then roll the tire around to walk the beads close to the rim lips while airing it up

 

That must have been some explosion! I just cut an ancient tire off a rim and it took a pretty good cut with an angle grinder to get through the steel in the beads.

When I worked at a tire shop years ago we had an inflatable band that went around the outside of the tire to spread the beads. Similar to the rope trick. We also had a flat rubber band that fit tight over the rim od that you would push down over it until it hit the tire, creating an air tight seal. As the tire inflated it pushed the band off.

I've always had good luck with ether though, just a one or two second blast.

 

Good luck to you and the new wagon Hiwayman. Although I am 700 miles away I understand you and your wagon are bit of a fixture down there.

I recall a old guy in El Cajon with a big handlebar mustache always seen in in his '58 Ford wagon in the 70s and 80s. He lived somewhere around Peach or Naranca Its funny how cars and people are sometimes identified to a certain neighborhood.

 

I couldnt tell you because the air pressure from it sealed my eyes and popped my ears... Lets just say a few cold ones had to do with the amount of starting fluid we used. I lease my shop back home to a guy that runs a tire shop and ive learned all the tricks up there and thats one he never showed me...

 

you get one try at it ! two shots of starting fluid .........you'll break the tire bead and blow the tire sidewall.

 

In the past Ive used starting fluid to seat beads on semi tires many times. I know it works. However Ill never do it again. A fellow I know had a brand new steering tire fail on a semi truck. Failed on a cruve going down a grade. His wife was driving and died in the wreck. Big investigation by the tire manufacturer. It was determined to be caused by starting fluid beng used to bead the tire. your supposed to use a small amount and let all the air out and reinflate after it beads to avoid having starting fluid still trapped in the tire. Too much either and too big an explosion and you could damage the tire cords beads crack the rim ect. Also gas trapped in the tire will expand when the tire heats up. You are creating a either bomb. Their are better safer ways I now have a 2 1/2 gallon bucket of a stiff fibrious soap type product that you place around the gap and holds the air in until the bead seats. the soap is pushed out and you scoop it up and reuse it. Better to be safe than sorry. Old Wolf

 

I've used the ratchet strap often at home, but usually don't have one on the road. I've found if I stand on the rim and pull up on the tire tread on both sides while twisting the tire, the bead will seat. Then turn it over and just pull up while filling air and it usually seats fine.