Inflating a flat tire

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
One of the 10" tires on a pressure washer I've had in storage is completely deflated, so that the beads are not against the rim on either side. I took my compressor there today in the hope that a blast of air would push the beads against the rim and it would inflate, but that didn't happen. Any tips?

Also, if higher air pressure than my compressor can deliver might do the trick, I could take the tire off and take it to a tire shop, but it's held on the axle by a cap nut and I don't know the best way to remove one of those.

Thanks,

Stan
 
Lay your unit on it's side so the bottom of the tire will slide against the rim. Need to remove the valve core. Use an air gun to blow as much air as possible throught the stem as you kneed and squish the tire a little. Most of the time it will pop back on.
 
Use a small strap or rope and wrap around middle of tire and tighten. This will usually force the sidewall out enough to get it to take air. As it seats, loosen the strap or rope. Has worked for me lots of times.
 
High pressure is not the trick for tubeless tires...it"s volume. Big blast to expand the tire and seat the bead. Like it was said- a band around the tire helps.
 
Cap nut will do, speed nut or push nut. (Obviously developed by someone who was a nut.) This is a one time use nut because they have to be pried off with a screwdriver or something which generally ruins it for further use. You generally have to use a new nut. Over the years I have had to deal with a lot of small tires going flat, so a couple of years ago when I bought a used mower that had either low or flat tires on it, I removed the wheel/tire and cleaned the wheel around the bead area. I cleaned both sides of the wheel and where necessary, sanded off any rust. Before inflating I used a thin coat of dishwashing liquid on the tire bead and have had no problems with leaks.
 
Jack or lift it up,so the tire is off the ground..squeeze the flat spot back into shape...roll the tire around while hitting the tire on the top as you spin..with the bottom of your fist or rubber mallet..the tire will go back to shape..then try the air again. You might have to lift up on the bottom(with your knee) and push down (with your arm)while putting air into tire. Hope this helps.

Keith
 
I had that problem a lot on a 2-wheel hand truck, I found the best way to get the beads to seat is to use a ratchet strap. I pull a loop of belting through the spindle and around the tire, then rtachet it tight, that does not make a flat spot. after doing this a few times I gave it a shot of fix-a-flat and its been fine ever since, cheaper than a tube and a lot easier!
 
Stan,
I use a ratchet strap around tire to push bead back on rim.

Back in the 60's while at college, I worked at a gas station changing tires. We had a device that looked like a bike inner tube that went around the tire, inflate it and it did the same thing as I do with a ratchet strap.

Just be careful, after you get the bead back and aired up, release the tire air pressure or the strap will get you.

Best solution is to go to HF and buy hard rubber tires. That's what I did on my 13 hp honda pressure washer. Been thinking of replacing all my small tires that always need air.
george
 
I discovered if you take the Schrader valve out of the stem, and use just the quick connect on your air hose it will put a lot more volume in the tire, a lot quicker, and will usually seat the bead. I just did it last week to get the tire on a Bobcat reseated on the bead, after finding out the regular chuck wasn't working, and it worked great. Of course I had 75 CFM behind it too, but in any case just the QC chuck pushed on the stem will allow a lot more volume through, and the volume is what you need to get that initial seal.
 
X 2 on the ratchet strap - and you probably don't even have to take it off the unit, just take the weight off of the tire.
 
No one has mentioned the dreaded starting fluid/ignition method. Works, but not recommended! Crude but effective and potentially dangerous.
 
I found that if you mark the bead of the tire real heavily with a tire crayon, it will seal better and easier. after marking it, try to push the back bead into place on the rim. next, put air to it while pulling gently to cause the outside bead to make contact. taking the valve core out helps by increasing the air flow.
Tim in OR
 
(quoted from post at 21:29:34 09/26/14) No one has mentioned the dreaded starting fluid/ignition method. Works, but not recommended! Crude but effective and potentially dangerous.
orked a lot better before crappy starting fluid of today replaced the good stuff. Thanks, illegal drug makers!
 
The spray method works every time . If starting fluid isn't so good anymore carb cleaner will do .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Xq7koFnQs
 
Stan on a small 10" tire you should not need a ratchet strap or wires or either to get it mounted back up. If it has set flat for a while the best thing to do is put a tube in it. If it is flat now more than likely it will go down again.
 
George:

"We had a device that looked like a bike inner tube that went around the tire, inflate it and it did the same thing as I do with a ratchet strap."


What you are referring to is a "Pneumatic Bead Expander". I've had one in my shop for 35 years now & use it fairly often.

Doc :>)
a170041.jpg
 
Doc,
That's the animal. I don't change car tires, only small lawn mower tires. Do they make a smaller version?
George
 
Lay the wheel on the floor, get a bead blaster tank, give it a blast, walk across the shop to retrieve your inflated wheel and put it on. Jim
 
George:

That T-131 unit fits 10" - 22" tires. Should work for small tires such as 6" or 8" if you put a short 2x4 block under the strap (NOT under the inflation tube) .

Doc
 
Also, for anyone that's interested - I have used my "passenger car tire" (up to 18") Bead Expander on 20" & 22" truck tires by adding a length of 1" flat tubular webbing to the end of the Bead Expander strap. Tie the two straps together using a "Water Knot" (Overhand Follow-through) .

Doc
 
George:

Yep, that's pricy, LOL . When I bought mine 35 years ago they weren't THAT pricy.

Good Choice! LOL . Ratchet strap is the "poor mans" Bead Expander. Nothing wrong with that.

Doc :>)
 
doc,
One word of caution to anyone using ratchet strap. If you release strap when tire if aired up, IT WILL EAT PART OF YOUR FINGER. Been there. done that. OUCH! Let air out first.
george
 
I had a similar issue on a rototiller tire a couple years ago. I used a ratcheting tie-down strap around the circumference of the tire to force the bead out to the rim. It was easy after that.
 
Remove the valve cores then see if they will inflate. I coat the tire beads with dish detergent. Hal
 
Stan, I don't hit Tool Talk too often, so am late to the party. Many mentioned ratchet straps, but I've always just made a loop out of 3 pieces of baling twine, about 3" larger than the circumference of the tire. Then get a short stick, and start twisting, like you would on a corner brace wire on a fence. You can generate more force that with a ratchet strap, I think, and you sure can't beat the price. As the bead "catches" and tire starts inflating, just let the stick unwind.
 

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