Update on tractor tube installation gone wrong

rlp in Co.

Well-known Member
Ok, yesterday I installed another tube and it worked good this time. I figured out what I did wrong. There is a white line on the inside of a tube. This line MUST be lined up in the center of the rim. If not the tube might not be able to shift its self and the tube can stretch and burst as mine did. I hope that this info will help some one else not to make the stupid mistake that I did. I don't know if all tubes have this white line like both of mine do. If not, blow the tube up and draw a line around the inside of the tube.
 
I had a 15.5-38 tube tear the stem loose once. It took years to happen. But it had a line and I put it in the way I thought was correct but it must not of been ? I usually do blow them up first and check for the offset of the stem ? I had no one to blame but myself. I also had to fix it out in the field. At least I got to try out my JD pto driven tire pump ! lol.
 
+1 did that this spring on a 18.4x30 on my Allis 180. Only took a week for my stem to tear. I mounted that one myself but took it to the tire dealer to redo thinking I had pinched it in mounting the tire back on the rim. I kept the the new torn stem tube as I plan to cut the torn stem off and glue a replacement stem on it for a spare once I get one bought.
 
I was taught long ago with big tubes to start inflating, then stop at less than 10PSI, take the stem out, bounce the tire/rim on the tread all the way around once to settle the tube, then go back and fully inflate. Never had a tube bind tear on me, cuz it came out of my pay if it did.
 
when I worked at a dealer's shop I put an inner tube in with the stem on wrong side. It tore the tube. I told the shop foreman I would pay for it but he told the customer there were thorns in the tire and ruined the tube. I did not tell the lie, but the foreman did.
 
Yup.....talcum and one of these so you don't pinch your little
fingers.
a280502.jpg

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I would hate to anger you!!!! You must be one heck of a rugged guy to bounce an 18.4x38 tire, rim, and tube to center the tube, especially when the rim is still mounted to the tractor.
Loren
 
I don't recall a white line on the center of a tube , but my first impression in your first post was that you had put the tube in backwards, because you just unfolded it into the tire and did not add any air to check valve orientation.
Loren
 
I know that you said that, but I know that I put at least that in right. It's kinda hard to do that wrong on this wide of tire. 18.4x38. It's obvious which side the stem is on!
 
We always had a chain or cable valve stem puller hooked to the tube. We added some air to the tube to fit it to the tire before baring on the outside bead of the tire onto the rim.
I haven't had to mess with rear's for a couple of year now.
Loren
 
Guys, you want to be careful using that talcum powder! A lot of women have developed infections from using it. Now you wouldn't want your tractor to develop an infection of the crotch would ya. Just a funny to lighten the day a little, no harm intended. Keith
 
Pull stem through rim fasten a screw on stem holder after removing valve core, stretch tire onto rim. Blow up tire with valve core removed. If tube is installed wrong the stem will slip inside tire, but deflate. Can now proceed to remove tire from rim and do entire precess over after correctly positioning tube. Reinflate with valve core removed to make sure you got it correct. I always slighly over inflate tube tires with valve core removed and let them uninflate to stretch tube and get wrinkles out. Then install valve core and inflate to correct pressure.
 
(quoted from post at 19:25:07 09/20/18) Talcum powder inside tire and on tube before you install it will let the tube shrift all it wants.

People have been using cornstarch since the beginning of Pneumatic tires.
Corn starch is now the main ingredient in lots of baby powders today.
A little cheaper than baby powder.
 

When I was doing tractor tire work/repair, when installing a tube new or used I always would lay the tube up on the tire making sure the stem was faceing the side of the rim were the stem hole was.
 
You guys are making this too hard. I have installed hundreds of tubes. Owned the service truck for 22 years. I don't remember any white line. The only tubes you need talcum powder are natural rubber tubes.
 

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