Changing Rear Tractor Tire

chas036

Member
I have a late model JD-A and I need to change the rear tires. My question is, is it easier to change the tires while the rims are still on the tractor, or is better to remove the rims and change them on the ground? The tires are not loaded.

If the answer is to do it on the tractor, then my next question is, is there a way to make a home made bead breaker so I don"t have to invest $175 to buy one?
 
I always remove them. Safer because the tractor can not fall on you if something goes wrong. As for braking them down a simple tire hammer is the best and cheapest way to do so. That said if you have not done them before send me an e-mail and I'll send you a page from an owners manual that tells you just how to go from start to finish on doing what you need to do. Cost to you is your time to send me an e-mail
 
The professionals usually change them while the rims are still mounted to the tractor but I nearly always remove the rim/tire assembly.

The easiest way to break the bead from the rim is with a slide hammer. Perhaps you can borrow one if you do not have one.

Dean
 
I've got a couple of old big wood wedges (not wooden wedges) that I use to break them down. Hammer them in with a sledge hammer. I generally always change them on the tractor,but I had to break a 9x40 down a few months ago to get the tube out and was surprised how easy it was on the ground. Of course,I only took one side off to get the tube out,didn't try to take the back side off the rim. That might have been a whole different ball game.
 
I leave them on the tractor. Raise the axle up and block the tractor up good. Lock the other tire. Use a slide hammer (mine is homemade) use tire irons to pry it off. Turn the tire to let the weight of the tire help you. Since you have no fluid it should be a piece of cake.
Brian(MN)
 
Looks like you have a few very good options to help you out. I do have a couple more to share with you. Both my options require you to remove the rim from the tractor. First one is if you have a skid steer or loader tractor take the cutter edge on the bucket & put it next to the bead & push down. You may have to repeat this around the bead if it is an old hard tire or one that has been on forever. Second option is if you have a heavy tractor you can drive over the side of the tire just next to the bead & that also will dismount it. Both of these options work great, don"t cost anything & are easier then beating on it with a hammer. Then all you have to do is get a couple tire "spoons" ($30.00 each) from an auto parts or farm supply store & work it off. Hope this helps you or any others paying attention.
 
I use RRLund's method, except I weld a short piece of pipe for a handle on the side of the wood splitting wedge. It keeps my fingers from turning purple :~)

If you buy a brand new wedge you won't have $20 in it.

Take your time and go all the way around the tire bead, rotating the wheel to your advantage. You'll be surprised how easy it is to change.

Paul
 
I bought the bead breaker,it works fine.Those wedges,tire rammers,and tire bars usually don't work on a tire that's been on for years.I've tried the backhoe bucket to with no success cause you can't push on the bead.Other than that your better off to pay a tire store to change them,Been there,done that.
 
Only way I can send it is if you first send me an e-mail. There e-mail safe mail system will not let me put pictures etc on to it but if you send me one I can then send it back to you
 
Funny I have almost never had a tire not come off with just a hammer. Now if I do find a hard one I do have a tool that will do the job but most of the time I never have to use it unless I'm feeling lazy that is. And yes I have done tires that are 20, 30, 40 plus years old since some I have done where the one that came on the tractors. It is simple know how that works the best but I also did it for a living on and off fee times
 
If you are not going to save the old tires cut them off with a sawsall and 4in grinder with cutting wheel. Thats how I did it on my 46 A, beats doing all that pounding. Leave the wheels on.
 
flying belgian,
My brother said that he has used a handiman jack with the tires still on the tractor. He put the jack between the draw bar and the tire.
 
Put new tires and tubes on my 60 a few years ago. Took the valve stems out and drove less than 50 feet and they both broke loose on both beads. The old tires were junk so no need to save either them or the tubes. Sure saved a lot of beating and bad words. Joe
 
It's not a matter of bieng lazy,as you put it,it's a matter of working smart,not hard.A bead breaker,or the tire store are both deductable farm expenses.I've got better things to do then spend hours trying to beat an old tire off the rim.You don't see many prosperus old tire people do you?
 
I have a bead cheetah, works ok but a cheap built pos, you can buy a bead breaker bar for alot less, you pound it in and twist and work your way around, it's all I had for years, dad used to lay them flat and drive another tractor up on them and hit them with a sledge, always worked, the edge of a loader bucket tipped vertical works too.
 
no question- leave it on the tractor. chock all other wheels to be safe, then you can roll the axle around wherever you want. slide hammer type bead breaker is $ well spent unless it's the only one you'll ever do.
 
I forgot to tell you, go to a local tire shop and buy some professional grade tire and bead lube. It will save you lots of time, just be careful, when mounting the tire and keep your tube far enough away from the rim and dont get it under your tire iron.
 
Ah but on a small farm or hobby farm there are few who can deducted any thing so it then becomes a matter of have to do it. As for tire guys with lots of $$ I know one who is has more $$$ then many people do but then he also owns plants and tire dies for some of the oldest tires that where ever put on car and trucks. He is the man who taught me how to do the larger tires some 25 plus years ago
 
I would check with a local tire store, the last one I had flat they charged me 25.00(I did haul it to town)11.2x38 no fluid
 
(quoted from post at 19:41:35 01/25/11) I have a late model JD-A and I need to change the rear tires. My question is, is it easier to change the tires while the rims are still on the tractor, or is better to remove the rims and change them on the ground? The tires are not loaded.

If the answer is to do it on the tractor, then my next question is, is there a way to make a home made bead breaker so I don"t have to invest $175 to buy one?

My tire man prefers I leave the tire on the tractor, after watching him do it both ways I can see why.
 
No need to take the tire off the tractor...push against it with the skidloader- both sides. Way easier to work with a tire that is still on the tractor.
 
Tie a chain arouynd the tire and use the handyman jack.inside and out.best beadbreaker i've ever used.
 
Having the weight of the tractor to pry against when working the tire off or on the rim is a HUGE plus.

Last ones we did, we used the 48" farm jack. I think this is the same as the "handyman jack" DeltaRed is talking about. It's like a big heavy duty bumper jack.

I've done a few on the floor. No fun. The tire's too heavy to move around by hand, but it does move around when you don't want it to, like when you're prying on it with a tire iron to get the tire off the rim.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top