TIRE TUBE? kinda long.

TimWafer · May 23, 2020

2 days ago I blew a rear tractor tire while plowing. Its a loaded 18.4-34 tire with tube. I usually fix them myself and have a pump & tools to do it. Not my favorite job however. Unfortunately the valve stem of the tube was also ruined in the mishap.
In the past Ive bought these tubes over the counter at the local Case dealer with no problem as they had them right in stock. They are under new management now with a whole new crew. I asked the parts guy for a tube and he was absolutely clueless. Acted like he had no idea what a tube even was. Stumbled around, played with his computer, and went out in the back for a while and finally said they didnt carry anything like that. HUH??
So i go down the street to the big JD dealer. They said they dont carry tubes either but could order one and get it in a week to 10 days. HUH? What do these dealers do with a flat tire?
Finally drove 40 miles to a tractor tire dealer and even they had a hard time finding one. Finally digging one out of their attic and charging me $107 which i thought was kinda pricey.
AM i missing something? Dont loaded tires still use a tube? Isnt 18.4-34 a pretty common size? I see them online for $70 but needed it ASAP. At any rate I got it back on the tractor last night. Guess I better order one online and have it on hand.

centash · May 23, 2020

You would think that size would be plentiful, but many new tractors are tubeless
front and rear.

Ben

Mark-Ia · May 23, 2020

Dealers around my area use a tire shop and don't do their own.

shaun wallace · May 23, 2020

In my area if need tube for anything they have to order it. Once in while its in stock.

jddrawbar · May 23, 2020

No reason not to load a tubeless tire if you want. I've done it since the 90's w/o any rim
damage.

ptfarmer · May 23, 2020

A friend of mine who repairs tractor, and heavy equipment keeps TR218 replacement valve stems for inner tubes. You can find these for sale online (XTS manufacturer part number 175851).

Gambles · May 23, 2020

"What do these dealers do with a flat tire?"

Like Mark said, they call a tire shop and subcontract it out. I doubt if any of the techs in their shop have ever changed a rear tractor tire.
Ask the dealer this: "Okay, IF one of your tractors would have a rear flat tire, exactly WHO would you call to have it fixed?"

MSD · May 23, 2020

I hope you got a fresh Firestone. The rest seem to be junk, will split before you get to use it again.

mudcreek183 · May 23, 2020

It had to be over 20 years ago need a tire fixed went to the local dealer,the shop foreman told me they stopped fixing tires and just subbed to a local man.Been using him ever since,him or his son are usually out within a few hours to get you up and going.

Steve@Advance · May 23, 2020

One thing about using a repair service, they will be up on what tubes are dependable, and what are import junk.

Probably have one in stock or know where to find them.

They sure don't want to be doing warranty work!

MarkB_MI · May 23, 2020

Well, that's pretty much par for the course. Most dealerships these days don't stock anything that doesn't have a big turnover. What they may or may not understand is that in the age of the online store, they're ceding a significant volume of business to the internet. The smart dealers will try to turn around special orders in 24 hours, knowing that their customers can't afford downtime and are more than willing to pay for express delivery. The dumb dealers treat their customers as they always have, meaning a ten day turnaround is totally acceptable (to the dealer, not necessarily to the customer).

TimWafer · May 23, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:08:30 05/23/20) I hope you got a fresh Firestone. The rest seem to be junk, will split before you get to use it again.

The replacement was a Michelin. Hope its OK.

TimWafer · May 23, 2020

The JD dealer did suggest a tire dealer that was even farther away but I didnt want to drive that far. Neighbor was telling me about having a flat and it took 4 days for them to get there to change it for him and cost him big bucks IMHO. Could have bought a new tire cheaper. I wanted it ASAP so was willing to do it myself for the $107 tube and an evenings work. I know Im cheap but... I do have one of the glue on stems I could have used as well but thought a new tube would be easier & better. Never dreamed it would be so hard to get one now. I think I bought one from the local Case dealer within the last 4-5 years before they changed hands. No problemo! I miss their old parts dept and parts guys. They were the best!

Eagle Beagle · May 23, 2020

I'd pay a hundred for a fresh, made in USA tube than a china tube at sixty.

Beagle

chcase · May 23, 2020

That is the going price for a U.S.A. made
tube.You really do not want a 60.00
tube.They just don't hold up. Good to hear
you got it fixed.

moresmoke · May 23, 2020

18.4 34 hasn't been a common tire size for
40 years.

As others have said, tractor dealerships
dont do tires. Faster and cheaper to call
a tire service.

At least the Michelin tube is one of the
better ones.

ptfarmer · May 23, 2020

(quoted from post at 07:58:34 05/23/20) One thing about using a repair service, they will be up on what tubes are dependable, and what are import junk.

Probably have one in stock or know where to find them.

They sure don't want to be doing warranty work!

This is true, my friend who owns/run a tire shop that deals with big truck/trailer, farm, and heavy equipment tires/tubes. He also repairs tractor, and heavy equipment tires, he also replaces valve stems on tubes (he doesn't want to do warranty work either, he still takes pride in his work). I had him replace the valve stem on a couple of tubes which sure beat the price of a new tube. It did take a little more time to replace the valve stem on the tube than it takes to just patch a hole, but it can be done! It just takes a competent tire/tube repair man.

Tgrasher · May 23, 2020

Got a Firestone 36" x 12" from a dealer 50 miles away because he had one, couldn't find one local, and was going that way anyway. That was two years ago, nine months ago finally put it on, lasted two weeks and went flat. Thought I'd pinched it with a tire iron putting it on, so I patched it and put it back on. Goes flat again. I break it down and there's another hole next to the patch. The tube had rotted on the dealers shelf, I guess from sun light and age.

BarnyardEngineering · May 23, 2020

New tractors have been coming with tubeless radials for 25+ years. Nobody has sold a new tractor with fluid in the tires in 25+ years. You can't blame an 18 year old kid for not knowing what a tube is. The practice was dead years before he was born, and it's not like they get 4 years of focused study to become a parts counter attendant.

showcrop · May 23, 2020

As Barnyard said tractor tires have been tubeless now for over twenty years, including loaded tires.

TimWafer · May 23, 2020

How do they keep the rims from rotting out? Epoxy coated or something?

DR. EVIL · May 23, 2020

I would think an 18.4x34 tire would be used on the front of a big newer FWA tractor. That size was really
popular in the 1960's, '70's, and 80's. BTO I worked for had 18.4x34's on every 4020, 4320, and 4230 he
owned. Probably more since I worked for him.
Best tubes are USA made Firestone Radial spec tubes. I put new inner tubes without calcium chloride
on my Super H 7-8 yrs ago, believe it or not, Firestone makes radial rated 12.4x38/13.6x38 inner tubes,
one bag said Made in Korea, assuming South Korea, other said Made in USA. Bought them from POMP'S Tire
service. HUGE chain of car/truck/tractor/heavy equipment tire service centers. Tires have been 100%
totally trouble-free since then. I take the tire, tube, rim to another Firestone shop to have it
assembled. $25 to take tire/tube off, $25 to put back on. Those tires were rusted to the rims something
fierce, been on 42-44 years. I sand blasted and primed/painted the rims while they were off.

showcrop · May 23, 2020

(quoted from post at 12:25:37 05/23/20)
How do they keep the rims from rotting out? Epoxy coated or something?

Tim, it doesn't take anything. Rusting and corroding are both oxidation chemical reactions. Both consume oxygen. Unless you add oxygen the steel will be eroded away for a few hours, then it stops. I broke a tubeless tire down that had been loaded for 15 years. There was a little discoloration. That's it. Calcium chloride doesn't rust rims. procrastination is what does it.

jacksun65 · May 23, 2020

I just had two installed on my case 830 $64 for the tube $40 for the installation. No problem called one day he came the next. Hour and a half and was done no calcium though.

Ted in NE-OH · May 23, 2020

18.4-34 tube is on Amazon for $71.93

VicS · May 23, 2020

Sounds like it rotted on your shelf. You did say . Waited 2 yrs to put it on.

SVcummins · May 23, 2020

You don?t calcium will ruin rims and tubes both fought that for
years on my 4020 take em apart and wash em sand em down
clean to bare metal prime and paint next thing you know
another flat tire repeat the process again and then another flat
tire finally ended up replacing one rim never could get It to
quit popping tires one rim finally got it to where it will quit
popping tires spent enough money on tire repair I should have
just bought new rims to start with good old liquid rust my
3020 still has it but it?s coming out as soon as I can get some
cast weights

SVcummins · May 23, 2020

When looking for tubes I?ve had the best luck at a tire dealer
the days of the tractor dealer doing everything from paint to
tires and injection pump calibration went the way of the dodo
bird way before my time

SVcummins · May 24, 2020

showcrop · May 24, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:03:12 05/23/20) You don?t calcium will ruin rims and tubes both fought that for
years on my 4020 take em apart and wash em sand em down
clean to bare metal prime and paint next thing you know
another flat tire repeat the process again and then another flat
tire finally ended up replacing one rim never could get It to
quit popping tires one rim finally got it to where it will quit
popping tires spent enough money on tire repair I should have
just bought new rims to start with good old liquid rust my
3020 still has it but it?s coming out as soon as I can get some
cast weights

SV, it sounds like you must not have gotten it clean. I have cleaned up rusty metal shiny bright and then noticed that I had areas that were shiny thick brittle rust. I found that the only way to get those places was with my slag hammer. Sanding and wire wheel wouldn't touch them.

caterpillar guy · May 24, 2020

It sucks both ways the tubes are not much good any more, and the tires as they age go to leaking through the sidewalls.

TIRE TUBE? kinda long.

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