Flat tire

I arrived at my monthly mowing job yesterday. I thought the tractor felt a little different unloading. It didn't take long to discover one of the rear tires was flat. All I could do is load up and go back home. After airing up the tire the pressure stayed up all afternoon. This morning the pressure was down one pound. I must have a very small leak. The tractor stays on the trailer, and I haven't used it for a week or so, or I would have noticed the tire going down. What kind of sealer can I put in the tire, and how much? It's a 12 x 24 tubeless. Thanks Stan

Airman Brand and Green Slime both clearly state for temporary repair. So for what it is worth, I would have it fixed rather than making a mess. Ask your tire dealer the cost difference to fix a tire that has been slimed compared to not slimed. Another possibility is to find the leak and Plug it from the outside..Jim

Can we assume you checked the valve? Maybe some soap and water. Soap and water will work on the tire also but a slow leak like that can be hard to see. Took me a long time on a truck tire a couple years ago.

Why would you want to mess with sealer? If the leak is that slow it's most likely your core housing. Pick one up anywhere that services tractor tires or order from Amazon. About $5 each. Screw yours off and Screw the new one on. A dab of plumbers grease on the rubber won't hurt.

Check and fix it properly now. If I take in in to a tire shop later with that goop in it they will not be happy.

Replace the Schrader Valve (core) in air valve.

I would vote for a new tube.

My tractor tire shop filled my back tires with fix-a-flat and it rusted a major hole in the rim.
I wish I could download the pic of my rim..
I'll try later.

It depends on where the leak is. If it's leaking around the rim or the sidewalls a sealant may not help. If it's in the tread a sealant like slime will work well. You might get a spray bottle and spray the tire with soapy water to locate the leak.

My tire shop puts goop in tires.
No big deal for them. It is water based and washes out very easily.
Water causes rust. No way will I ever use it again. It made a rust hole in the rim. Tube it.

I recently bought bicycle tubes with green slime inside.

Here is why I no longer use liquid fix a flat crap.

(quoted from post at 12:52:11 07/29/23) Replace the Schrader Valve (core) in air valve.

Click to expand...

X2

...and X3, X4, X5.

hadbad schrader core last week on 18 4 by34

The temperature from mid day on a hot day to early morning or lat night can give a 1 pound pressure difference on some tires. Check at the same or close to it temperature for a difference then worry about fixing. Spray some stout mixed dish soap on the bead and stem with the cap off it will bubble into what will look like shaving cream where the leak is. IF around the bead with it jacked up knock the bead down and seal with a bead sealer. IT is in a can and you brush it on the rim and tire bead them pump up. I would do one side at a time if tubeless just for the ease of getting the bead to seal on the rim. IF core or stem is leaking then change core or maybe the stem. IF tubeless you will need to break one bead down to change the stem if it is leaking in the threads or around the brass.

You need to carry a 12 volt compressor with you all the time. I have had good luck with Slime, but mostly in tube type bicycle tires. I did put it in my 4-wheeler tires when they were new, they always leaked a little, they are tubeless., It's been 10 years now, I check them every spring and maybe add a little air, good for a year.

That is interesting, the rusted rim.

There is black junk, green junk, and a foam expansion type of junk. That I am aware of.

I wonder if all of them rust rims like that, or just one type?

I was under the impression the green junk, for example, was more or less thick antifreeze with rubber particles floating in it. Was thinking that antifreeze doesnt rust metal, but maybe its formulated differently, without some inhibitors or something?

Not so familiar with the black junk, but thought it was petroleum based and might be hard on the rubber, more so that the rim. But I dont know, just always speculated.

Paul

The tire store in Sullivan, In. uses white junk, water base. No thanks.
I cleaned up both rims, used a rust converter then coated with Flex-steel before installing a tube.

We have one place that is full of mesquite, and Huesache. SO.. either 22 ply aircraft tires on the front with two quarts of slime,,,, and a gallon of slime in each rear. And...

You can only shut off a tractor with in reach of an air hose is the cardinal rule on the ranch!!!!!!!! Air it up, and drive it around the barn twice and life is good for about a week or more. When tractor sets up unused, and leak/s is at top, the tire will lose air. NEVER move a tractor on a low tire!!! or the tube will rip. Most of the time with regular use, the tires will mostly self seal and hold air for almost a year or even better. The 22 ply front tires will need air every 5 years or so, as they can be run on 5 lbs, and still dont sag down till you pick up a round bale with the loader. Air those back up to 80 lbs and forget as they originally ran 160 lbs. As to water, all of the loader tractors usually have water in the rears. We dont have to worry much about freezing so pure well water works fine. Other than feeding hay, tractors dont get used much in the winter anyway. SO slime is availible and our current choice for the last 30 years or so. The farm on the other hand has no thorns so its a different story.