Sealer for tire bead...

mommucked

mommucked

Endeavoring to persevere
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Location
Rural Apex n.c.
So both of my 10yo my lawnmowers rear tires are now leaking @ the beads.Takes about 3-5 days and they go flat. I've tried over inflating them and the rims are smooth,painted and no rust on them but they still leak. I was thinking about using silicone caulk to try to seal them as I have plenty, any thoughts on that fix? The old tires are stiff and shiny but have no cracks and like new tread.
 
Why not just use a bottle of slime or similar tire sealer? Seems like it was built for that purpose and might work better.
 
My 25 yo JD 316, has the original tires on it. The only leak I've ever had, is a front tire that was cut with glass. Tire slim, keeps it in check, but hasn't healed it. My tires are probably larger than your's, & I've seen a lot of flats on other smaller mowers. I venture to guess, it's like my tiny tires on hand truck, pressure washers, ect. Tubes, seem to be the answer. [Curiosity of "benmack1"]
 
The tires are fat, Carlisle 20x10.0x8.0 on a Craftsman 42", 24hp mower..........the original front tires have no problems w leaking, could it be the rims are not wide enough or the fat tires/beads are stretched from driving them on a steep cross slope for years w my 215 lb. azz in the seat?:driver:
 
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Tubes and be done with it. As soon as the tires on my new mower start leaking, that's what will happen.
 
Being my 3'rd year into my landscape business, I haven't had luck with tubes. Run over 1 sharp item and all that work becomes a waste and you can not fix it easily in the field. I use a ball-peen hammer and round the rim as much as possible and then run a thick bead of black bead sealer and it works every time forever (so far on all 3 mowers). And I run antique John Deere's with original rims so I can definitely testify. And I'm able to plug and roll in the field when I run over something. One of my front tires has so many plugs it looks like a bogger when it's rolling. LOL But it's still rolling! And I carry plenty of spare plugs if needed.
Never used slime so don't know. But something tells me I would be spending an entire day cleaning the crap out of my rim with a wheel brush? Sounds to me like a Band-Aid??
Not mentioned, but fix-a flat is toxic and guaranteed to rust out your rim from the inside within 2 years. Ask ANY tire shop and you will find they walk away as soon as they pop a bead and smell fix-a flat.
 
Ive got a tube in one front tire and one rear tire of my mower ( craftsman 42"). They've both been in there 4-6 yrs with no trouble.
 
Don't know how it would work on a rear tire but I've used enough dot3 brake fluid to coat the inside of the front tire(take out valve core and add a little) give it a good spin min or so.. reinstall valve core air up and boom sealed beads.
 
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