Repairing Tubeless Tires

[moc]

I'm hoping someone here has a solution for me. The internet has let me down.

My kids have a nice wood wagon with large pneumatic "all-terrain" tubeless tires. Over the winter, the tires lost their air. Being without air, the tires have separated from the rims. It's the air that holds the tires against the rims to make the seal that allows the tire to hold the air that holds the tires against the rims to make the seal that allows the tire to hold the air... and so on. ("'That's quite a catch, that catch-22.' 'It's the best there is.'")

So how do I get air in these tires?

Thanks.
*moc

[MilDoc]

These tires don't have a valve?????

[eccentrictinkerer]

Take a length of rope and tie it around the circumference of the tire. Slip a dowel between the rope and the tire and twist like a windlass. This should snug the bead to the rim. Then fill with air. It does have a Schrader valve, right?

[moc]

These tires don't have a valve?????

There's a valve, but the tire has separated from the rim, so pumping air just escapes through the gap between the tire and the rim. The tire can't inflate, so the tire never expands to press against the rim to create the seal needed to hold the air in.

*moc

[thiggy]

Did you try the rope trick as suggested above? That is the way to do it if you do not have specialized tire mounting tools.

[moc]

Take a length of rope and tie it around the circumference of the tire. Slip a dowel between the rope and the tire and twist like a windlass. This should snug the bead to the rim. Then fill with air. It does have a Schrader valve, right?

That's genius. I'll try it tomorrow. Thanks.

(It does have a schrader valve.)

And for those like me, I'll save you the dictionary time:

windlass |ˈwindləs|
noun
a type of winch used esp. on ships to hoist anchors and haul on mooring lines and, esp. formerly, to lower buckets into and hoist them up from wells.

*moc

[crokett]

Put dish soap around the inside edge of the rim before you do this. It will help reestablish that bead. You might also look at getting tubes put in the tires. Then you never have to worry about it again.

[Black wallnut]

Warning, try at your own risk!!!!!

Try the rope trick first. 2nd if you can take the tire off take it to a tire store and ask them to perform the voodoo.

Last resort....this is the potentially dangerous part...use at your own risk....

1. Buy a can of engine starting fluid
2. have an air chuck ready
3. have eye protection on
4. spray about 1.5 seconds worth of starting fluid into the tire
5. have match ready
6. should have already had match and striker in other hand too late
7. start over after ventilating tire
8. spray starting fluid into tire
9. quickly hand off can to someone ready to walk away
10. light match and toss at tire
11. wind blew out match
12. air out tire
13. start again on the down wind side of garage
14. spray either
15. light match
16. toss match
17. miss tire
18. match is still burning
19. LOYL is reading the caution on the starting fluid can and freaking out
20. send other half back to the house
21. she takes the kids with her
22. start over
23. light match
24. toss match
25. forgot starting fluid
26. start over
27. spray starting fluid
28. light match
29. toss match
30. kaboom tire bead set!
31. the loud noise scares you and you forget to air up tire quick enough so it deflates
32. Start over
33. move air hose to end of shop
34. spray fluid
35. light and toss match
36. Kaboom bead set
37. quickly add air
38. call buddy Bubba and say "ya ain't gonna believe this but...."
39. drink beer and watch the kids play

Like I say try at your own risk!

[LCHIEN]

ha, you forgot 38.5 repeat steps 1-38 on other tires, three more times.

[Hoover]

Crokett is correct in using dish soap to help set the bead. You don't need to use much, but the soap aids in setting the bead. Also rotate the tire while inflating, it will help the bead grab. I used to mount and dismount tires earlier in my younger misspent youth.

[RAV2]

I use one of those ratcheting strap clamps that I tie stuff to the truck with. Also - a shot of fix-a-flat will seal problem beads if necessary.

[capncarl]

MOC
I have found that after fighting to get cheap tubeless tires back on the rim that I can squirt any kind of caulking I have handy around the bead and rim. A quick blast air in the valve and they seat right on the rim. Then all I have to do is wash off what ever smeared on the rim and tire and it is good to go. I would not do this on a tire that I use on the road because it will effect the ballance.
capncarl

[cabinetman]

It would also help to let tire sit in the sun to heat up. Or, warm up tire with a heat gun to make it more pliable. The rope trip does work. You gotta twist heck out of it to get the bead to touch the rim. It may help to bounce the tire while trying to inflate it. If you can force one side bead to the rim as starters, that helps too.
.

[eccentrictinkerer]

Moron method illustrated.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uq3Hk31ayxM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_M0GNLvPmAg&feature=related

[Mrs. Wallnut]

After reading what Black wallnut said, (My wonderful hubby )...All I can think of saying is....

"Here hold this beer and watch this trick."