1988 520-H Tire mounting

[WheelHorse520H 708]

Hi all,

I got some tires on my 1988 520-H and got them on the rims but when I seat the beads, it often takes a few tries, the rear tires need to be over inflated to hold air and the fronts just don’t hold air at all, after a few hours they are flat. I know there is still some rust on the rims that is likely causing this issue, I have spent a good amount of time with a wire brush but I just can’t get in where the bead actually stays, so my question is could I use a sandblaster to get the rust out of these hard to get at with a brush areas?

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

[Maxwell-8 4,366]

This area has to be rust free. May use wire brush and finish with sandpaper.  Also use some grease or vaseline on that area and the same area on the tire.

 

You could get them sandblasted but that's expensive where I live.  

[pfrederi 18,153]

Tube them....

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Either bite the bullet and get them sandblasted,primed,and painted,or bite the smart bullet and put tubes in them.Personally,I hate slow leaking tires.Hell,I hate fast leakers too.Nothing worse than going to use a tractor and have to put air in one or more tires.Hate dead batteries too.

[Handy Don 13,045]

3 hours ago, Pollack Pete said:

Personally,I hate slow leaking tires.Hell,I hate fast leakers too.Nothing worse than going to use a tractor and have to put air in one or more tires.Hate dead batteries too.

You could have the valet check the tires and battery before she brings your tractor around, right? 

[WheelHorse520H 708]

4 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said:

 

You could get them sandblasted but that's expensive where I live.  

I have a cheap Harbor Freight sandblaster that has been handy for small things like this. Media for it is a little over a buck a pound.

 

3 hours ago, Pollack Pete said:

Either bite the bullet and get them sandblasted,primed,and painted,or bite the smart bullet and put tubes in them.Personally,I hate slow leaking tires.Hell,I hate fast leakers too.Nothing worse than going to use a tractor and have to put air in one or more tires.Hate dead batteries too.

Not really a huge fan of tubes, not really sure why other than I have heard they are difficult to get in the tire and not pinched on the rims. Preachin’ to the choir about slow leaking tires and dead batteries, had way too many of those…..one of either is also too many.

Thanks,

Andrew

[WheelHorse520H 708]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

You could have the valet check the tires and battery before she brings your tractor around, right? 

Valet?! I need to start parking where you park! Although it would be a bit of a hike just to mow the lawn or plow the driveway.

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

12 hours ago, WheelHorse520H said:

 

 

Not really a huge fan of tubes, not really sure why other than I have heard they are difficult to get in the tire and not pinched on the rims.   

 Takes practice and experience to install tubes correctly.All through my teens and early 20's, I apprenticed with a Master mechanic who taught me how to properly install tire tubes.Along with every aspect of automotive and farm machinery mechanic work.He's been gone 32 yeas now.I loved that man and miss him dearly.He was my Father.

 

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by Pollack Pete

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

Bead Sealer.  Love it or hate it, it usually will do the trick.

 

 

Of course cleaning the bead seating area and smoothing with a layer of JB WELD or POR15 epoxy and then sanding smooth, and a coat of good hard paint like POR15 will also work.

 

https://por15.com/

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,733]

Ive had a few with rusty beads....lots of sanding and a nice smooth coat of paint will cure it. Sometimes it’s rust around the valve stem hole that give a problem.
  Like you I would prefer to not install a tube unless all else has failed.

[WheelHorse520H 708]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

Ive had a few with rusty beads....lots of sanding and a nice smooth coat of paint will cure it. Sometimes it’s rust around the valve stem hole that give a problem.
  Like you I would prefer to not install a tube unless all else has failed.

I think they will get some TLC tomorrow, I tried to get the tires on quick… it came back to bite me in the rear quicker than the tires were back on the machine. I sprayed soapy water around the rims, and at first nothing… came back 10 minutes later and a ton of little tiny bubbles all around the bead.

[Handy Don 13,045]

"tiny bubbles, in the wine...."

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

1 hour ago, WheelHorse520H said:

ton of little tiny bubbles all around the bead

 

SOMETIMES if you up the pressure to the max, after a few hours they seal up, then drop the PSI back down.  I've had that work on a couple occasions.

[MS GENERAL REPAIR 17]

As a repairer, I go strait to the tubes. today's tires are junk compared to the old ones. Even the premium brands. 

When I put tubes in them I know the customer won't be calling me back in a week complaining of a flat tire. I hate comebacks.

 

Best of Luck, Stay Healthy................................

[WheelHorse520H 708]

I appreciate the ideas everyone, I think I will clean the rims and see if it gets any better because the tractor was sitting on tires that had rotted and let 5 years worth of water in to rust. If cleaning them doesn’t help I will go for tubes.

Thanks again,

Andrew