[mike72903]

Took a leaky front tire off my little snapper rider and removed the outside edge of the tire off of the rim in order to be able to get in a tube. Been wrestling with of a while trying to reinstall over the tire rim with no luck. The tires small, 4.1 x 3.5. I've tried multiple screwdrivers working around with and without a pair of vise grips to hold one spot on the tire below the rim. Used soap solution and tried standing on it to use my weight to force it over the rim. I hate the idea of giving up and admitting to the mower service people I can't do it myself and just paying them to do it. Probably take them 30 seconds. I do have access to an arbor press at work if that's what it takes. Would that work? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mark / Ohio]

.. I hate the idea of giving up and admitting to the mower service people I can't do it myself and just paying them to do it. Probably take them 30 seconds....

Could take it to a tire shop instead. They can be really nasty for sure to remount. Once I poked a hole in my new tube trying to get the tire back on.

Given that I might not be the best one to offer ideas. But I would try heating it up good to make it a little softer, get the rim in a spot that it can't move, then find two to four more hands to help hold it while you pry on it.

 

[Michael]

Take and get a Air fill extension for the valve core. You get this extension at the parts store or a regular tire store, the extension I am talking about is the ones that are used on dual tires on trucks.

1 Remove the tube from the tire and removes it valve core

2 Break the bead loose from the back side of the tire, this allows the tire to collapse slightly when you are trying to put the tire on

3 Reinstall the tube

4 Screw the extension on the tubes valve stem and then push the stem back as far it will go.

5 Get some dish washing soap from your wife.

6 Mix the soap up in a 50 to 50 mix ratio with water, about a pint will be over kill

7 Put the soap mix on the bead of the tire liberally on both sides.

6 Use a pair of vise grips near the stem of the tire and clamp them on the rim after you start the rim.

7 Carefully walk the tire around the rim and be sure you pushing down on the tire to clear the rim flange and that the tire is being pushed down into the wide area of the inner rim.

8 After you get the tire back on the rim rotate the tire around until when you pull up on the valve extension it pulls the valve stem of the tube straight out.

9 Fill the tube with air with the extension in place.

10 Deflate the tube by removing the valve core out of the extension, Then holding the valve stem unscrew the extension and reinstall the valve core into the tubed tire

11 Air the tire back up to its proper pressure. Use caution and do not exceed the recommended max. air press of the tire.

 

[mike72903]

Thanks Mark, and Michael your detailed explanation is great. I did finally get it on. My biggest mistake was not getting the tire bead down in the narrow circumference center part of the wheel before starting to work the tire on. Live and learn. Still, I believe the small size compounded the difficulty and a helper would have made it easier to keep things in place. Thanks again, appreciate it.

 

[Michael]

Oh your welcome! I learned a few tricks over the years. I ran a tire shop for a year after I got out of the air Force 24 years ago before I got back into aviation related work.

I always swore at those small wheels but I could always get them back together with a small bit of patience.

 

[snap6319]

subscribed! great tip