With the invention of the riding mower, mowing the lawn has become a pleasure for some people. Until then, mowing the lawn was considered a chore by most. The riding lawn mower is now one of the best-selling items in America. Like other vehicles, most lawn mowers have a tubeless tire system. When the tire deflates, you have three options: cover the tire, replace it, or insert an inner tube.
Tubeless tires, commonly found on small garden maintenance tractors, have many advantages over their tubeless counterparts. On the one hand, if the bead (the joint between the tire and the rim of the wheel) breaks on a tubeless tire, all the air comes out suddenly. However, an inner tube tire will not normally be affected by a small leak at the bead seal. Tubeless tires that do not hold air can easily be converted to tube tires; sometimes the inner tubes wear out or puncture and need to be replaced. Either way, installing a new pipe is easy with the help of basic tools in just a few steps. Installing an inner tube is the same process for tube and tubeless tires.
First, consider those quick hits on the inner tubes
Tube Size: To find the tube size you want, check the size information on the sidewall of the tire. Inner tubes, because they are made of rubber with a stretch range, generally fit different sizes of tires that have the same or almost the same clearance for an inner tube.
Radial Tubes vs Down Tubes: Because bias tires and radial tires are made differently, you cannot use a down tube on a radial tire without risking heat build-up and explosion. Radial tubes, which are made of a more flexible rubber compound, can be safely installed on radial and oblique tires.
The new tube is smaller than the old one because the old tube has been stretched and relaxed and adopted the shape of the tire. New tubes start out smaller than the tire.
Tools You Will Need To Remove and Install an Inner Tube – It is always helpful to have all the tools you will be using on hand before you start removing and installing the inner tube. You will need pliers, tire iron or another prying tool, a rubber mallet, a valve core removal tool, and an air pump.
Step 1
Remove the wheel from the tractor using the technique suggested by the manufacturer. If it is not yet flat, release as much air as possible from the tire by removing the core from the valve stem. This is the spring-loaded device inside the air valve that prevents air from escaping from the tire after inflation. Use a valve core removal tool and turn it counterclockwise to remove the core.
step 2
Hammer the sidewall of the tire with a rubber mallet to loosen the tire bead on both sides of the tire. Be careful not to hit the edge. Only one side of the bead needs to be loosened for this process, although loosening both sides makes the process much easier to accomplish.
Step 3
Pry up the bead of the tire with a pair of tire levers, a flathead screwdriver, crowbar, or similar device. Lift small portions of the tire onto the rim in a step-by-step progression. Maneuver a small section of the tire out of the tire, then use another pry device to maneuver a section of the tire onto the tire about 2 inches from the first section. Continue in this way using different tire plates (or other deflating devices) until the tire has come loose from the tire around the circumference of the wheel on one side.
Step 4
Once the front of the tire is detached from the tire, use a rubber mallet to fully hammer the protruding air valve (rubber component that contains the valve stem) into the tire. Remove the old tube and valve with pliers.
Step 5
Examine the inside of the tire for possible causes of the anterior tube failure. Locate and remove any sharp objects and insert the new tube into the tire in the opposite direction of exiting the old one. Add a small amount of air to the inner tube first to prevent the inner “folds” of the inner tube from pinching when the inner tube inflates. Line up the air valve so that it fits through the hole in the rim.
Step 6
Stretch the bead of the tire over the rim with the pry tools and mallet. Carefully monitor the position of the air valve to make sure it does not slip inside the tire or twist during installation.
Step 7
Slowly inflate the tire to allow the inner tube to expand evenly inside the tire. Inflate the tire to working pressure to complete the job.
Special advice:
You can use a spoon to remove and stick the tire to the rim. This will make your task easier.
Precautions:
Handle the hammer and lever with care.
Stay clear of the tire when inflating the inner tube.
Inflate the inner tube according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Do not try to inflate the tire too much. This can damage the tire and cause it to explode.
Try to keep your lawn free of small pieces of glass.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you put an inner tube on a tubeless tire?
Most tubeless motorcycle tires accept an inner tube, although you may need to drill the hole to fit the valve stem. When fitting the inner tube, be careful not to pinch it with the tire iron you are using to reattach the tire.
Do I have to put inner tubes on my tractor tires?
These are valid questions, but the answer is simple: Unless you’re using older equipment, it’s best to go without a camera 99% of the time. With modern tractor tires, inner tubes are more useful for recreation than for fieldwork.
What happens if we put an inner tube in TIRE tubeless?
Puncture Risk: Tires specially designed for inner tubes have a smooth inner surface, unlike tubeless tires. If an inner tube is placed inside a tubeless tire, the inner tube may rub abrasively due to the roughness of the tire and cause a puncture.
Do tractor tires have inner tubes?
Tractor air chambers are mounted and inflated inside some tires to maintain air pressure, inflate the carcass, and support the weight of the vehicle. Tubes also prevent air leakage and are sometimes used to extend the life of a tubeless tire when there is a small leak.