i've heard of fluid filled wheels...

[JUSS10 250]

so i just bought a 753 parts tractor locally. it had solid tires, great gas tank, good trans, and the nice older style shaped seat pan so it was worth it. well i started tearing it apart and when i got to looking at the rear AG tires they seem "flat" or "square" at the top. i was going to air them up but couldn't find the valve stems, i found the holes then noticed foam inside. it looks like somebody mounted the tires then filled them with expanding foam. I've heard of this before for other vehicles, but has anyone heard of this for a garden tractor? the tires are pretty nice so i want to use them but they are already somewhat under "inflated" as they are about an inch shorter when set next to the rear AGs on my 854. the side walls have some cracking and I'm worried it may get worse without the proper interior support. that said, if running tubes is recommended, what would be the best way to get the foam out without doing damage to the tire or wheel? acetone or some other solvent? thanks

Justin

[mr.pipes 4]

From what I have read about foam filled tires, they sounds like a PITA. Usually the tires are cut off at replacement time. Some skid-steer ones can be retreaded.

You may be able to use acetone or something similar to dissolve the foam. I put gas in a Styrofoam cup when I was 10 and the cup didn't last so long. My friend's brother spray painted a Styrofoam project for school and I hear it melted away more or less.

Maybe you could get enough out to get a valve stem in and air them up.

Worst case, cut the rims in two around the circumference from the inside.

I have never personally dealt with foam but I'm curious how you make out with them.

Good luck

[CDLdrvr 0]

I have seen MANY foam tire apps, but as you stated never on a lawn/garden tractor. I would suspect (around here) that the tires were leaking badly and spray foam was cheaper than new ones or tubes.

As far as removal ... The dealer always came to the job site with a new tire already mounted on a rim for the big stuff, but many, many times I have seen tire men hog into a tire with an air grinder with a rasp style head on it to prep for a patch. Perhaps just chop out what you can with a knife and get in there carefully with some sort of Dremmel tool or something to clean it up. If you are going with tubes you should be fine.

As far as getting them off the rims ... perhaps someone else has some ideas. My friend has a garage with a tire machine and I would try breaking the tire free from the rim using the force of his machines bead breaker to compress the foam enough to dismount it? Just a suggestion. My fear with chemicals to dissolve it would be dissolving or damaging the tires also.

[jbumgarner 12]

As everyone else has expressed foam filling is fairly standard with construction equipment, but have never seen it in a garden tractor. I would think it may not be a bad idea if you are looking for more weight. On skidsteer tires it can add around 150lbs per tire, so I would guess on a standard GT tire it may add 25-30 pounds and you would never need to worry about flats. As far as getting it out you may want to call a professional and see what they recommend. Here in the Charlotte, NC area we use Goodyear Solid Deal and I'm sure they could give you some answers. I'm sure they have a service center near you as well. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but like someone else told you we cut the tire off when it is worn out and replace then send out to be filled again.

[JUSS10 250]

well maybe I'll just run them as is till they fall apart. i picked them up to build a dual setup but they can just go on another tractor and use the set from that tractor on my duals. they do seem pretty heavy, not noticeably heavier but they have weight to them. thanks for the input.

Justin

[jbumgarner 12]

If they are slack you may consider getting in touch with someone in the area that does foam filling and they may be able to top them off. If that is the case you could probably get a lot more life out of them. However I do know that the increase weight puts a strain on other components and that could also cause problems.

[SousaKerry 503]

The foam used for cups and containers is completely different then the expanding stuff.

EPS foam (Expandable Poly Styrene) is what is used for food containers it melts in solvents because it's main ingredient is Styrene. To expand EPS you need a blowing agent and pressurized steam, as well as a few trade secrets (I work for Dart Container)

I don't know what that expandable crap is made of but I have tried to get it off tools before and nothing will touch it.

[JUSS10 250]

general question, could these tires hold air on a rim if the bead was set without using a tube and just a valve stem in the wheel? i may try and inflate them with just an air nozzle through the valve stem hole, though i have a feeling from reading this last post, this stuff may be stuck to the wheels if it sticks so well. i guess if that is the case, the tires should last for dang near forever cause they are essentially glued to a huge mass from the inside...

[fourwheels0 191]

i'm trying to figure out whats in my tires too.

it's not foam or fluid. more like a very thick sticky grease type of stuff.

very heavy too each tire is about 100lbs.

[lillbiker 0]

no. google that question. if tires are not that good cut them off when your done with them.i would find some good used tires to replace thme with. clean rims up with a wire brush, use a drill or a hand brush. i save all of my tires if they are dry rot i put a tube in them, im cheap that just me

[shorts 182]

what kind of foam?,the aerosol insulating foam is usually a urethane based product, the bulk insulating foam is a 2 part soy or corn based product.

Industrial tires can be bought as solid foam filled and installed on split or multipiece truck type rims, forklift solid tires are molded on steel bands and then pressed on and off of the wheels, there used to be the option of mounting a conventional ''air filled'' tire on the rim and then having it filled with foam rubber and then baked or vulcanized to cure the foam, when the tire wore out you just replaced the tire and rim. farm and industrial tires can also be liquid filled with a calcium chloride solution and then aired up to the proper pressure, the down side is that the calcium corrodes the wheels

I found that when I run duals for floatation that running the outside tires soft 1 or 2 psi that they don't put any pressure on the axles or ground until the ground gets soft and then they contact the ground and add flotation and traction to keep me moving thru the soft stuff and yet minimize the wear and tear on the tractor :woohoo:

[CDLdrvr 0]

Couple thoughts to share ...

I do not believe air is gonna help. It won't penetrate the foam and you mention severe cracking from dry rot.

Secondly ... you say the tires are dry rotted and cracked and pretty much shot. How about go to the store and buy some spray foam and small drill a hole, the size of the tube or hose, in the tire tread where the voids are and fill it again? Its not gonna go flat. If you don't like seeing the foam in the hole paint it black. As others have said they will probably last forever.