What's this stuff in my tires?

[Inspectorjoe 473]

I recently bought a tractor that has a strange material in both front tires. Before I discovered this, I put an air pressure gauge on the stems, but the gauge didn't move, although the tires were inflated. They're not tubed. I put some air in, then tried to let some out. Nothing came out. I probed in the stems with a drill bit, but couldn't go far because the stems are angled. I grabbed a bit of material that could best be described as the color and consistency of crushed raisins. 

Does anyone know what this stuff is? I don't like not knowing what the air pressure is.

[lynnmor 7,847]

It is likely that the previous owner had the tires filled with the flat free filler.

[Inspectorjoe 473]

6 hours ago, lynnmor said:

It is likely that the previous owner had the tires filled with the flat free filler.

I'm not familiar with that. Is it like foaming a tire? With foam, you need to drill through the tire itself.

 

[Handy Don 14,113]

It is similar to "fix a flat" (also called "slime") but it expands inside the tire. It gets injected through the stem. 

[Inspectorjoe 473]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

It is similar to "fix a flat" (also called "slime") but it expands inside the tire. It gets injected through the stem. 

Whatever it is, it has the stems blocked. When I take the cores out, I don't lose any air. Strangely, I can still add air. 

I'm going to try to ream out the stems, which might not be possible because of the angle built into them.

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,253]

5 hours ago, Inspectorjoe said:

Whatever it is, it has the stems blocked. When I take the cores out, I don't lose any air. Strangely, I can still add air. 

I'm going to try to ream out the stems, which might not be possible because of the angle built into them.

Why are you reaming the stems out? Are the tires squishy/ flat? 
  Maybe leave them as is, might just never have to deal with a flat tire ever if they are foam filled. 

[Handy Don 14,113]

5 hours ago, Inspectorjoe said:

Whatever it is, it has the stems blocked. When I take the cores out, I don't lose any air. Strangely, I can still add air. 
I'm going to try to ream out the stems, which might not be possible because of the angle built into them.

 

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

Why are you reaming the stems out? Are the tires squishy/ flat? 
  Maybe leave them as is, might just never have to deal with a flat tire ever if they are foam filled. 

 

The intent of that material is to create a "never flat" tire that is puncture proof and never needs air! It will never register a pressure on the gauge unless you put extra air in there.

That said, I agree with @Sparky, that if it ain't specifically broken you ought not attempt to "fix" it.

[Inspectorjoe 473]

10 hours ago, Sparky said:

Why are you reaming the stems out? Are the tires squishy/ flat? 
  Maybe leave them as is, might just never have to deal with a flat tire ever if they are foam filled. 

 

They seem fully inflated. Pushing on them, they don't feel any different than 'clean' air-filled tires.

The problem is that I have no idea what the actual air pressure in them is. I intend to use the tractor for mowing, and want to level the deck. The first step in doing that is to ensure the tires are properly and evenly inflated. I can't do that.

[Handy Don 14,113]

On 6/28/2022 at 2:45 AM, Inspectorjoe said:

I intend to use the tractor for mowing, and want to level the deck. The first step in doing that is to ensure the tires are properly and evenly inflated. I can't do that.

Yep, this is an issue with "improvements", isn't it.

 

I will note that unless this is a "full hanging" deck, a la the 200-series machines, its support in the mowing position is the front hanger and the gage wheels. The gage wheels have the leveler trunnion. Raising or lowering the rear by small amounts (via tire size/pressure) will change the front hanger height somewhat but the deck can still be leveled (per the manual by measuring at the blade positioned fore and aft to a flat surface). It is possible, though, that the spec'd cut heights for the different lever positions may be slightly off from the actual cut heights.

 

One thing I find amusing is that nowhere in the WH manuals does it mention leveling the deck with an operator in the seat! That can make a difference, I would expect.

[Inspectorjoe 473]

22 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yep, this is an issue with "improvements", isn't it.

 

I will note that unless this is a "full hanging" deck, a la the 200-series machines, its support in the mowing position is the front hanger and the gage wheels. The gage wheels have the leveler trunnion. Raising or lowering the rear by small amounts (via tire size/pressure) will change the front hanger height somewhat but the deck can still be leveled (per the manual by measuring at the blade positioned fore and aft to a flat surface). It is possible, though, that the spec'd cut heights for the different lever positions may be slightly off from the actual cut heights.

 

One thing I find amusing is that nowhere in the WH manuals does it mention leveling the deck with an operator in the seat! That can make a difference, I would expect.

Yes, it is a full hanging deck. I did a test cut with it when I brought it home, and at the highest setting it cut too low. At its lowest setting the deck is sitting on the ground. The manual only tells how to level the deck, not how to get a higher mowing height. I only have a little more than a third of an acre with a lot of obstacles, and mow with a Toro Timemaster, But I've been having some health issues lately, and at times, even using that is hell on my back and fatigue level. I bought a 211-5 SB for the times I don't feel like walking. I have two tractors with 42 inch decks, but I don't have the decks on them, and using them would be overkill. And just getting on the "73 no name and 310-8  is becoming a bit of a chore. The little 211 is a breeze to get on and off of.

Good point about adjusting the deck with a rider on the seat. That definitely would come into play with me. On the upside, the seat-weight sure is a bonus when plowing snow!

[sergeant 324]

I Bought a 1991 Cub Cadet 2182 super Garden tractor In January 2021 and it Had Foam filled front tires  But the Tread was just about gone On the tires  It was a royal PIA  to get it off the rims  even following a good removal Video  Leaving the Tire On the front spindle and using a sawzall  to remove foam and front Tire from the rims. The Original Owner Used the Tractor for mowing Near thorny bushes, The foam was filled with thorns. I find the Tractor rolls a lot Nicer with the Foam out of those Rims 

[Handy Don 14,113]

9 hours ago, Inspectorjoe said:

Yes, it is a full hanging deck

I have no experience with these on WH. I wish I could be more help and wishing you luck on getting your back pain resolved.

 

Where I've encountered full-hangers on other shall-remain-unnamed equipment, the lift frame was hard-bolted at the front with slotted bolt holes at the rear. Leveling was by resting the deck shell on blocks on a level surface and tightening the bolts. No side-to side leveling and the max height of cut was built in and could not be increased.

 

I'd like to raise the mowing height on a front-hanging WH deck but the only practical ways I can see are to go to large gage wheels (pricey!) or to lengthen the arm that holds the wheels (the latter is beginning to look like a good idea if I can keep the separation to the rear tire). Only really fussy lawn folk really needed mowing height increments of ~¾" from 1.5 - 3.5" , anyway.

[Inspectorjoe 473]

On 6/29/2022 at 9:29 PM, Handy Don said:

I have no experience with these on WH. I wish I could be more help and wishing you luck on getting your back pain resolved.

 

Where I've encountered full-hangers on other shall-remain-unnamed equipment, the lift frame was hard-bolted at the front with slotted bolt holes at the rear. Leveling was by resting the deck shell on blocks on a level surface and tightening the bolts. No side-to side leveling and the max height of cut was built in and could not be increased.

 

I'd like to raise the mowing height on a front-hanging WH deck but the only practical ways I can see are to go to large gage wheels (pricey!) or to lengthen the arm that holds the wheels (the latter is beginning to look like a good idea if I can keep the separation to the rear tire). Only really fussy lawn folk really needed mowing height increments of ~¾" from 1.5 - 3.5" , anyway.

The deck has it's own cool version of Attach-A-Matic. I've found that the maximum height of cut can't be increased. It's a long shot, but I'm going to see if overinflating the tires gives me any worthwhile lift. Of course, if it doesn't, I won't be able to bleed the front tires. I might also see if the front and rear wheels/tires on the shall-remain-unnamed tractor in the foreground of the second picture fit. It looks like they may give  me an inch or two. Also, leveling the blade and deck might reduce the scalping. The blade is about 3/4 inch off. It can be adjusted to run evenly within the shell with two bolts and jam nuts varying the space between the blade and blade bar.

 

[Handy Don 14,113]

11 hours ago, Inspectorjoe said:

The deck has it's own cool version of Attach-A-Matic. I

I have a sliding pin similar to this to attach my RER Snapper's front-mounted "Thatcherizer". Now I know a source for junk part!

In this image your deck is not mounted, correct? Seems like there must be two side rails/tabs with holes that receive the two ends of the pin (one fixed and one sliding).

 

Depending on the kind of foam in the tires, it has likely cured into its "full inflation" shape. Air added to the tire now might well swell the tire and, very likely, will come back out as well. Think of the foam as a firm donut riding inside the tire but not "stuck" to it that can be compressed slightly but will not expand.

[Inspectorjoe 473]

22 hours ago, Handy Don said:

I have a sliding pin similar to this to attach my RER Snapper's front-mounted "Thatcherizer". Now I know a source for junk part!

In this image your deck is not mounted, correct? Seems like there must be two side rails/tabs with holes that receive the two ends of the pin (one fixed and one sliding).

That's correct. The deck is not mounted in that photo. Here's the attachment hardware on the deck. 

I took the deck off the day after I got it home, cleaned everything up and haven't touched it since. I was thinking I'd get to it this past weekend, but that didn't happen.