How to get a large tire back on the rim

[Birken Vogt]

I got know idea what you guys are talking about.

We are talking about they quit making MAPP gas almost 20 years ago.

The stuff they sell now is a poor imitation, barely hotter than propane unless you use oxygen.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I have no idea why we are talking about gas. Lol
I did not know that about Mapp gas.
It does seem to burn quite a bit hotter than propane on either of my torches.
One is made for Mapp gas.
Anyone have BTU numbers or degrees the current Mapp gas heats to to compare to propane?

 

[HarleyHappy]

So, I’m admittedly a little pissed.
I had 3 or 4 Mapp gas’s cylinders that I had been using for the last 30 years and for my birthday last year my wife got me 2 new cans as I had mentioned, I was finally running low.
Because of this thread, I just went and checked my bottles and they say Mapp Pro.
The one I still have that’s almost empty just say Mapp gas.
I guess I’m a little slow sometimes.
They work fine in my torch but nothing great.

 

[MG84]

Take all this advice with a grain of salt, use it at your own risk.

As for using ether, we've put more tires that I can count back on with the stuff over the years. Sometimes in the shop for a large stubborn tire, but usually out in the field, forest, wherever when you don't have a large enough compressor, bead cheetah, etc. I've wheeled 4wd trucks and jeeps for years and there are many times when you are miles from the closest road and reseating a tire with ether is the difference between making it out or not.

Method I use:
-spray the ether all the way around the rim, pointed towards the inside of the tire
-I count seconds of spray as a measurement, start small with a 1-2 second spray and work up. Not scientific, but at least gives you some measure of how much you are putting in
-light it from a distance, if you don't have a rag on a stick or something to light and throw, spray a trail of wet ether along the ground and up the tire, out to a distance of a few feet. Light the end of the trail and the fire will follow it up and into the tire, hopefully before the ether in the tire has dissipated.
-be quick with your air chuck, the second it pops back on start putting the air to it

 

[treemuncher]

Take all this advice with a grain of salt, use it at your own risk.

As for using ether, we've put more tires that I can count back on with the stuff over the years. Sometimes in the shop for a large stubborn tire, but usually out in the field, forest, wherever when you don't have a large enough compressor, bead cheetah, etc. I've wheeled 4wd trucks and jeeps for years and there are many times when you are miles from the closest road and reseating a tire with ether is the difference between making it out or not.

Method I use:
-spray the ether all the way around the rim, pointed towards the inside of the tire
-I count seconds of spray as a measurement, start small with a 1-2 second spray and work up. Not scientific, but at least gives you some measure of how much you are putting in
-light it from a distance, if you don't have a rag on a stick or something to light and throw, spray a trail of wet ether along the ground and up the tire, out to a distance of a few feet. Light the end of the trail and the fire will follow it up and into the tire, hopefully before the ether in the tire has dissipated.
-be quick with your air chuck, the second it pops back on start putting the air to it

I would add that a pre-attached chuck with a ball valve is almost a must in order to get air to the tire in time before it loses the seal after the pop - you need to add air immediately after the pop. Less ether is needed in warmer weather, a little more in colder conditions. If you need to re-ether, be sure the current charge is completely extinguished and burned out prior to adding another charge - no need to ask me how I know this one!

I do my best to avoid using ether but there are times that it is the only way to get difficult tires to seat up without special tooling and working alone. I learned by watching a lot of YouTube videos to judge how much people were using. It is a learned assessment and better too little than too much. The volume of the tire will dictate how much fuel is needed to make it seat properly. The further away you can be from the ignition point the better.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Huh, and no one has used Mapp gas other than me?
I was showed that 45 years ago, with propane I think.
I have done hundreds of forklift tires with it and never really had a problem.
I have done probably 20 smaller tractor and backhoe tires also.
I realize it not that safe but the worst ones I’ve ever done were some 3 wheeler tires about 25 years ago.

 

[Birken Vogt]

Huh, and no one has used Mapp gas other than me?

I would do it in a pinch, but ether in a can is much easier to carry around and dispenses into the tire much faster, and also more commonly found near equipment and trucks

 

[HarleyHappy]

When I ran trucks, I always had a torch in the truck for brakes and such, to thaw when cold. I have used Either but always thought Mapp gas worked better.
What I do is pull the trigger, without it clicking to ignite and depending on size of tire, hold it inside and after a bit of time, just go to side of tire and hit the striker, keeping a air hose handy, to keep the bead set.
When I went to Tennessee, in Virginia, we had some butthead DOT guy give me crap for only 2 chains, with binders on, he wanted 3 and made me ratchet it down so hard, it blew the bead off the back tire.
When we got there, stuck torch in for about a minute and kicked it off.
Done.

 

[terex herder]

A word of wisdom from a local tire man a couple of decades ago: "nobody touches that ether can but me".

 

[Truck Shop]

 

[Truck Shop]

It's not just using ether to inflate-yes it can be done, has been done over & over again
with no issues. It's the one time it doesn't go as planned that's the killer.
*
Spending most of my life around 24 & 22.5's I've seen some real close calls. We had a
U.S. Foods trailer setting in our lot in the same spot for two days. I was in the shop when
I heard a tire let loose, it blew {zippered} the casing at tread just setting static for days.
One Saturday morning as usual Les Schwab was at the yard doing weekend tire work,
three guys all pros at their job, about 60 years experience between them. They were in
the shop mounting new tires for spares for the coming week. Joe was airing one up that
seated without a Cheeta. It had about 35 psi in it when it zippered the sidewall, he was
standing to the side fortunately. It was leaning up against the handrail to the stairway
when it blew. The rush of air completely destroyed the the lower portion of the steps,
broke boards into pieces. Sent the tire & wheel into the adjacent tool box after it landed.
He stuttered and shook for minutes, he was lucky. Oscar one of the other guys just that
week had a cookie cutter {locking bead rim} explode on a service call. Tires of any type
are nothing more than a rolling bomb and should be treated as much IMO. Just because
it's a new virgin casing really means nothing. When airing tires I always move to the side.

 

[Birken Vogt]

I had a friend in high school, he was already a good mechanic and tire guy even before grad, was later working for Les Schwab on I-80 near Dutch Flat changing what would presumably be a 22.5, it let go and he was killed instantly by the side of the road.

 

[Truck Shop]

About 20 deaths a year from auto accessory/tires. And some could be bunched in other categories.
*
https://www.bls.gov/iif/fatal-injuries-tables/fatal-occupational-injuries-table-a-1-2021.htm

 

[HarleyHappy]

After hearing that, I may think twice before doing my next tire.
I do have a good friend in our Sportsman Club and he lost most of the use of his left arm from a 24.5 in a cage.
It blew in the cage but his left arm up to the elbow was in the cage.
They re-attached what was left but lost most of his nerves and could barely use his hand.
That cut his forestry, logger occupation quite short.

 

[DDoug]

I had a friend in high school, he was already a good mechanic and tire guy even before grad, was later working for Les Schwab on I-80 near Dutch Flat changing what would presumably be a 22.5, it let go and he was killed instantly by the side of the road.

I wonder if that is the Zipper Failure I got some flyer in the mail about a few years ago ?

 

[Truck Shop]

new or used tires or any brand of casing can zipper.

 

[terex herder]

Another fatality. Reading between the lines probably an overdose of ether.

Community, friends rally around family of Wabasha County farmer who died in tire explosion

"You're just kind of numb," one person said. "We're all better for knowing him."

www.postbulletin.com

 

[IceHole]

Another fatality. Reading between the lines probably an overdose of ether.

Community, friends rally around family of Wabasha County farmer who died in tire explosion

"You're just kind of numb," one person said. "We're all better for knowing him."

www.postbulletin.com

When the bead of the tire slipped off the rim on the bottom side, the tire shot straight into the air and exploded, killing Moechnig and injuring his dad, who remains hospitalized with multiple facial fractures, Harvey said. The tire left a two-foot dent at the top of the shed.

Tire cage, keep it attached to the equipment, wrap chains around, or at least keep you head away!

 

[highwayghost]

I drove triaxle dump in my younger days and once had a tire explode when adding air. I was lucky that it was the inside duel, and the outside tire saved me from being seriously injured. The concussion knocked me 10’ sideways on my ass and it ripped off the mud flap and sent it 50’ to the rear. Ears were ringing the rest of the day. I’m now always nervous when filling any tire.

 

[Simon C]

I drove triaxle dump in my younger days and once had a tire explode when adding air. I was lucky that it was the inside duel, and the outside tire saved me from being seriously injured. The concussion knocked me 10’ sideways on my ass and it ripped off the mud flap and sent it 50’ to the rear. Ears were ringing the rest of the day. I’m now always nervous when filling any tire.

Know a guy who filled a tire the same on the side of the road. He woke up on his back in the cat-tails in the ditch. Inner tire had grenaded when filling. He had glasses on that saved his eyes from the dirt.
Can never be too careful.
Simon C