So...just about the time I'm figuring I'm completely screwed for getting the grass cut this weekend. I remembered something about seating a tire with starter fluid and a lighter. I watched a couple of YouTube videos. Some where people were successful and a couple of others where the idiots nearly killed themselves.
I figured I'd play it safe and start REALLY small. I sat the tire on the ground on it's side, sprayed in a tiny bit of ether, maybe a half second spray, and touched it off with a long handle lighter. The ether went boomppp, the tire jumper up off the ground a couple of inches, and you know what...it freaking worked!!! It absolutely freaking worked perfectly. The tire was seated on the rim and actually almost aired up. I filled it up the rest of the way, remounted it on the mower and proceeded to cut my grass. Of course, I had to call a couple of buddies to tell them the story since I was so freaking proud of myself first though.
Anyway...I'm thinking this would be a really good thing to have in your bag of tricks if you ever had a tire unseat itself during a vehicular bug out.
Here's a couple of the videos I watched before attempting this. The last one being what NOT to do. Hint: You do NOT need to use a half a can of starting fluid to do this.
PJ
5 comments:
and YOU DID NOT GET VIDEO for us!!! of YOUR GREAT and Freak-in AWESOME JOB? LOL! great job, I would have LOVED to see it in person! I would have jumped a mile.
Yeah, sorry. I was more focused on getting the lawnmower fixed so I could cut the grass than making a blog post. Not sure what I was thinking.
That, and I have a rule about NOT blowing myself up on camera.
PJ
My brother does this all the time. I've done it before myself.
It's a pretty neat, and old school trick.
In the absence of lighter fluid you can take a tie down strap with a ratchet and put it around the the tire's tread, hook it to itself and tighten. It will usually squeeze it tight enough to push it back on the bead while trying to inflate. In a pinch I once used an old extension cord, tied it around the tire with a knot, and stuck a stick in the loop, twisting it until it was tight. Worked just as well. Good job. Hope the grass looks good.
Along with Hillbilly's trick a couple of bungie cords wrapped around the tread area of the tire normally spreads it out enough to allow you to reseat the bead. I've done it with a small 12v compressor on a 15" truck tire, just be sure to wet the bead area first.
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