[Alien5044]

I have a 1996 Craftsman GT I parked in the shed 4 years ago. I've decided to try to get it running again to use on an "up north" property just to mow field type grass. All the tires were flat and off the bead. I managed to get them re inflated so I could pull it out of the shed and into the garage for a once over.
3 of the 4 tires are flat again.

I don't want to spend $ on tires if I can't get t his thing to run again, and to get it to run, I gotta roll it around.

Question: Has anyone had any luck using tire sealer in can or bottles? :tango_face_surprise I know, it makes a mess but this would likely be temporary fix just to keep aired up while I tinker with the engine and transmission. If I can't get it running, it becomes junk pile machine or parted out anyway.

Thoughts and experiences?

 

[HeyYou]

The goop in a can won't really work very well on tractor tires. They rely on centrifugal force to get into the holes, and heat to cure. Tractor tires just don't get that hot.

Better off going to some place like discount tire, and having them put tubes in them. Your tires are likely quite dry-rotted...... and are leaking from just about everywhere.

 

[poncho62]

Or, you can get a can of brush on bead sealer. Take tire off the bead and slop some around the wheel bead.
I have had good luck with it.

 

[Alien5044]

Yep, some cracking and such but the bead sealer is worth a try. I recall it from working at a gas station in my youth, always used it to be sure no 'returns'...

 

[rwmeyer]

I did a friends tire with "Slime"...worked good, tires held air for 3 years that I know of. Take tire & rim off of tractor & let air out...if any is there! Put a can of "Slime" in and roll tire a few times, then lay on one side, then the other...you're trying to coat the entire inside surface. New tubes are the next best alternative. Bob

 

[inspectorudy]

If you use slime, jack the tractor up in the rear and then run the rear wheels after putting the slime in them. As mentioned they need the centrifugal force to distribute the slime. If you don't, the slime will go to the bottom of the wheel and gel. I use the bead sealer and have very good results. In fact, I use it on new tires too. On the front wheels, it is so much easier to deflate the tire and apply the sealer to the rims and tire bead than the rear tires. Just breaking the bead on the rears can be a back breaking job and slime might be an easier way to go. Just remember that slime must be spun once it is in the tire or it won't do the job.

 

[rwmeyer]

Rudy, Kinda like "Fix-A-Flat". I believe the directions say to install Fix-A-Flat, drive for 1/2 hour at 50mph and get tire repaired as soon as possible! Also, with Fix-A-Flat. I heard (HEARD and not necessarily fact!) that Fix-A-Fat contains a flammable solvent that remains inside of the tire. If the tire is removed to be replaced/repaired and a spark occurs...BOOM! Again, hearsay, but that's when I stopped carrying it and using it! Bob

 

[steddy]

I did a friends tire with "Slime"...worked good, tires held air for 3 years that I know of. Take tire & rim off of tractor & let air out...if any is there! Put a can of "Slime" in and roll tire a few times, then lay on one side, then the other...you're trying to coat the entire inside surface. New tubes are the next best alternative. Bob

Yup. This. I don't recommend or use it in any vehicle with tire pressure sensors, which you're obviously not dealing with, so that doesn't matter. I always dismounted the tire, laid it on one side, squirted some in with beads seated, then squirted in a little more and repeated on the other side. To do the outside of the tire (where the puncture most likely is or would be), I always squirted in more slime, then actually used the piece of equipment (or ATV, which was usually the case) for several minutes/hours to distribute it around the outside. I like to think the inside of the tire was pretty well thoroughly coated after that.

 

[dave_r]

Rudy, Kinda like "Fix-A-Flat". I believe the directions say to install Fix-A-Flat, drive for 1/2 hour at 50mph and get tire repaired as soon as possible! Also, with Fix-A-Flat. I heard (HEARD and not necessarily fact!) that Fix-A-Fat contains a flammable solvent that remains inside of the tire. If the tire is removed to be replaced/repaired and a spark occurs...BOOM! Again, hearsay, but that's when I stopped carrying it and using it! Bob

Maybe they used a poorly chosen propellant when they first came out, but it's way to available/used for it to still be a problem (filling with a volatile propellant). Now, the tire guys don't like tires with slime in them because of the mess it makes when taking the tire off.

As for the leaking, it really depends on where the leaking is taking place. You can find out where the leaks are by squirting some windex on the tires (with them up to pressure), and seeing where bulbs are forming. If it's leaking in the tread area, then using green slime or something like it probably will work, or if even use a regular tire plug for a distinct puncture. If it's leaking along the bead, then you need to use a proper bead sealant (I've tried smearing green slime on the bead and letting it sit, and it hasn't worked for me).

Or just get a tube.

 

[Ariens93GT20]

But his equipment is not running and I have never heard of using bead sealer anywhere but the bead. Smearing it all over the inside of a tire may work. But if the tire has decayed that much I would doubt it would work. Would think coating the inside with silicone and letting it cure out before mounting would work better.

 

[oldgibsonguy]

Tubes, and be done with it. Take the wheels to the gas station and they'll usually put the tubes in 4 tires for about $20.

 

[Carlos]

Sometimes a tire with Slime, when parked just right, will go flat. I stopped trying to depend upon that nasty to work with stuff, and went tubes. And multi-ply tires when possible.

 

[mopar65pa]

Tubes, and be done with it. Take the wheels to the gas station and they'll usually put the tubes in 4 tires for about $20.

:ditto:

Slime will not work on sidewall cracks unless you "swoosh" it around and the tires are off the tractor.

If you have to break the beads to put the bead sealer in just put the tubes in and be done.

 

[kershner]

Never hurts to try slime. Take the wheel off and juice it up. Move wheel around every few hours to get slime where it’s needed. Has solved most of my problems. Good luck.

 

[Forest Gump]

I've been in your shoes trying to keep inflated tires on a dead horse inflated for few days so as the machine can be rolled around while checking a lawn tractor.

I first have to usually remove the wheel and check with soap bubbles to see how bad the leaks/seeps are.

If ya are just trying to keep some air in them until you figure out if you are whipping on a dead horse, what I usually have to do is first mix up little bit of dish soap in a spray bottle and look for bubbles as to how bad the leaks are with the tire/wheel off the machine and if the leaks are due to dry rotten tire and machine is not operating so as to spin the tire go buy a $20 big jug of slime and inject per instructions and rotate the tire manually (the dry rot leaks will be on the side of the tire) Keep looking for bubbles for couple days and lay the tire so as the slime will get to the leaking area. Do this for couple days and the seeps will usually get to where the tires will stap aired for 3 days or longer while working on the machine.

A good inner tube for one tire is usually around $12-15 plus tire shop install of $5 or more x 4 plus taking the wheel to the shop $100 out the window for a dead horse (machine) and might have to even throw out the old tires. (Makes the $20 jug of slime seem reasonable) I've seen some small front tires at wal mart site on-line with free shipping to the house for about same price as installing a inner tube.

Water will usually dissolve slime (for a clean up of tire and rim) if not over about year old. Fix a flat will rust the rims eventually.

I do not go to tires shops, I 've figured out some red-neck ways to break down ATV and Lawn tractor tires so as I repair them myself. Some are really rough to break down if you do not know how to attack them.

I've seen some generic home remedy recipes for slime on-line but I've never tried them.

 

[Forest Gump]

Never hurts to try slime. Take the wheel off and juice it up. Move wheel around every few hours to get slime where it’s needed. Has solved most of my problems. Good luck.

Usually what I do after doing the bubble leak test with the wheel off.:tango_face_surprise

 

[Tractor-Holic]

Some members have used liquid laundry starch instead of slime and have had good results with it even on dry rotted tires...

Most places that sell tubes here (few),sell ones with slime already in them..they are about $15-$20,a new tire may be not that much more..

 

[steddy]

Tubes, and be done with it. Take the wheels to the gas station and they'll usually put the tubes in 4 tires for about $20.

What the heck gas station are you going to?
All the ones around here sell is gas and junk food.

 

[Forest Gump]

What the heck gas station are you going to?
All the ones around here sell is gas and junk food.

and beer. You pump your own gas and if you need air for a low tire you pay for air.

And the GAS station/Beer station attendants in this neck of the woods does not even know what a inner tube is for unless they re-search such on their smart fone.:tango_face_wink:

 

[Ariens93GT20]

And a decent tire store will not even mess with your junk tires. Just air the tire park it were you want it and put blocks under it so when the tires go flat the beads do not break. Air them back up when you want to move it again. Takes less than 10 minutes to air four tires. Why waste the time with them till you know the tractor runs and everything works.