How To Repair A Tubeless Tire On A Lawn Mower
A flat tire can slow everything down, whether the tire is on the mower or the car. Flat tires set schedules back and cost lots of money to repair. When the tire on the riding mower gets punctured, you can repair it yourself at home; it will cost just a couple of dollars to complete. The process is identical to plugging a punctured tire on a car.
Step 1
Place the automotive jack under the corner of the mower with the flat tire. Align the jack with the frame rail whenever possible.
Step 2
Raise the jack until the wheel is 2 inches off the ground.
- A flat tire can slow everything down, whether the tire is on the mower or the car.
- Raise the jack until the wheel is 2 inches off the ground.
Step 3
Rotate the wheel to locate the reason for the puncture. The most common reason for a punctured tire is a nail.
Step 4
Inflate the tire to the proper pressure with the air compressor. This will help to speed the repair process.
Step 5
Remove the nail or other object with the needle-nose pliers. Regular pliers will work for this process, but it is harder to grab objects in the tread with them. Side-cut pliers will work also.
- Rotate the wheel to locate the reason for the puncture.
- Regular pliers will work for this process, but it is harder to grab objects in the tread with them.
Step 6
Run the hole ream into the puncture hole in the tire. The ream is a metal shaft that has either circular ridges, a twist design or simple rough nubs on the shaft. This prepares the hole for the tire plug.
Step 7
Insert a tire plug into the plug insertion tool. This is the tool with the large needle eye end on it. make sure to center the tool on the plug.
Step 8
Coat the plug with rubber cement. This will help to seal the plug to the tire faster.
- Run the hole ream into the puncture hole in the tire.
- This prepares the hole for the tire plug.
Step 9
Press the plug insertion tool into the hole in the tire until three quarters of the plug is inserted in the tire.
Step 10
Pull the insertion tool out sharply. This will release the plug and allow the tool to come out smoothly.
Step 11
Cut the plug off even with the tread of the tire with a razor knife. Allow the tire to sit for 5 minutes for the rubber cement to cure.
Step 12
Fill the tire to the proper pressure.
Tip
Spray soapy water on the tire to find small leaks when no nail or other sharp object is visible.
Warning
Larger holes will require a special interior patch, which must be applied using special tools.
Things Needed
- Automotive jack
- Air compressor
- Tire pressure gauge
- Needle-nose pliers
- Tire plug kit
- Rubber cement
- Razor knife
References
- Clarence White, Toro Certified Mechanic; Berlin, MD
- How to Use a Tire Plug Kit