Low tech tire bead buster

[Tony b]

Today I decided to change the back tires on my dune cat with tires I got for Christmas. Trying to brake the bead was troublesome. Tried a board and sledge hammer with no avail. Next I put the tire/rim under my truck back bumper and used a screw jack to compress the tire and it worked. The next tire would not budge. So I used a 4’ and a 3’ plank making a ‘ramp’ on the tire to compress the tire with my truck. After 4 try’s on 4 different spots the bead held on with the tire stretched under wood ramp. Then I tried using a long thin mason chisel to brake the bead still no avail. So I grabbed my dremel tool and surgery cut the bead. Finally successful!! What’s with the cardboard fibers inside?

 

[Augiedoggie]

Reckon that fiber stuff was the aerosol fix a flat crap. Stuff is probably ancient

 

[Skipp]

Bumper jack works very well…

 

[DaddyJohn]

Yeah, that junk is fix-a-flat.
It’s great at corroding rims inside.

 

[Mark G]

It also helps to cut out a half circle on the board that matches the diameter of the rim, it'll help it to bite. Yep, that crap on the inside is dried fix a flat.
That original tire didn't look too bad, I don't even see any cracks/weather checking.

 

[Tony b]

The inside of the rim was cerroded. I think the lip is salvageable with a little more sanding. I like the cutting the wood to fit better - less time rotation the tire and driving up and down. The tires were in ok shape other than 1/3 of the tread worn. Then my son drove the cat years ago I kept the tire pressure low for a softer ride. He’s grown and moved away so I’m tinkering with it to make a spider mobile version. Santa got me a set of 20 by 10-8 turf tires, turbo golf cart hub caps and 6” cake pans. With a little slicing, grinding and spray paint I came up with these hub caps. I plan to paint the spider man logo when I paint the fiberglass.