The skip loader (tractor) that I purchased for use on the Hacienda has been working fantastically well.
Having all of that power to move stuff around is a wonderful thing.
The big rear tires were brand new when I purchased it but the front tires were nearing end of life.
Shortly after getting it, I noticed a nail stuck in the right-front tire.
I pulled it out and guess what happened?
Yep, air started escaping.
So, I put it back in. What else could I do?!?!
It has worked fine ever since.
A few days ago, I went out to do some work and found the left-front tire flat.
🙁
It was off the bead and nothing I tried could get it to hold air. It had to come off.
I initially wondered how in the world I would jack up such a heavy piece of equipment to remove the wheel/tire. I even started the process with a Hi-Lift jack from my Jeep.
Thankfully, before I got too far, I realized what an idiot I was/am.
This thing is a front-end loader!! The loader easily lifts the front tires off the ground. So, I fired her up and lifted the wheels off the ground- EASY!!
Now the problem was the wheel nuts were put on with a good bit of torque. Not only did I NOT have a 1-1/8″ socket, I didn’t have my big long torque wrench.
A few emails and some friends delivered the tools I needed!! Thanks guys!!
After a bit of effort to get those nuts off, the wheels came off easily. It was only then that I spotted a fairly large cut and knew the tire was toast. I probably did it while messing around on one of the lava rock outcroppings here on the property.
One cut tire and one tire with a nail in it to hold pressure. I figured it was time for TWO new tires.
Nobody in the area had the tires I wanted so I ordered them from Amazon. Where else, right?!?!
These Carlisle Ultra Guard industrial tires are reported to be for “extreme use” and appear to have a good bit more rubber on them than standard. I’m hoping that holds up to the sharp lava rocks.
They showed up at a friend’s house in fairly short order and I had them mounted at a tire shop.
Putting the wheels/tires back on was easier than getting them off!
She now corners like a finely tuned Ferrari!
Well… almost…
I had a persistent slow leak in a front and rear tire on my Massey Ferguson 230. I put some of that
green slime tire sealant in them and haven’t had to ad air in a year now.
John
We should have bought stock in Slime a few years back! It is a wonderful thing! 🙂 I’ll even admit to using it in my RV-3 tires – which seemed like they always needed more air.
You are a wiz at figuring out any challenge, bro!!!
Nice job Jon! I recently bought a front tire for my Kubota on amazon. 1/3 less than from the local dealer who didn’t have one.
Good job done right.
Nice article, funny and I understood what a tire is and the problem not having air! Solution fix tire, much easier article than your usual machnical fixes I just have to skim and think, he must have got switched at birth or else I did.
Love you my genius brother!
A
Mandy