Technical Bulletins

Mounting & Inflating Flotation Tires, Tubed or Tubeless, on Drop Center Rims

Date: SEPTEMBER, 1991

NOTE: This bulletin replaces Field Engineering tip #34 dated December 29, 1986. Proper mounting and inflating procedures for Flotation tires are necessary to prevent damage to tire and/or tube and to insure that the beads seat properly. We recommend one of the following procedures be utilized if you are (A) using service truck with a boom, or (B) using automatic mounting equipment.

Procedure for mounting flotation tires using a service truck having a boom.

Always follow proper mounting and demounting procedures as outlined in attachment A.
Place the rim on the floor, well side up with the valve facing away from the service truck.
To help prevent the rim from moving during mounting, place two heavy weights, such as concrete blocks or truck rims, on the ground, against the rim, each 120° from the service truck (see attachment B diagram).
Remove any fluid that has accumulated in the tire.
Determine the correct direction of rotation for the tire and lift it up onto the rim slightly off center. Allow it to contact the rim at a slight angle.
Lubricate the top flange of the rim and the bottom bead of the tire with a thin solution of water and an approved vegetable oil soap mounting lubricant. Never use a silicone or petroleum base lubricant. An example of an approved lubricant, is Murphy's Tire and Tube Mounting Lubricant.
Use the boom on the truck, to shove the bottom bead of the tire over the rim flange.
Raise the tire so the tube can be inserted. Place the tube in the tire and secure the valve with the rim nut. Inflate the tube until it is well rounded out. This is very important. Install a valve core to assure this shape is maintained.
Lubricate the tube base in the area that will contact the bead toe. Also lubricate the bottom rim bead seat area, the top flange of the rim, and supporting the rim base and allow the tire to drop down onto the rim.
Use the boom, to shove the tire bead on the side next to the service truck below the flange and into the well.
Place a 3" wide flat tire iron between the bead and the rim flange directly over the tube valve. This is directly opposite the position where the bead is in the well.
Use the other tire irons, to work the bead over the rim flange working towards the flat tire iron. Take short bites to avoid damaging the tire bead. When about 45° of the bead remains, raise the flat tire iron and the balance of the bead will slip over the rim flange.

TUBE TYPE

Center the rim in the tire. Again lubricate the top bead and the seat area of the flange. The top bead should be within 1/2" of the flange, dismount the top bead, adjust the air pressure so that the top bead will be within 1/2" of the flange when remounted. Repeat steps 10-12.
Inflate the tire assembly using a clip-on chuck and remote inflation control.

TUBELESS

If an inflator ring is not available to set the bead, choose a suitable bicycle or motorcycle tube to fit between the rim flange and the beads, inflate it just enough to seal the area between the rim flange and tire beads, then inflate the tire. Once beads have began to seat, quickly remove the tube to prevent it from being pinched between the bead and rim flange.

Procedure for mounting Flotation tires on automatic mounting equipment.

Always follow proper mounting and demounting procedures as outlined in attachment A.
Place the rim on the mounting site well side up (valve on top).
Clamp the rim in place.
Install the center post and the wood platform in the rim, with slot in the platform over the valve hole in the rim.
Lubricate the bottom bead seat area of the rim with a thin solution of water and an approved vegetable oil soap mounting lubricant. Never use a silicone or petroleum base lubricant. An example, of an approved lubricant is Murphy's Tire and Tube Mounting Lubricant.
Remove any fluid that has accumulated in the tire.
Determine the correct direction of rotation for the tire and lift it up. Lubricate the bottom bead slips over the top rim flange. The tire should now drop down most of the way onto the rim.

TUBE TYPE

The tire will now have to be raised so the tube can be installed. Place the tube in the tire and secure the tube valve with the rim nut.
Inflate the tube until it is well rounded out. This is very important. Install a core housing to assure this shape is maintained.
Lubricate the base of the tube in the bead seat contact area. Also lubricate the top bead seats of the tire where it will contact the rim.
Lower the tire onto the rim.
Stand on the sidewall of the tire about 120° from the valve, forcing the bead down into the well. Start the mounting bar at this location.
After the top bead is mounted, release the rim clamps and center the rim in the tire. If the tube was properly rounded out in Step 8, then the bead should be within 1/2" of the bead seat. If the bead is not within 1/2" at the bead seat, reclamp the rim and dismount the top bead. Adjust the air pressure in the tube so that the top bead, after mounting, will be within 1/2" of the flange. Repeat steps 9-12.
Inflate the tires with a clip-on chuck and remote inflation control.

TUBELESS

If an inflator ring is not available to seat the beads, choose a suitable bicycle or motorcycle tube to fit between the rim flange and tire bead, inflate it just enough to seal the area between the flange and bead, then inflate the tire. Once beads have begun to seat, quickly remove the tube to prevent it from being pinched between the bead and rim flange.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

NEVER MOUNT A DAMAGED TIRE, IT MAY BURST WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE UPON INFLATION.

ALWAYS INSPECT WELL, BEAD SEAT AREAS AND RIM FLANGES TO BE SURE THEY ARE CLEAN AND SMOOTH. REMOVE ANY BUILD-UP OF RUST, CORROSION OR OLD RUBBER WITH A WIRE BRUSH. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY CAUSE THE BEAD TO "HANG UP" ON THE BEAD SEAT OF THE RIM AND BREAK WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE UPON INFLATION.

USE ONLY APPROVED TIRE MOUNTING LUBRICANTS (THIN VEGETABLE OIL SOAP SOLUTION OR APPROVED TIRE MOUNTING RUBBER LUBRICANT TO EASE PROPER POSITIONING OF THE TIRE ON THE RIM DURING INFLATION. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY CAUSE THE BEAD(S) TO "HANG UP" ON THE BEAD SEAT AND BREAK WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE DURING INFLATION.

INFLATE USING AN EXTENSION HOSE WITH CLIP-ON CHUCK AND EXTENSION GAUGE SO THE OPERATOR CAN STAND AWAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY DURING INFLATION. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATOR IN CASE THE ASSEMBLY SHOULD BURST FOR ANY REASON.

NEVER USE PRESSURES ABOVE 35 PSI TO SEAT TIRE BEADS. USE OF INFLATIONS ABOVE 35 PSI TO SEAT BEADS MAY CAUSE THE ASSEMBLY TO BURST WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE.

IF BEADS HAVE NOT SEATED AT OR BELOW 35 PSI, COMPLETELY DEFLATE THE ASSEMBLY, REPOSITION THE TIRE ON THE RIM, RELUBRICATE AND REINFLATE.

WARNING: THE EXPLOSIVE FORCE DESCRIBED ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH.