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Setting tire bead

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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 02:35 PM
  #21  
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Good for you!
I have always done it with the stem in and hose attached. You should air it up quickly after it pops, as it cools it sometimes seems to "Suck in".
Too much fuel does not allow for optimum burn and just creates excess carbon monoxide - a by product of incomplete combustion. What you want is "Combustion" that makes a good "Whump" and seals the deal. A couple of seconds of burst is usually enough. We used to do big lock ring truck tires - turn the tire around with the ring away from you, and a chain around the rim and tire in case of something bad. I have done lawn mower tires, wheel barrow tires, boat tires, you name it.
Glad it worked out - BTW the long butane lighter saves the hair on the back of your hands!
 
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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 02:52 PM
  #22  
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Perhaps this will do it; Take the tire off and spread the beads apart as far as you can with spacers, maybe beer cans, put it in the sun for awhile then let it cool down a bit, remove spacers and remount.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 09:06 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by collin
Perhaps this will do it; Take the tire off and spread the beads apart as far as you can with spacers, maybe beer cans, put it in the sun for awhile then let it cool down a bit, remove spacers and remount.
This has worked for me but I used pieces of 1x4 cut long enough to to spread the tie apart leave it for a couple of days than it should be no problem
 
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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 09:26 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
He`s not trying to get the tire onto the wheel, he is trying to get the bead to set against the wheel all the way around while putting air in...
Dish soap with no water always works for me. It will pop right on and seat.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 10:25 PM
  #25  
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If you are going to shoot the motorcycle tire full of starting fluid and then put a match to it, be sure and take a video and post it to You Tube so I can send the link to my brother.
He ain't never seen anybody killed by an exploding motorcycle tire.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2015 | 10:36 PM
  #26  
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The Cheetah is the "bomb" ... However very pricey. Many times just removing the core from the valve stem will do the trick. It allows more air to enter much quicker.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2015 | 05:04 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by texaswiz
If you are going to shoot the motorcycle tire full of starting fluid and then put a match to it, be sure and take a video and post it to You Tube so I can send the link to my brother.
He ain't never seen anybody killed by an exploding motorcycle tire.
I would have, but the 'ol lady was pissed that I spent more money on my bike again and I didn't have anybody else to hold the camera!

It did work like a charm, set the bead tight and even on both sides and the bike rides great!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2015 | 07:41 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Florida Swamp Yankee
Finally!

In this case, the stem needed to be out to allow combustion air in.
I sprayed some near the stem and with the residue from previous attempts, it popped on and it's tighter than a bulls bunghole in fly season!!

Thanks for all the replies, and always keep a can of starting fluid on the shelf!
Glad you gotter done!!
 
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Old Dec 29, 2018 | 10:57 PM
  #29  
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I just tried the Flaming-Starter-Fluid-Of-Doom method with the front tire of my '08 FXDL and it worked like a champ!

I was mounting a new Commander and couldn't get it hold air - I scrubbed the rim, made sure nothing could catch the edge of the tire, used a ton of mounting lube - and nothing worked.

I removed the valve stem to be on the safe side, and it worked! It took a few seconds of burning, which is unsettling to watch - but sure enough, it popped and hissed and the bead was seated all the way around the rim.
 
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Old Dec 30, 2018 | 08:53 AM
  #30  
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When it burns a little like that, just blow it out. Does'n take much.
That's the only way we used to mount big truck tires years ago. We used gas, and would pour a little trail over to the wheel, sometimes 2 at a time. When you get good, the psi will be spot on, or just a few pounds over. We would turn the lock ring away from us, sometimes run a chain around the wheel, too. Once you get the feel for it, it's actually fun...
 
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