Paint bubbling/rust around valve stems

[pMan6000]

Hey all,

I'll be picking up an L3600 hopefully this week and it's definitely seen some use, nothing too terrible in general but one thing did stand out. On both rear wheels, there is paint bubbling and rusting in about a 4" radius around the valves stems. Now I have two thoughts on this. 1) I could buy two new dishes from my local dealer and be done with it for a decent amount of cash, about $550 per dish plus X amount for mounting the tires. 2) I could dismount the dishes from the tires, remove the valve stems, and grind the areas down to clean metal. If the valve stem holes are still intact by then, spray the areas with rust inhibitor, paint it all, and replace the stems. At least if the second option works, I'll only be down the cost of paint and two valve stems, but of course if not then I'll still have to purchase dishes and have the tractor out of work for even longer. I figure I should at least try to clean the area up and see how bad it is, but please tell me what y'all think about this ordeal. Much thanks.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Sounds like maybe the tires are loaded ?? Or the paint got chipped when the valve stems were installed ??

I'd pop off the tires, repair if possible and save over 1,000 greenbacks....
If they can't be saved, well, tires had to come off anyway....

 

[SDT]

Hey all,

I'll be picking up an L3600 hopefully this week and it's definitely seen some use, nothing too terrible in general but one thing did stand out. On both rear wheels, there is paint bubbling and rusting in about a 4" radius around the valves stems. Now I have two thoughts on this. 1) I could buy two new dishes from my local dealer and be done with it for a decent amount of cash, about $550 per dish plus X amount for mounting the tires. 2) I could dismount the dishes from the tires, remove the valve stems, and grind the areas down to clean metal. If the valve stem holes are still intact by then, spray the areas with rust inhibitor, paint it all, and replace the stems. At least if the second option works, I'll only be down the cost of paint and two valve stems, but of course if not then I'll still have to purchase dishes and have the tractor out of work for even longer. I figure I should at least try to clean the area up and see how bad it is, but please tell me what y'all think about this ordeal. Much thanks.

Ask the owner what is in the tires.

If, CaCl, inspect for tubes. CaCl should never be installed into tires without tubes.

Not uncommon for CaCl to destroy rims. Much more uncommon to destroy wheel centers.

 

[SDT]

Ask the owner what is in the tires.

If, CaCl, inspect for tubes. CaCl should never be installed into tires without tubes.

If owner equivocates, assume CaCl.

Not uncommon for CaCl to destroy rims. Much more uncommon to destroy wheel centers.

 

[Flintknapper]

Without pics....it would be hard to say....but it might be possible to weld up the existing holes (tires dismounted) and drill new 5/8" holes for the valve stems in a less compromised spot.

 

[pMan6000]

Here's a photo of one side, the other is very similar. Flintknapper that's a good idea, it didn't occur to me that I could weld the old holes or patch over them and then drill new ones, probably a much more sound solution. I agree it seems very much like the tires are filled with something, and the amount of CaCl needed to keep the solution from freezing at -20F here would be enough to do that kind of damage over many years I would think. The current owner was not at all interested in replacing the rims before selling it so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't know what is in there. Would these tires normally be tubed or tubeless?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Only proper way to repair,once tires off, calcium gone, is to sand blast the rim, cut OUT the rotted section, weld a good piece in, then wash SEVERAL times,lick your finger, run over the inside of the rim and taste. ANY salty taste, clean again and again. Once they are desalted, clean with alcohol, dry in sun for 4-6 hrs, then use a 2 part epoxy primer, then paint Kubota orange.
Done right, it'll never rot and outlive your grandkids.

Should be tubed, but I've seen tubeless tires with calcium, beet juice ,pure water, WW fluid....

 

[pMan6000]

Only proper way to repair,once tires off, calcium gone, is to sand blast the rim, cut OUT the rotted section, weld a good piece in, then wash SEVERAL times,lick your finger, run over the inside of the rim and taste. ANY salty taste, clean again and again. Once they are desalted, clean with alcohol, dry in sun for 4-6 hrs, then use a 2 part epoxy primer, then paint Kubota orange.
Done right, it'll never rot and outlive your grandkids.

Should be tubed, but I've seen tubeless tires with calcium, beet juice ,pure water, WW fluid....

Understood, I appreciate the detailed process. I have a sandblasting unit but maybe these would be best to take to the sandblasting/powder coating company down the road. Do you think I could clean 'em with a pressure washer with a soap feed? Or do you have a preferred method?

 

[Mark_BX25D]

That looks pretty deep.....

 

[Flintknapper]

Judging by that valve stem that is a tube type tire.

That rim might look worse than it actually is, but the thickness of it would dictate how 'repairable' it is.

 

[woodman55]

Definitely repairable, as others have stated, clean to sound bare metal and go from there. Also a 5/8 flat washer works well as a new hole. We used to brozed them in on a regular basis, use the torch to heat and bend the washer into shape, and use extra bronze to fill in the corners/edges.

Also, replace the tubes.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

PW/soap should be fine. Depending on the damage, you'll need to remove all the rotted steel +1/2", then weld in a new 'section'.
You'll also need new tubes. Do NOT reuse the old ones (they have salt ON them)
Do you need to 'reload' the tires ? How will the tractor be used? Daily,like real farming or just 'puttputt'?
Properly cured epoxy is far better than powdercoat. PC will chip when tire gets mounted,exposes bare steel, rust happens...can't be 'touched up'.
Even a good enamel paint is better than PC.
How you fix depends on how bad the damage is.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hey all,

I'll be picking up an L3600 hopefully this week and it's definitely seen some use, nothing too terrible in general but one thing did stand out. On both rear wheels, there is paint bubbling and rusting in about a 4" radius around the valves stems. Now I have two thoughts on this. 1) I could buy two new dishes from my local dealer and be done with it for a decent amount of cash, about $550 per dish plus X amount for mounting the tires. 2) I could dismount the dishes from the tires, remove the valve stems, and grind the areas down to clean metal. If the valve stem holes are still intact by then, spray the areas with rust inhibitor, paint it all, and replace the stems. At least if the second option works, I'll only be down the cost of paint and two valve stems, but of course if not then I'll still have to purchase dishes and have the tractor out of work for even longer. I figure I should at least try to clean the area up and see how bad it is, but please tell me what y'all think about this ordeal. Much thanks.

Buy new rims and deduct the cost from the purchase price.

Dan

 

[pMan6000]

Alright so I talked to some guys at the local dealer and got prices for two entire rear wheel/tire assemblies as they said that would be the most cost effective way to solve the issue without touching the existing dishes. Sounds like it's about $900 each for new tires (R14s), dishes, centers, tubes and bio tire (as previously mentioned, new dishes alone would be $550 each). I'm leaning that direction because I would prefer to have the R14s anyway for what I'll use the tractor for and I can get them already mounted and loaded, so swapping the new set on will be much less time consuming than the repair. I'm still interested in fixing the existing rims, just not for immediate use. In that case I can have spare ag tires as I'll be getting front R14 wheel/tire assemblies as well. And yes Dan, that's the way that I would have like to have done it but the current owner refuses to acknowledge that there is even an issue in the first place.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Alright so I talked to some guys at the local dealer and got prices for two entire rear wheel/tire assemblies as they said that would be the most cost effective way to solve the issue without touching the existing dishes. Sounds like it's about $900 each for new tires (R14s), dishes, centers, tubes and bio tire (as previously mentioned, new dishes alone would be $550 each). I'm leaning that direction because I would prefer to have the R14s anyway for what I'll use the tractor for and I can get them already mounted and loaded, so swapping the new set on will be much less time consuming than the repair. I'm still interested in fixing the existing rims, just not for immediate use. In that case I can have spare ag tires as I'll be getting front R14 wheel/tire assemblies as well. And yes Dan, that's the way that I would have like to have done it but the current owner refuses to acknowledge that there is even an issue in the first place.

$1800 for two new R14 tires with tubes, rims, and centers, mounted and ready to bolt on is a pretty good price.

I was pretty sure the seller wasnt going to be onboard with sharing the cost....

Dan

 

[NCL4701]

Unfortunately have dealt with calcium chloride rotted rims more times than I care to. Photos are classic calcium chloride rust and it’s a decently bad case of it. While it normally shows first around the valve stem, it’s highly unlikely that’s the only place affected. Much more likely the entire rim has problems that aren’t full thickness yet.

Definite upvote for your decision to replace the rims. You may squeeze some more hours out of the originals but unlikely they’ll be reliable long term.

 

[BAP]

Price out a tire rim combo at your local Kubota dealership through the Wholegoods. You have to get the pricing from a salesperson not parts. Their prices on the tire rim combos are really competitive.

 

[pMan6000]

Price out a tire rim combo at your local Kubota dealership through the Wholegoods. You have to get the pricing from a salesperson not parts. Their prices on the tire rim combos are really competitive.

Yup I've been talking with a good guy in sales at my local dealer. Couldn't get R14s for the L3600 wheels so I'll be ordering R4s. Also getting a General Implement QA adapter, 60" bucket and forks.