Rear Tire going Flat.

[SHUST]

I have a 2007 Kubota 3540 tractor with 420/70-24's on the back which are both loaded with beet juice. They are equally going flat and have been for so for a couple years. This year I am scared to load the tractor and need to do something about it.
The tires are loaded but I can't get air in them nor air 'out of them' ... need to check pressure but can't.
DOES beet juice fowl the valve stems????

Don't want to but might have to take tires off and down to a local place but with the beet juice, it's going to be a chore. Looking for recommendations.
ANDY

 

[ve9aa]

Valve stem @ 12 o'clock? (that's where the air pocket will be)
Use an air gauge designed for liquid, just to be safe.

Sorry-that's all I got.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Are you sure that the gauge is depressing the valve core stem? If you have the stem at the 12 o'clock position and push the stem down slightly with a screw driver tip or pen, air should come out. Then you'll know.
I have one gauge that won't work on my wife's car but does on everything else. It just doesn't press on the stems on her car.

 

[SHUST]

Gents, thanks for getting back to me... yeah, tire at 12 O'clock, tried 2 different chucks, Even called Kubota dealer to see if there was a special chuck that I should be using, and they said no - regular car chuck was the one to use. MAYBE I need to head into a reputable auto / tractor dealer and see if they have a 'better' air chuck, not sure.

 

[old and tired]

Can you post a photo of the tire? The ones we run at work are super "flat" and work just fine (actually, better traction).

How much pressure is your compressor able to create?

 

[SHUST]

Yep - My 60 gallon compressor can get up to 130 psi. I think that should be sufficient. The tire is almost ready to fold at the bottom which can't be good. I did take my backhoe leveler arms, put them down and lift the rear end up before I tried to put air in them so the tire's pressure what off from the weight of the tractor, then put the stem at the 12 position. Stems are clear and clean as the cap stays on them very well.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

if no air going in then could likely have gummed up valve cores.
I would pull the valve cores and replace. Then try to pressurize again. Pulling and replacing valve cores really easy.
Of course doing so takes some care and consideration due to the nastiness that pressurized beet juice can cause. (valve where air pocket should be, wait some time to drain down, tractor weight off tire, covered by large rag / plastic outside, preferably outside the shop on ground, wear shop cloths, away from stuff that could stain, etc...)
an easy job but potentially messy.

but can't you see around the valves, or valve cores, or beads, etc.. any sign of leaking juice?

 

[old and tired]

yea, those are pretty bad... Since you have a backhoe, lift the tires in the air, valve at 12:00, unscrew the valve core, try blowing air in with an air gun with a rubber nozzle on the end. If that doesn't work, I would try hitting it with a pressure washer into the valve (no core). Or run a wire threw there a few times...

 

[SHUST]

Thanks gents, I will take this into advice and give it a try.

 

[#40Fan]

Might just go ahead and remove the wheel/tire and lean it back to insure none of the beet juice is near the valve stem when removing the valve core.

 

[SHUST]

Good point... that stuff is a mess and stinky to boot !!!!!!!!

 

[D2Cat]

Remember, if you remove the tire you are dealing with a lot of weight. Try to keep the tire upright and roll it to a place to lean it on something sturdy.

 

[SHUST]

Well Gentlemen you called it.... VALVE STEMS - both were bad..... wew - thanks to your help, I dodged a bullet on that. Got the tires off, kept them upright - bought two new stems (just in case ; all of $11 each so no big deal) and it was in fact bad stems. I think over time the beet juice got to them. Swapped them out and all is good with the tractor again.... !

Thanks Again - Andy