How to Fix a Tire Separated From Its Rim on a Mower
- 1). Move the riding mower to a level area such as the driveway or the garage. Set the parking brake and place a wood block under a tire opposite from where you'll be raising the mower. If the front tire needs repair, place a block under the rear tire.
- 2). Set a floor jack under the frame of the mower near the faulty tire and raise the mower until the tire is off the ground. Place a pair of jack stands on each side of the floor jack and adjust the stands to the mower frame. Lower the floor jack until the mower's weight is on the jack stands.
- 3). Pull off the plastic cap in the center of the wheel hub with a pair of pliers. Pry the retaining ring off the wheel axle that secures the wheel to the axle, using a screwdriver. You can use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the retaining ring off if necessary. If you're working on the rear tire, you'll also have to remove the square key between the axle and hub, with a pair of pliers.
- 4). Examine the faulty tire and rim. Look for dents on the inside of the rim or dry rot around the bead of the tire. You need to find the cause of the tire separating from the rim. If there are dents in the rim, bend them back with a hammer. You should replace the tire if it shows signs of dry rot or damage.
- 5). Insert a tire iron between the rim and the outside of the tire. Pull the tire iron toward you to begin popping the tire over the rim. Insert the second tire iron beside the first, between the tire and the rim. Slide the second tire iron around the circumference of the rim to pop one side of the tire over the outside of the rim.
- 6). Position a tire iron under the back side of the tire and the outside of the rim and pull up to pop the inside of the tire over the rim. In most cases the tire should pull off the rim by hand at this point. Repair or replace the tire. Inspect the valve stem in the rim for damage.
- 7). Lay the wheel rim flat, with the inside of the rim facing down. Position the tire over the rim at a 45-degree angle with the inside wall of the tire over the rim. Push the inside wall of the tire over the rim as much as possible by hand, then use the tire irons to pry the tire over the rim. Push the outside wall of the tire around inside of the rim as much as you can by hand, then finish using the tire irons.
- 8). Stand the tire up on the treads and wrap a ratchet strap around the circumference of the tire. Fill a small bucket with water and few drops of dish soap. Brush some of the soapy water around the edge of the tire where the tire will meet the rim.
- 9). Tighten the ratchet strap so the outside walls of the tire begin to touch the inside rim. Attach the air compressor to the valve stem and start filling the tire with air. Tap around the top of tire where the air is escaping between the rim and tire until the tire "pops" into position. Once the tire begins to fill with air, securing the tire to the rim, remove the ratchet strap. Fill to the PSI specified on the side of the tire.
- 10
Place the wheel onto the axle and secure the wheel with the washers and retaining ring. If you are working on a rear tire you'll have to align the slots for the square key. Reattach the axle cap and raise the mower with the floor jack until the weight is off the jack stands. - 11
Pull the jack stands from under the mower and use the floor jack to lower the mower to the ground. Remove the wheel chock and you are ready to mow again.
Source...