Starting fluid tire inflation trick

[TandW]

Saw this procedure for the first time ever today. Does anyone know if this trick has ever been harmful? Would you do it if you were desperate?

[allenb12]

I have never tried it. There are a lot of you tube videos showing people doing it.

[twinboat]

We had a few large composting machines with what looked like jet airplane tires.

When they went flat and broke the bead, the starting fluid trick was the way to get them re-seated.

Connect a clip on air chuck to the valve with the core out, spray starting fluid inside the tire and then a trail away from the tire. Light it off and poff, all seated. Onlt then could we air it up to find the leak.

[Rhody_Chris]

Originally Posted by allenb12

I have never tried it. There are a lot of you tube videos showing people doing it.

But there a LOT of youTube videos out there of people doing really stupid things too.

[Country Road]

Yes, it does work but I rarely use that. Sometime when new tires are in a stack and they flatten out, you have to use what you have to pop it out.

I was at a tire shop a while back and the guy had a tire pop out tool made out of an old propane tank. He had a 1 1/2” cutoff valve on it with a pipe flattened at the end. When he inserted that flattened end into the tire a way and quickly opened the valve, boom, the bead was seated.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Country Road

Yes, it does work but I rarely use that. Sometime when new tires are in a stack and they flatten out, you have to use what you have to pop it out.

I was at a tire shop a while back and the guy had a tire pop out tool made out of an old propane tank. He had a 1 1/2” cutoff valve on it with a pipe flattened at the end. When he inserted that flattened end into the tire a way and quickly opened the valve, boom, the bead was seated.

That tire bead pop out tool is commercially available.
We didn't have one or need it because the starting fluid worked and more fun.

[sploke]

I've always wanted to try the starting fluid trick, but never trusted myself not to blow something up. I've found that a ratchet strap snugged up around the tire is usually enough to get contact between the bead and the rim, enough that when you start filling with an air compressor, it will push the rest of the way on. Another trick is to remove the valve stem core and use a compressor set to 50-60psi just to get that initial rush of air in there and get the bead seated. Then you can replace the core and air the tire up properly.

[K Charles]

We had a bead blaster at work but big float tires would not always catch the bead. Starting fluid did get used on occasion.

[Old-Biscuit]

Used it several times back in the day out in the oil field on service truck tires.
Out in the boonies....got to get tire seated on the rim

Don't know what todays starting fluid consists of....back then it was ether
Always a can or two in a truck or on the rig

[TandW]

So far lots of users have never hurt themselves. I may give up the coreless valve and ratchet strap method. Thanks guys!

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by TandW

So far lots of users have never hurt themselves. I may give up the coreless valve and ratchet strap method. Thanks guys!

Old boiler operator...you should enjoy it
Fire and BOOM

[twinboat]

Pretty sure Mythbusters tested it.

[Turbojack]

Originally Posted by TandW

So far lots of users have never hurt themselves. I may give up the coreless valve and ratchet strap method. Thanks guys!

What could possibly go wrong?

[TandW]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Old boiler operator...you should enjoy it
Fire and BOOM

I know, I know!