I have a really nice Ariens two stage snowblower that works great except for one really annoying issue. One of the tires constantly goes flat overnight.

It was made in the brief period in the mid to late 90's when Ariens thought that plastic wheels were a good idea, presumably because they don't rust.

Well, this wheel and tire combination leaks at the bead on the side of the wheel that faces out when it is installed.

I was going to use conventional tire bead sealer, but I called the sealer manufacturer before I applied it and they told me that depending on the type of plastic the wheels are made of (Ariens can't/won't tell me)the toluene in the sealer may damage the plastic wheel.

So, since I can't find any steel wheels to replace these with due to the odd wheel size and style of mounting, anyone have a recommendation on sealing the tire bead?

I don't want to use Fix-A-Flat. I've seen several alternatives like Slime, TireJect and PermaSeal.

Anyone have experience with either of those three or a similar product?

Thanks

Assuming you can find the right size, can you put a tube in it?

Warranty?

Take it off and inflate it and place in a bucket of water. It will help pinpoint a leak. Then, break it down and check for imperfections on the wheel and tire. Use a good soap mixture or Windex to help it slide on and seal up. You may need to slightly over inflate and use a ratchet strap around the tire to constrain the inflation so it pushes the sidewalls out. Be careful as the plastic wheel won’t hold the pressure like a steel wheel and may crack or shatter if too far over inflated.

I would try to put a tube in it though. You can use a slightly over sized tube if needed.

I think that Fix-A-Flat and others require a good heat cycle before it works. If you inflate it without the heat cycle, it forms a lump inside.

Put tubes in all of mine.

Don't have to start the compressor every time I want to cut grass.

I've used quite a bit of slime over the years for this sort of problem. Never on a plastic wheel though.

Are replacement wheels and tires available? Might be the simplest solution. I like the tube idea even better.

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As you did with the tire bead sealer manufacture, call these guys before you try it to see what they think.

They are using it on plastic buckets and drain pipes, so maybe this will work???


www.YouTube.com/watch?v=taR3Ga5GN0Y
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Find a tube to fit, only sure way to stop the leaks. Short of steel rims...and tubes...

slime tire repair work great
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000...f=bit_pcomp_ask_sav0

I second the slime. Their directions say it won't work for bead seals but I used it successfully on my wife's old car that had a leaky bead seal.

The trick was to direct the slime to the leak so that the leaking air pushed the slime into it. So take the tire off the snowblower, put the slime in, air it up with a few extra PSI and make the leaking spot the lowest point so the slime flows there.

I'm pretty sure the slime will be fine with the plastic rims but might double check with them. I've heard they have good customer service.

Go to northern tools,buy correct metal wheels.
They have tubes already in
Tried all the recommended stuff,should have replace first.
Why in the hell did some penny pencher think it was a good idea for a pressure washer.
My size wheels on sale were six bucks each on sale.Jug of slime cost nearly that,and the shit will not even work in a wheelbarrow wheel

Various bead sealing products I have never used them on a plastic wheel.

The thing with "slime" is, the tire needs to rotate fast enough to throw the slime around to get to the leaks, works well on cars, motorcycles and atv's. Once it hits air the fibers in it, they harden and seal the leak. I've been behind a snowblower more than my share and I'm not in that good of shape to run fast enough to get the slime slingin'... lol...

We tube them all the time. Unless you run over something they're fixed for life.

I've used Slime in car and truck tires... but I also used it on my baby jogger gun cart. I just spun the tire a little while, it fixed my leak.

I went through this with a generator. I’m not sure what size tire you have but I was able to order solid rubber tires off Amazon.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Assuming you can find the right size, can you put a tube in it?

I'm pretty sure I could.

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
Warranty?

None, and the leak has been positively located.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64: Are replacement wheels and tires available? Might be the simplest solution. I like the tube idea even better.

Not affordably. I also tried to modify a set of steel wheels that was "close" at one point but was unsuccessful.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:Go to northern tools,buy correct metal wheels

Unfortunately I do not see a wheel that would work on their website. The closet store is 110 miles or so away.

Check Harbor Freight. I needed a tube for a little wagon tire and found that I could buy tire/tube/wheel on sale for what a tube alone cost ($4 IIRC).