Bead leaks

[Sparx]

Well we got a couple inches of snow so I went for a short ride with the tubes in only to return home with two flat rear tires. The stems tore right out of the tubes. That didn't last long. I suspect the tire is spinning on the rim although I can't say for sure because I didn't mark a spot on them. Looks like I'll go back to tubeless and keep airing up every time I use it. What an incredibly huge pain in the posterior this has been.

I've seen this issue but only with the 8" rims for some reason? I never spun a tire on a rim on the 9" setups, not sure if they have a better improved rim setup to hold the bead onto the rim?
We used to use roof tar on the beads of the 8" Argo rims before beading the tires and that seemed to help. Once your spinning your tires on the rims it's pretty much inevitable the tire will leak air sooner or later. I just got my first tube leak ever on a machine so far and it was on my SxS with 14" rims on a front tire that I previously have debeaded before in mud. Some tires are much worse then others for debeading. Installing tires for a long time it's drastic the difference in how easy some tires debead compared to others depending on how they are made and how tight they seal the rim.

[tbone9]

Stem guards are a great idea.

[Madtrapper]

When I bought my 1050t it had tracks with tubed tires the guy I bought it from said he never had and issue. On my first hunting trip tore off four stems in two days. I put newCarsile tires on and went tubeless and haven't had a flat since. I also welded valve stem guards on all my rims due to romping thru the Hazel brush and climbing Beaver dams.☺

[tbone9]

Ok so here's what I found out. I took the tubes out and this time marked the tire and rim. After a short ride the rear tire did almost a complete 360 spin on the k lock rims. That's without running from chains. The tires cant slip in the tracks because the tread meshes with the rubber lugs for the tire guides. I am now running front chains again. Chain windup hasn't been an issue I just took them off to be easier on the drive train. Lesson learned. Hopefully someone else can benefit from this.

[tbone9]

Well that just sucks, let us know your outcome. Personally I don't use any sealant on a new tire with a new rim because I feel it is a contaminant ( no voids to fill), maybe try to clean the beads and the rims with some wd40( will clean bead sealer off) and reinstall them, perhaps a clean tire/rim will adhere better.

Thanks Jim. That's about all I can do.

[tbone9]

I bet those work great. But for now I think I'll just go tubeless. I'll be sure and mark the tire and rim to make sure that's what is happening.

[smudvapor]

I can get them made for you. It takes a couple of weeks. We use them for racing, with them on the tire will never spin on the wheel. I use bead locks and inner tubes on my racer. I would have to get a quote but if a few other people buy a set they are on the average around $150 plus shipping for a set for the entire machine. (6 wheels)

[ARGOJIM]

Well that just sucks, let us know your outcome. Personally I don't use any sealant on a new tire with a new rim because I feel it is a contaminant ( no voids to fill), maybe try to clean the beads and the rims with some wd40( will clean bead sealer off) and reinstall them, perhaps a clean tire/rim will adhere better.

[tbone9]

8"

[smudvapor]

Bead lock rings? That is an option. I can't find it in the other posts, what size rims do you have?

[tbone9]

Inner tubes

Well we got a couple inches of snow so I went for a short ride with the tubes in only to return home with two flat rear tires. The stems tore right out of the tubes. That didn't last long. I suspect the tire is spinning on the rim although I can't say for sure because I didn't mark a spot on them. Looks like I'll go back to tubeless and keep airing up every time I use it. What an incredibly huge pain in the posterior this has been.

[tbone9]

I'm putting tubes in all six of them. And yes the temperature swings are always a concern as well. On those -20 mornings you tend to lose a pound or two which isn't too bad unless you're low on pressure to begin with. Thinking back I had tubes in a different machine. The only problem I had was water inside the tire. But that one didn't have metal bolt on stems and was in the water more than on land. The tubes are on order. Thanks

[Sparx]

No problem, I can assure you that you won't regret putting tubes in there. They aren't free but will outlast your tires even if they get weather cracked. In my opinion there is no way water can get in short of your tube somehow failing which I have yet to see. But hey, if you drive over something too sharp I'm sure you could drive it through both the tire and tube, they aren't indestructible and only rubber. It is like adding a couple ply's to your tires though. I still bring plugs in the bush for the non-tubed tires but with tracks plugs don't like to stay in so well. Once I had to rotate a mid tire to the front because a plug failed on me and I was tired of trying to keep them in. It wasn't long putting a tube in that tire as well once I got home. I'm not sure why, but I always did find my tubed tires were more consistent through temp swings at keeping the pressure more accurate for whatever reason.

[tbone9]

Then tubes it is. Even if I were to get the bead leaks sealed who's to say they won't come back in the cold of winter when I use it most. Hard to believe new tires on rims like new can give a guy so much grief. Besides I'm running 6 psi to get the right track tension that should keep it tight on the rim. It's usually never in the water anyway unless I break through the ice. So water in the tire shouldn't be a problem. Last winter was really a pain airing up tires every few days while out on fishing trips. I trailer this thing all over even up to Manitoba so the last thing I need to do is worry about tire pressure when I unload it. Thanks again for the replies.

[Sparx]

Thanks for the replies. I'm guessing you guys up in Canada run in a lot harsher conditions than me. Tubes would be a lot easier than fighting these bead leaks. I have k lock rims so I don't believe the tires would spin on the rims. Is there a specific brand of tube you recommend?

Only time I've seen tires spin on rims is after the bead popped and debris/water got in. I've seen this on 8" Argo rims first hand but have yet to see it on any 9" rims and I ran as low as 2psi without issues. So it is key that when the tube is installed to clean and dry everything as it would be new. I personally always wire brush the beads and soap and water isn't an issue, it'll dry up nice.
Most tubes nowadays are made on the same page very strong across many brands likely all coming from just a couple manufacturing industries in the end. The last couple I bought were "Moose" brand. I've ran Dunlop and other brands all with success. Most places just won't warranty a tube if it's on a driving tire due to policy. Think about it though, I know we don't have crush locks but motorcycles use tubes too with much more power and abuse. I always hated installing motorcycle tubes due to the pinching issue, never had that issue once in an ATV rim. I've never spun a rim even on my studded ice racing tires on my sport quads too. I'm really hard on my gear, so I'm sure if it can be done I would have done it by now. Just make sure to check your pressure the next day after install. I have seen one tube look to go flat but it was just the air bleeding out from between the tube and the tire. Once re-inflated it never went flat again, only happened once...