Punctured rear tire, L-35, thoughts/advice?

[K7KY]

Just discovered a wood screw in rear tire, L-35. Starting to remove it makes soap bubbles. It's a small diameter screw, maybe a hole too small for plugging. Can these tires be plugged. I'd appreciate your experience with small punctures. I'm unable to take it to the tire shop; they would have to come to me. Really expensive, I expect.

I should have used Edit instead of Reply:
Thanks for all the input. I'll go for plugging. Rear tires likely 25yrs. They look OK; no Beet Juice. Stored inside with almost no heavy work on small homestead. I'm a disable 86yr old Vet; Kubota is how I'm still able to keep the place up; I should say, Wife & Kubota. I use it as a ladder, wheelbarrow, etc, beside cultivating 30'-30' garden yearly. It also helps maintain drainage etc. I love this tractor; it's needed very little beyond regular maintenance.
A couple YouTube videos indicate plugs need a lot of force to insert in heavy tires. My neighbor will likely help me. I've replaced front tires twice, but can't afford to change the rears right now. Thanks for the advice...

 

[Youbet]

You can try plugging and see if it holds.

I’ve had punctured rear tires and had someone come out to the farm and pull the tire off the bead and patch and then put an inter tube inside to be sure. They had to drain and re fill the beet juice.

Took a few calls to local tractor dealerships to find who would do it. If I remember correctly it was over 100$, but less than $200.

 

[jaxs]

I 3 to 1 prefer patch from inside over plugging. Why can't you take the tire in for repair? If hoe is on it that takes car of jack and surely you can beg,borrow or steal a socket and breakover to remove nuts.

 

[Bee-Positive]

I'm cheap so I'd plug it and see what happens. Worse case your out in the back 40 doing BH work and it goes flat. Are your tires original, 20 years old, maybe time for new ones anyways?

I've had to drill out car tires to get the hole big enough to accept the plug. If car tires running 40 + psi at 65 mph can be plugged I would think tractor tires could be also. Not sure if the torque from the BH or 3pt implements would be a factor in the plug not holding, maybe.

 

[drygulch]

I plugged a front tire on my L3901 that got a nail or screw (can't remember now).

I was quite far out on the property and thought it would at least get me back. Several years later and it's still holding fine.

Greg

 

[Nicksacco]

I had the same issue.
I bought a plugging kit (fresh ones are better since the sticky glue on the plugs can dry out).
You have to make the hole a little larger to accommodate the tool and plug but no big deal.
I rolled the tractor until the hole was on top (that stopped the liquid and allowed the hole to clear) and added 2 plugs.
I gave them a time to settle and have not had an issue. I left the bits of the plug hang out and they eventually wore off.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I can't see why a plug wouldn't work.

However, I am thinking that it will take someone with "Superman strength" to perform the actual plugging action. (In the traditional way anyhow)

I know there is a Yuge difference between my truck tires and my wifes minivan tires.

(and the older I get, the more difficult it becomes)

 

[TheOldHokie]

(and the older I get, the more difficult it becomes)

 

[Shawn T. W]

I've used a 3/16" drill bit to clean out, and standardize the hole ... A bias ply tire, probably only a 6 ply "rating" isn't too tough to push through ... I use rubber cement on the plug/strand first, then install ... Auto parts stores should carry both ...

On our semi-trucks they dismount the tire, clean with a disk "sander" and apply a plug-patch, it's all one piece kinda looks like a large rubber roofing nail, which is stuck through the tire from the inside, plug is then cut flush with tread.

 

[D2Cat]

I've used a 3/16" drill bit to clean out, and standardize the hole ... A bias ply tire, probably only a 6 ply "rating" isn't too tough to push through ... I use rubber cement on the plug/strand first, then install ... Auto parts stores should carry both ...

On our semi-trucks they dismount the tire, clean with a disk "sander" and apply a plug-patch, it's all one piece kinda looks like a large rubber roofing nail, which is stuck through the tire from the inside, plug is then cut flush with tread.

I agree, I always mop some rubber cement on any tire plug. It not only helps seal, but is also a lube.

 

[RBsingl]

Modern plugs are amazingly good and I expect it will do fine for your tractor tire. For highway tires, I would want the inner patch/outer plug combo (which is required to retain the tire warranty by most tire manufacturers) but for a tractor tire I wouldn't be concerned about the plug only and that is all a lot of people run when repairing highway rated tires.

Rodger

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

As others said, my vote would be plug it with new plugs and new glue. Glue works like a lubricant to help push the plug in.

Ream it and make the hole bigger if need be. Can't fit the reamer... drill it a skosh bigger.

In my experience; The little tire plug kits are usually good once. Once you open the glue tube.... it is pretty much non reusable because it dries in its tube in a couple days.

 

[K7KY]

Just discovered a wood screw in rear tire, L-35. Starting to remove it makes soap bubbles. It's a small diameter screw, maybe a hole too small for plugging. Can these tires be plugged. I'd appreciate your experience with small punctures. I'm unable to take it to the tire shop; they would have to come to me. Really expensive, I expect.

Thanks for all the input. I'll go for plugging. Rear tires likely 25yrs. They look OK; no Beet Juice. Stored inside with almost no heavy work on small homestead. I'm a disable 86yr old Vet; Kubota is how I'm still able to keep the place up; I should say, Wife & Kubota. I use it as a ladder, wheelbarrow, etc, beside cultivating 30'-30' garden yearly. It also helps maintain drainage etc. I love this tractor; it's needed very little beyond regular maintenance.
A couple YouTube videos indicate plugs need a lot of force to insert in heavy tires. My neighbor will likely help me. I've replaced front tires twice, but can't afford to change the rears right now. Thanks for the advice...

 

[RBsingl]

Plugs are pretty easy to work with and you should be successful with it.

My previous daily driver was a 2014 Cadillac ATS that came with low profile summer performance tires on 18" wheels and they were ZP (aka "run flat") tires. For winter use, I put on a set of 17" wheels with regular profile tires from a base model ATS and these weren't the ZP type so I bought a "Slime" brand tire kit that came with plugs, installation tools, and an inflator. I never needed it for my car but I ended up plugging three different tires for friends and all of them kept it as a permanent fix and never had problems.

After the plug is installed and has set, be sure to trim it flush with the tread because if you leave the entire exposed length intact it is possible for that to tear the plug loose.

Rodger

 

[GeoHorn]

I plugged a screw-puncture on the rear ag tire of my old 9N Ford … and it’s held perfectly….so-far…. but I don’t know for how long it will remain dependable…..it’s only been 12 years so-far….

I plugged the rt front of my Kubota M4700 from a deer antler puncture…. I plugged it 6-years ago…. I also hope that wasn’t a mis-placed effort….

Plugging a road-tire on a hiway vehicle…. Bad.

Plugging a slow-speed off-road tire….

 

[K7KY]

Plugs are pretty easy to work with and you should be successful with it.

My previous daily driver was a 2014 Cadillac ATS that came with low profile summer performance tires on 18" wheels and they were ZP (aka "run flat") tires. For winter use, I put on a set of 17" wheels with regular profile tires from a base model ATS and these weren't the ZP type so I bought a "Slime" brand tire kit that came with plugs, installation tools, and an inflator. I never needed it for my car but I ended up plugging three different tires for friends and all of them kept it as a permanent fix and never had problems.

After the plug is installed and has set, be sure to trim it flush with the tread because if you leave the entire exposed length intact it is possible for that to tear the plug loose.

Rodger

Thanks Rodger... Your advice to trim the plug to the surface is good. Tractor tires often slip on various surfaces and might dislodge the plug. I'll trim it close.

 

[K7KY]

I plugged a screw-puncture on the rear ag tire of my old 9N Ford … and it’s held perfectly….so-far…. but I don’t know for how long it will remain dependable…..it’s only been 12 years so-far….

I plugged the rt front of my Kubota M4700 from a deer antler puncture…. I plugged it 6-years ago…. I also hope that wasn’t a mis-placed effort….

Plugging a road-tire on a hiway vehicle…. Bad.

Plugging a slow-speed off-road tire….

It's good to hear enduring success stories. Thank you..