Power Kite Forum - adding air to bigfoots ***SUCCESS***

adding air to bigfoots SUCCESS

bigkid - 16-11-2012 at 10:10 AM

Any ideas on how to fill a new bigfoot tire on an 8x8 wheel? The 4x8 wheels were a piece of cake, the 8x8 not so easy.

Mounted the new beach racers on those 8x8 bling wheels for the new bug and the old hand pump is not going to make it.

Any idea on how much lighter fluid is needed to blow the tire on?:shocked2:

BeamerBob - 16-11-2012 at 10:22 AM

Use a ratchet strap around the center of the tire and tighten it up to push the sidewalls out. Then you will need a fast burst of air like from a tank style air compressor. Or a good shot of lighter fluid might be more exciting.

Scudley - 16-11-2012 at 10:22 AM

If you don't have a compressor with reservoir you will never get that on the bead. ( In BC almost all chevron stations have a real compressor with a good supply of hp air. ) You will also need a strap to wrap around the circumference of the tire. Pull the strap as tight as you can to force bead out to meet the rim, racheting tie downs work great for this. Then hit the air. Don't forget to lube the bead or your tire will never hold air.
S
Do Chervons elsewhere have a real compressor? Most other gas stations here seem to have gone to those ahfding coin op machines that piss me off so much.

sunset-Jim - 16-11-2012 at 10:34 AM

starter fluid.....:flaming:

indigo_wolf - 16-11-2012 at 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sunset-Jim
starter fluid.....:flaming:

Bring lots of Nomex

Expect ambient temps have a lot to do with effectiveness.

ATB,
Sam

cheezycheese - 16-11-2012 at 12:02 PM

Chevron...??? :dunno: haven't see one of those since cars stopped ridin on stone wheels... :kiss:

most filling station have a little crap hose that you have to pay for. I got my mechanic to mount mine.

flyhighWNY - 16-11-2012 at 12:41 PM

In addition to ratchet strap removing valve stem also helps to set bead then just reinsert and fill as normal!

BeamerBob - 16-11-2012 at 12:51 PM

Yes, removing the valve stem helps the air rush in faster. I'd forgotten that part of it.

flyhighWNY - 16-11-2012 at 12:59 PM

I still like lighter fluid to impress the ladies!

macboy - 16-11-2012 at 01:02 PM

Dad taught me the ratchet strap technique this summer - I was amazed how well it worked with just a little cigarette lighter 12V air pump. Felt like Macguyver for a few days until I found out it's pretty common knowledge - just not to me at the time.

These are the kinds of wisdom pearls that we're going to eventually lose in this disposable society we live in.... [/lament]

indigo_wolf - 16-11-2012 at 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyhighWNY
In addition to ratchet strap removing valve stem also helps to set bead then just reinsert and fill as normal!

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob
Yes, removing the valve stem helps the air rush in faster. I'd forgotten that part of it.

Valve stem or valve core?

ATB,
Sam

BeamerBob - 16-11-2012 at 01:25 PM

Good catch Sam. Core it is!

flyhighWNY - 16-11-2012 at 01:37 PM

Core! I suppose removing the entire stem would be somewhat ....... well wrong for starters... good catch

flyhighWNY - 16-11-2012 at 01:39 PM

Air cannons are also nice if you happen to have/ know someone who has

jellis - 16-11-2012 at 02:24 PM

Starter fluid works great on the Bigfoot tires. Use a 1 to 2 second spray into the tire and hold the tire upright then light it. Then add air as this method will set the bead but not inflate the tire. Fuel to air mixture is important, so less is more.
Do not lay the tire on it's side unless you want catch it when it cones down. All kidding aside, I have been using this method for years and it is still entertaining and works every time.

markite - 16-11-2012 at 02:26 PM

most of the time we throw inner tubes in to make mounting easy and lowering pressure we haven't popped the bead sliding hard - any reason you prefer not to just use an inner tube? - cost? weight? inner peace?

jellis - 16-11-2012 at 02:35 PM

Balancing the tires is an issue with tubes that shift around a bit. Weight is also a concern because of the higher rotating mass. Just what I do but the tube is a lot easier way to go.

csa_deadon - 16-11-2012 at 09:19 PM

I find that the easiest and safest way, is to take a $20.00 dollar bill down to the local tire shop and make them do it.

But that's just me!

Vince H. - 16-11-2012 at 09:52 PM

I worked part time in a couple of service stations while still in high school. We did lots of tire repairs, and used watered down liquid dish soap to seat tires. The mixture is quite slippery and also provides a good test liquid for checking for leaks after inflation.

Around the house liquid dish soap is also great for lubricating old sticky wood drawers.

bigkid - 17-11-2012 at 04:10 AM

All good points, Thank you.
I am thinking about setting up the camera and film the event for a good laugh later on. Leaning towards the starter fluid idea. Not happy with the tire shops around here, don't like the sign hanging on the wall that says if they screw up your wheel/tire they are not going to replace it. 20 bucks or not, ain't going to put me at ease. If I screw things up, at least I will be able to relive it on you tube later on.
As far as the soap idea, that would work if the bead wasn't 7" away from the other side of the rim.

flyhighWNY - 17-11-2012 at 06:36 AM

that disclaime is more for high dollar rims (aluminum) in larger sizes! Removing tires from rims by a chuckle head can cause damage! For them to use a air bomb/cannon is really nothing, uses huge blast of air to set the bead! No combustion so not as fun!

bigkid - 17-11-2012 at 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyhighWNY
that disclaime is more for high dollar rims (aluminum) in larger sizes! Removing tires from rims by a chuckle head can cause damage! For them to use a air bomb/cannon is really nothing, uses huge blast of air to set the bead! No combustion so not as fun!

Exactly, The aluminum 8x8 wheels and the beach racers are around 200.00 per set. And it's not like the tire shop will replace them from their stock. They don't even know where to get them.

MDK - 17-11-2012 at 11:38 AM

Les Schwab Tire mounted mine for FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

flyhighWNY - 17-11-2012 at 12:29 PM

wasn't doubting the quality of your gear point was ...that a blast of air to set the bead isn't going to do damage. no more than lighter fluid! so its all about effect now.... fire or no fire!

MDK - 17-11-2012 at 01:04 PM

Les Schwab Tire did a fine job but they did admit that it wasn't easy on their big machines, motorcycle shops have no problem but are a little expensive. if you go to a tire shop just insist that the pimple faced kid sits this one out and have the shop manager do it.

Snake - 17-11-2012 at 01:09 PM

I wouldn't use the lighter fluid method. My dad and I tryed it once and our tire stared on fire.:shocked2: I would hate to see you ruin a $200 set of tires.

andy666 - 17-11-2012 at 03:00 PM

Use starter fluid (pressure pack can type) and blow the tyres onto the beads. It quick and easy and exactly how I did mine.
A few tips though. start with only a very small spray of starter fluid. You can always add more if it wasn't enough.
Remove the valve core from the valve stem (unscrews) to allow excess pressure to escape. I didn't on the 1st rim and blew the entire valve stem out of the rim.
Use a lit rag on a stick to ignite the starter fluid or suffer my fate of missing facial hair.

BeamerBob - 17-11-2012 at 09:23 PM

I just mounted 4 barrow smoothies on factory plastic rims. Mounted all 4 by hand, no tools. Used the ratchet strap to make it easy to set the beads. Didn't take the valve core out at first on the first one and it was difficult. Removed valve core made a hooj difference. I didn't have anything flammable handy or would've tried the boom method. That might be a method to use when changing tires on the playa next time I have to do that.

bigkid - 18-11-2012 at 02:26 AM

OK, so I got the tires inflated and it was a bit of a rush. :yes:

The tires were soaped up from the sender due to being on the wrong wheels. Used Grants tire changer to remove the plastic Cadcat wheels and mount them on the aluminum bling wheels. as soon as the tires were removed from the first wheels they shrunk in all directions, you would be surprised at how small the beach racers can be with out air. Removed the valve stem, headed to the front of the garage out in the rain.

A can of starter fluid and a hand torch with a bit of, my arm isn't long enough thinking, I shot a quick burst of SF into the tire and as I was running away I waved the torch at the tire and nothing but a bit of flame inside the tire which went out as fast as it appeared.
Thinking the SF is old and maybe not any good, headed into the house to get my wifes hair spray. After getting yelled at for making a mess I was told this is 2012 and not the big hair 70's.
Now I have to explain the need for the hair spray, Honey, I am going to blow the tires onto the rims for the buggy. After explaining that her car wasnt anywhere near the tires and I was not in the garage she told me to be careful. :lol:

SF in one hand and the torch in the other, 1 thousand 1, 1 thousand, stop spraying, swing the lit torch by the tire and woof. The flames burned a bit longer this time but quickly went out. Better check the tire and rim, things look OK, not hot or burned, long sigh.

1 thousand 1, 1 thousand 2, 1 thousand, torch, kaWoof Boom. Flames shot out both sides of the tire about 3 feet and the tire, as if in slow motion swells up and puts out the flames and with in blink of an eye the tire shrunk up to the size of a prune. But the bead stayed put, SUCCESS.:bigok:
My wife opens the front door and pops only her head out and asked what was that? I told her it was the sound of a successful rush, "you want to see me do the second one?"
I was told to quit screwing around a put the crap away. Well things are a bit shaky for the moment and haven't had fun like that in quite a while, so put the valve back in, 4psi of air, and thought that was rather easy.
A deep breath and 1 thousand 1, 1 thousand 2, 1thousand, torch, watch carefully, Horah, that was pretty cool. I hear from the back of the house, "I told you to put that stuff away before you blow up the house".
Right away my Love.:evil: No more duct tape, bailing wire, super glue, or any of the other repair, fix it stuff, all I need is a can of SF and a torch, I can fix anything. :cool:

Now the buggy has some real hot wheels. :lol:

Sorry I didnt video the event, didnt think it would work with that big of wheels, then it was to late.