how much time or NONE?

[HydroTek]

I would not suggest moving from 38's to 34's  the size difference is quite noticeable and "looks funny" on a 1066 with the low ground clearance 

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

4 hours ago, Coytee said:

Do these folks have pneumatic tools they use to mount/dismount the tire from the rim?  Do they just use long tire levers?

Unless they are very, very old school they will use a hydraulic bead breaker to break the bead loose. I have seen some people who are so good with a hammer that it is actually easier for them to use that, but most of them have retired now. Once the bead is broken down, they will use common tire irons to pry the bead over the rim. There is a hydraulic bead push off tool to use on the inside bead over the outside of the rim, but few people use them. A skilled tire man will make it look easy, but it takes experience to make it look that way. Fresh tires are 1000 times easier to mount/dismount than old, dry tires. 

[1480x3]

11 hours ago, Coytee said:

Lol, you guys are something else.  I'd buy you all an order of fries and a coke if I could (not into beer myself)

If all goes well, I'm going to take from today to January 5 off.  I know I'll end up working some but that's my goal.  That means I have time to make some calls.

Regarding service from Athens, you can consider me in Lenoir City (Greenback actually) so I would expect that distance to simply up the cost.  Do these folks have pneumatic tools they use to mount/dismount the tire from the rim?  Do they just use long tire levers?

My mind right now is indeed, to have it done.  I can take tractor to middle of field, give them my CC via phone and it can be done when I get back.  I kind of like that idea.

now that it's 8:00.....  I'm going to call one/couple places.

 

 

 

What you need done would probly take my tire guy 1 to 2 hours. These rim swaps are probly a monthly thing for them as there are a lot of IH & JD tractors still in use that rims are getting old/bad. They have bolts on the truck to use as needed. Not bolts that the correct police like but bolts that are functional.

[acem]

8 hours ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said:

Unless they are very, very old school they will use a hydraulic bead breaker to break the bead loose. I have seen some people who are so good with a hammer that it is actually easier for them to use that, but most of them have retired now. Once the bead is broken down, they will use common tire irons to pry the bead over the rim. There is a hydraulic bead push off tool to use on the inside bead over the outside of the rim, but few people use them. A skilled tire man will make it look easy, but it takes experience to make it look that way. Fresh tires are 1000 times easier to mount/dismount than old, dry tires. 

I had a set of rear tractor tires that had been mounted on the rims for over 40 years.  I worked and worked and could not get them broken loose.  Asked around and a friend suggested I use my front end loader bucket to put pressure on the bead and break them down.  Had the front of the 856 hopping up and down on the tire like an old California low rider...

Took them to a local tire shop and after an hour they loaded them in the back of my truck and told me they could not do it.

Asked another friend for advice.  He said bring them by.  We sat them on the ground.  He fired up the D6 and brought it up to the tires.  We aligned the blade up on the bead.  He pushed the blade down and it picked up the front of the D6.  He got off and looked at it.  Got back on the dozer and started bouncing it.  They broke loose finally.

Never seen another set that stuck...

[stronger800]

That’s serious.   I use my hi-lift jack under a drawbar to do small ones 

[Coytee]

On 12/22/2025 at 8:52 PM, TN Hillbilly said:

AgCentral Athens

Just a bit of an update.  Today being Christmas eve doesn't help anything....

Called AgCentral. Nope, they don't have. Referred me to R&R parts in Madionville.....happens to be down the road.  They of course, aren't in today.  Meanwhile, the place I called other day, texted me and said they can get new rims for $577 each and $200 shipping (for both)  so call it  $1,354 before taxes, service charges....this is just for the two rims BUT they're new.

I was (am)going to have them drain the calcium chloride out and replace it with something they called ?????-Blue.

I'm thinking if I'm going that far, I may as well do both, do them once and hopefully, be done with them for years to come.  It's not a hard decision in my head yet. I still need to scrutinize the 'good' rim.  I am however, leaning that way.

 

[Coytee]

Ouch, (and to my point previously)

I just got the estimate for both tires.  $4,134

Presuming no hidden issues, that's two new rims, removal of old fluid, refill with whatever they call ??? - Blue... service call.

Having had no clue, I was preparing for $3,000 or thereabouts for both.  I might look around a bit more for a used rim (maybe buy those two tires/rims slightly smaller for a quarter of the price...

If this also included new tires.... probably ok but since the tires are in great shape (they still had the casting nubs on them when I bought tractor so they were brand new then)

If this turns out to be only practical choice, I'll probably only do one instead of both.

[Coytee]

any issues if i do NOT fluid fill yet? (maybe do this in bites, rim now, fluid in summer.  wont get used much between

[snoshoe]

1 hour ago, Coytee said:

any issues if i do NOT fluid fill yet? (maybe do this in bites, rim now, fluid in summer.  wont get used much between

Do you need fluid? My understanding is this is basically a mower. I have no idea how much weight that mower transfers to the tractor.

Direct answer to your question. Only thing I see is charge for another service call and the effects of runaway inflation.

[Coytee]

wondered about the need.  i need it in the front and just loaded that up.  i asked if theyd drop fluid and recalculate.

merry christmas to me i suppose.

(i wonder what happens if rim fails...i envision a possibly ugly picture that i want no part of)

[Coytee]

ill lose my wheel hop with dry tires, i like that

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

I would not use fluid unless you have a very good tire repair place that is reasonable and will deal with the fluid. Hardly anyone will even come out here anymore to begin with and if you’ve got any type of fluid it’s even worse. If you absolutely need weight I would put cast iron on it, but I doubt you need it at all. 

[TN Hillbilly]

10 hours ago, Coytee said:

Ouch, (and to my point previously)

I just got the estimate for both tires.  $4,134

Presuming no hidden issues, that's two new rims, removal of old fluid, refill with whatever they call ??? - Blue... service call.

Having had no clue, I was preparing for $3,000 or thereabouts for both.  I might look around a bit more for a used rim (maybe buy those two tires/rims slightly smaller for a quarter of the price...

If this also included new tires.... probably ok but since the tires are in great shape (they still had the casting nubs on them when I bought tractor so they were brand new then)

If this turns out to be only practical choice, I'll probably only do one instead of both.

Look for a PM from me...

[acem]

I recommend Iron wheel weights instead of liquid ballast in the tires.  You might not need any at all.  Try it first.

[HydroTek]

Counterweight Blue is what they use around here 

9 pounds per gallon

and can be used tubeless 

[stronger800]

4K for what you’re talking, makes my neighbors 6k with new tires look cheap.  Ouch though.  Have the guy with those used 34’s  text you some better pictures of them.  And stand them up by a ruler so you can see for yourself.  I have newer Firestone 18.4-34’s that are Not 2” shorter than a mildly worn, but older, set of Firestone 18.4-38’s.   1.5” would be a lot.  I didn’t realize the tires you had no were  that good. I kinda figured they were about shot.  I mean…that rims pretty rough and I’d think it’s been rough for a long time. 
if your tires are good though, 1350 for rims, drain the fluid yourself, swap the rims yourself. You could even dismount the tires, and then just pay a shop to come remount them. They’d do that on a non busy day….for, $400-500 tops.  I just cut your bill in half. 

[Straanger]

Bandit Farmer on u-tube got his new tires from Walmart delivered a couple years ago and had the tire guy come out and mount them. Apparently the tires were about half what the tire shop was asking.

[HydroTek]

9 hours ago, Straanger said:

Apparently the tires were about half what the tire shop was asking.

Prices vary a lot in tires
and specs

I would look at 'ply rating' -- 8 ply is least to run on that tractor
... and lug spacing -- cheap tires space the lugs out a lot 
and some have 'skinny' lugs that will wear quicker or roll over in a hard pull 

Bias or Radial is another choice
bias is fine in most instances and is less expensive

Radial will ride better and pull more 

[stronger800]

I just assumed when a guy says tires were half the price, that they were  talking the  exact same tire.but  I know some people don’t think like that. Surely you can buy a tire guy was half the price of an 23 degree rasdial, and in many circumstances it will probably do the job just as well. I bought my skinny lug firestones above during the pandemic, that’s all my tire guy could get and they work well for me.

 

Coytee doesn’t necessarily need tires though 

 

I just thought of a serious cost saving measure. He could buy those used tires, rims and wheel centers, slide them on, and then reinstall his 38 inch wheel centers on the outside, just to serve as a ballast. A wheel center probably weighs as much as two rings of weights, right? Although he could sell the 38 inch centers too and buy weights. 

[Coytee]

22 hours ago, stronger800 said:

Coytee doesn’t necessarily need tires though 

I just thought of a serious cost saving measure. He could buy those used tires, rims and wheel centers, slide them on, and then reinstall his 38 inch wheel centers on the outside, just to serve as a ballast. A wheel center probably weighs as much as two rings of weights, right? Although he could sell the 38 inch centers too and buy weights. 

It's correct that I don't need tires.

You beat me to the next point too....  I was thinking for same dollars, I could buy those other wheels, remove tires and just mount the weight.  I have been looking into iron weights as I'm totally ignorant on them.  Looks like they can be had (compared to the fluid) pretty reasonably.....so I DO think the fluid is out.  (never much cared for that idea anyway)  Still, with the weight of the flexwing, I might wait and see how things pan out before doing any weight.  

That said....  call me very surprised.  The local boneyard, "R&R" in Madisonville, was referred to me by more than one entity.  I just called and they happen to have TWO of these rims that should fit my tire.  Trouble is, one is silver, one is yellow (not that I really care....besides....  I've heard of paint)

Not sure of the condition, I asked to affirm they are used.  Nope. Brand new, $485.

30'ish minutes away.  Just simplified part of the equation.

[stronger800]

I feel like when I buy one, my rim guy always had more yellow painted ones on hand then silver painted ones. Same rims.  

[stronger800]

You likely will need weight, if you don’t put the fluid back in.  I’d just put it back in. You have it, and you will need to pay them to pump it out anyway. So they can pump it back in.  We have used calcium fluid for 45 years, and counting. Never had a rust issue. If I replace a rusted wheel, it’s because I bought it that way.  Calcium is very simple…if you see a wet, or flat tire that has fluid in it…..fix it.  Rust doesn’t happen over night 

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

There’s nothing wrong with fluid and it’s correct it doesn’t rust anything away overnight. The sole problem here is that it makes flat repair a lot harder. We have more than a few flats every year and it’s just not worth the hassle to me. I have tractors that need weight on them and iron never causes problems. 20 years ago there were lots of tire repair options. It’s so bad here that we have to do them ourselves unless we can sit for days and days waiting. 

[stronger800]

I can see that too. We do still have good tire shops here, that have been around a while and are use to fluids 

[Powered by IH]

On 12/24/2025 at 9:29 AM, Coytee said:

I was (am)going to have them drain the calcium chloride out and replace it with something they called ?????-Blue.

You could also try windshield washer fluid, might take a few 55 gallon drums though 😄