Dry Rotted Tires

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Tom Campbell
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Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Tom Campbell » Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:11 pm

Does anybody have any ideas on how to save the correct tires for a cart that are dry rotted to the point of cracks in the side walls? I was thinking more along the lines of display only - no load. In my mind I could see where you could take a larger inner tube, cut out a section of the tube and line the inside of the tube with the new inner tube section. Maybe even glue it to the interior with rubber cement. That MIGHT hold together enough to allow the right size inner tube to put just enough pressure on the old tire to hold it's shape, with out a disaster with the old tire.

Also for the cracks on the outside, presuming that the tire doesn't explode, I've thought about using some stuff here at work. My "day job" is an engineer for an electrical contractor that installs traffic signals. We use a sealant for the loop wires (that's those rectangular cuts you see in the pavement that controls the traffic lights). This stuff comes in a gallon can with a hardener that you mix into the can before you pour it out onto the pavement. It's dark gray in color, semi flexible and will stick to almost anything that's dry. I haven't tried it but I can see it sealing up the cracks like caulk, but it really REALLY is sticky stuff and will stick the the surrounding rubber. You might could then put some black tire paint over all of it and make it decent looking.

Sounds like a lot of work, but I'd really like to keep these original tires.


Joe Gopan
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:45 pm

What size tire?
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Tom Campbell
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Tom Campbell » Mon Oct 31, 2016 1:13 pm

Sorry, I'm talking about the M3A4 cart, which I think is a 4.00 x 12" tire. I guess the basic idea would apply to almost anything that doesn't have any particular load on them.

Steve Webb
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Steve Webb » Fri Nov 04, 2016 3:32 pm

Maybe something like this?

http://www.americanindustrialtire.com/foamfilled.htm

I did traffic signals for 9 years down here. We used hot tar to seal loops. Don't miss it a bit. 16 years ago now so mostly cameras for detection.
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Tom Campbell
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Tom Campbell » Fri Nov 04, 2016 5:12 pm

Thanks Steve, that's a promising lead.

Alabama DOT seems to be swinging to Radar Detection instead of Video Detection. Seems that something other than a vehicle CAN trip the video detector, like a sea gull standing in the road. They are also playing with magnetometers in North Alabama - small"hockey pucks" in the loop locations. Tom

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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Nov 06, 2016 4:42 am

Not much can be done with display tires that are split and have rotten cords. They can tear apart during careful inflation. Reason I asked the size was to come up with a source.
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Pat Gray
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Pat Gray » Sun Nov 06, 2016 10:56 am

Hi Tom.
Something you might try is Windshield Urethane. I have used it for a long time and the stuff is really great. I have used it to repair atv tires and works great. It is flexible and is tough as nails.
You can purchase it at napa or even your nearest glass shop. I would give it a try.( It is used to install windshield glass.)
PM me if you want to talk. I will call.
Pat

Tom Campbell
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Tom Campbell » Sun Nov 06, 2016 8:38 pm

Thanks Pat for the suggestion. I'll look into that at my local NAPA. Sounds like what I"m looking for. Ben, I'm trying to keep the original tread design, as I don't think anybody makes an exact duplicate of the originals. Thanks ALL for your responses.

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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Mike Hiott » Thu Dec 08, 2016 4:26 am

Pat:

How do you use the windshield urethane? Fill in the cracks?

Thanks

Mike
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Joe Gopan
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:19 am

Will this be a static display with little or no air pressure, or are you going to roll it around?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Gordon_M
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Gordon_M » Thu Dec 08, 2016 5:42 am

If this is going to be a no load (almost) static display, take the wheels off and allow the tyres to come back to shape, cut off the valves, pump the tyres full of builders expanding foam, and after 24 hours glue the valves back in for appearance and paint the outside of the tyres with rubber roof sealant paint.

... or just buy new tyres and tubes :D
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Mike Hiott
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Re: Dry Rotted Tires

Post by Mike Hiott » Wed Dec 14, 2016 4:32 am

Thanks for the replies, both tires are original WWII (S3) marked. 1 tire has a pretty bad blowout on the inside of the tire and is mis-shape. I will try next summer to warm-up and reshape the tire and use the uretheyne concept to fill-in the cracks in the tire.

Thanks

Mike
Mike Hiott

1942 Script GPW 44377
1942 Columbia MG48776
1943 WC52 S/N: 81610350
1944 Bantam Trailer
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