Riding lawnmower tire goes flat.. even after replacing it!

[TechBoyJK]

I have an older no-name riding lawnmower that I'm trying to keep running until I can afford a nice zero-turn unit.

Hoping to at least get it through the next year.

The front tires were in bad shape, and the right tire would always go flat. A can of fix of flat would keep it aired up for a month or so, but not forever. Eventually it would go flat after a day or two.

Last month, I called around and the only place i found which had replacement tires was Walmart, and they had 2 left on clearance! Woot!

After replacing them, the right tire still goes flat! They changed the valvestems, etc.

Could the wheel be bent? Should I just pull the wheel off, put in my sink with soapy water, and look for bubbles? One thing i noticed is that it's hard to get the valve stem to take the air when I go to air it back up. I let out the air in the left tire to see if it was also a pain to air up, and it took the air without struggle. I have to really wiggle the nozzle onto the valve stem of the right tire to get it to air up. Could it just be a coincidence that the right tire goes flat? Bad valve stem?

 

[SearchMaster]

Sounds like you've pinpointed the two most likely culprits - valve stem and warped wheel - though you'd probably see the damage if it's the wheel. I usually try to put an innertube in if I continually have issues with air leakage, it's happened to me a couple of times.

 

[lxskllr]

Second the innertube, or just deal with it. I have two tires I have to pump every time I mow the lawn. A bit of a pita, but it beats spending money, especially for somethimg as stupid as making grass shorter. I resent every second of time, and every penny spent on the lawn.

 

[NutBucket]

If you hate lawns so much why not just get rid of it?

 

[lxskllr]

If you hate lawns so much why not just get rid of it?

I've been considering options. I wish I had easier access to rocks. I'd like to wall in a large section of lawn, and turn it into meadow. I'd plant more trees, but overhead lines are screwing me.

 

[Puffnstuff]

When you replaced the tire did you check the inside of the wheel to see if any burs or deformations were present that might be puncturing the inner tube? I second the valve stem as a problem since you cannot air it up without a struggle. If you have a valve stem tool you could remove the valve and try lubricating it or just replace it with another..

 

[slag]

Just put a tube in it.. the green slime tube, and be done with it. Problems will be solved.

 

[ElFenix]

did someone glue a BB into the valve cap? that'll let the air out.

 

[mindless1]

Under-inflation can cause flats, or dirty/rusty bead area on rims, or even rust elsewhere if it's a complete rust through. Did YOU replace the tires or did someone else? If someone else did, they might not have done anything to clean the wheel, just slapped it on there and then no longer their problem.

It's unlikely to be caused by wheel warpage unless it's so bad you can feel it riding on pavement or see it with a casual inspection. Take the core out of the valve stem, inspect and replace it if needed. Yes put the whole thing in a tub of water or cover it in soapy water and look for bubbles.

Once you get the tire off, if you don't see anything you can fix, then is the time to break down and buy a tube for it.