Bolt-On Rubber Patch Solves Flat Tire Problem

Bolt-On Rubber Patch Solves Flat Tire Problem TIRES/WHEELS Miscellaneous 34-1-39 Michael Horn of Rush, Ky., says he and his dad came up with a cheap way to fix badly damaged flat tires. "My dad does custom bush hog work for people. The problem is, he runs over all kinds of things that can rip into a tractor tire." To fix a flat, they bolt on heavy rubber patches inside the tire, between the tread and tube. "We cut the patches out of -in. thick conveyor belt, making it slightly larger than the tear in the tire. Then we place the patch inside the tire and drill a series of 5/16-in. dia. holes through both the tire and patch, spacing them every 2 to 3 in. apart around the tear. We insert 1/4-in. bucket bolts with flat heads through the holes from the inside out, tightening the bolts down until the rubber patch puckers around the head of the bolt. We also put double nuts on each bolt and then batter the ends like a rivet so they won't come out. "Then we cut a large patch out of an inner tube and lay it inside over the bolts, then put enough air into a new tube to hold the tube patch in place. Once we finish putting the last side on the wheel rim we air up the tire to the proper pressure." The two men say the last time they used this idea was three years ago when a radial tire on front of their tractor went flat. "The tire is worn out now, but the rubber patch is still holding," notes Michael. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Michael David Horn, 25023 Bolts Fork Rd., Rush, Ky. 41168 (ph 606 928-3153).

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