[Mr. Magpie]

How many of you have gotten flats on your mowers in your professional career? What have you done to make sure it doesn't happen again?

 

[Mr. Magpie]

I wanted to post a poll, but.......

How many of you have had more than one flat in your career?

 

[Bulletproof]

We've had a couple of flats....

Furthest axle on tandem trailer this past April
JD front mount 72" - popped 3 of the 4 tires (bush-hogging)...over 4 yrs
Exmark WB - Recent, maybe last week or week before

 

[lawnman_scott]

I have had 4 in one day before. To make sure it wont happen again???? stop cutting grass maybe.

 

[timinkc]

i use that green tire gunk stuff... works great... no flats in over a year.

on mowers that is...i don't use it in my trailers or trucks

 

[Bulletproof]

i use that green tire gunk stuff... works great... no flats in over a year.

on mowers that is...i don't use it in my trailers or trucks

I've heard that stuff works pretty well, never tried it myself. I read in a mower manual somewhere that it voids warranties on some machines. I can't remember exactly why, but I think it had to do with uneven weight in the tires making the ride rougher on the equipment thus causing hardship on the mower...could be wrong?

 

[Mr. Magpie]

I have had 4 in one day before. To make sure it wont happen again???? stop cutting grass maybe.

So, there are no remedies for this repulsive little problem? I don't know about everyone else, but I run a dead serious (but laid back) lawn business and my efficiency doesn't drop because of a measley flat tire (maybe if a worker flips the mower into a lake, but a measly flat tire?). My operation is a train and the only thing that ought to stop it is my decision to stop it (or a torrential rainstorm of course). To me, that is completely unacceptable. It might be reality, but still unacceptable in my book.

THe money you pay for a big rider (and its accessories) ought to buy you an untouchable operation like small walk-behinds provide, no?

 

[TClawn]

the green stuff works pretty good, I only have them in my front castors, and it helps a lot, sometimes I think the green stuff is holding the tires together lol. I might try J-thomas no flat tires on the front castors when these give out.

 

[AL Inc]

I guess we have about one a month, I have spares on the trailer so my men can change them and keep going. I have the flats repaired and put back on the trailer that day, usually. Helps to run similar equipment, limits the # of different spares you have to stock (I run Scag/Ferris walk-behinds and Wright Standers)

 

[lawnman_scott]

I just carry plugs and a small compressor that goes into the cig lighter. That solves the problem for me.

 

[TURF DOCTOR]

The most was 3 in 1 day we keep a air tank, plugs, air compresser.

 

[LawnBrother]

I had a flat a couple months ago. I filled it with air but it had a slow leak. I posted about it here and a lot of people recommended I use the green goo. I found some at the auto parts store and it worked well. No air lost since I poured it in. Really easy to use also. From what I hear it is basically a permenant fix, and stops new leaks when they happen. Give it a shot. It has worked fine for me.

 

[The Captain]

Had three flats in three years. A good record I think, still inconvienant. One was about 500 feet down hill from the trailer on my wb. I put the 'Slime' in all the tires on the wb and my 'z' this spring and not one problem this year. I can't even tell of any air loss when I do the weekly maint. I think it works great.

Jim

 

[Mr. Magpie]

Well, my bro got too confident in this garbage heap field earlier today and sprung a leak. We used some of the goo we got upon purchase of the mower and it worked great. I will keep some plugs in the truck too.

Here's to seamless efficiency!

 

[topsites]

A can or three of fix-a-flat does it for me.

 

[Grassmechanic]

After many leaks, I went to Zero-Flat tires. No more flats!

 

[JOEWOOD]

Slime is all I use, buy in large quantity and keep onboard.
Mowing through Standing Water will sometimes dilute it and cause failure!

Joe... :waving:

 

[Mr. Magpie]

After many leaks, I went to Zero-Flat tires. No more flats!

Are they solid rubber? Do they perform the same? Could you show me a link?

 

[Grassmechanic]

Are they solid rubber? Do they perform the same? Could you show me a link?

No, they are not solid rubber. They are foam filled. The newer ones give a much better ride than the older versions. Try www.j-thomas.com.

 

[lwcmattlifter]

I got two flats on one yard once thanks to sloppy roofers. Worst part was I was using a mower that had less than 20 hours on it. It was the only mower I have that did not have slime in the tires. I carry plugs in my toolbox also just in case. I have also managed to puncture a tire with a little irrigation flag. How that flimsy thing made it through the tread is a mystery to me.