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80# Lesco Spreader - Tubless Conversion

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2.3K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  MasterMech  
#1 ·
Has anyone had success doing this? I used my spreader twice and already had one tube pop, and trying to replace that tube was a major PIA. I had to order tubes on amazon, bought myself a mini tire changer from Harbor Freight. And this was after the experience below wasting alot of time...

My weekend consisted of trying to air the tube, then going to tractor supply ripping their tire boxes apart looking for the right one, then going home getting the tube on, then not being able to get the tire to sit back on. Then I go to discount to have them but the tire back on, they succeed. I go home to air it up and what do you know. The new tube was popped by discount (which they didnt air up for "liability" reasons)

So I am at my wits end with a 600 dollar spreader being crippled by something inferior. I used to do single track riding and ran a tubeless setup, but its been years since I did that and didnt know if anything similar was available for the spreaders.

I am murphy's lawn when it comes to this stuff. what can go wrong will go wrong.
 
#7 ·
My experience with automotive tire shops has been that they usually don't have much experience with small sizes, tubes, or anything that their tire equipment hasn't automated really. The local shop near me bent the s*** out of the edges of my mower fronts mounting simple 15x6-6 tires. You are better off going to a small engine shop with the right equipment (quality manual tire changer with the bearing hub wheel adapter) or learning to DIY.

Tubes work fine for non-drive low-pressure tires, but if the 200lb gorilla installing them doesn't know enough to watch his tool placement (to avoid pinching the tube) or align the valve stem properly..... A little dish soap inside the tire doesn't hurt either. Can't just man-handle the tire back on, which is rarely necessary for these small tires anyways.

That said, I prefer tubeless solutions whenever I can.