Fordson Major Steering Tyres

Thanks in advance
Scott

If your tyre and tube is dead and you are just throwing it away you can get it off by cutting the bead of the tyre with a sharp chisel. You can often even do this with the the wheel still on the tractor if you can jack it up high enough to get the new tyre under the rim. Realy only a good idea for badly spiked tyres that can't be used again but it can save some time and money. The new tyre usually goes on with not too much trouble with plenty of soap on the bead. Just take care with the tube.

Regards, Frank.

P.S. Just make sure you have a cold beer standing by for when you finish the job. Trust me you will need it.

My Dad is an Aussie farmer he also said he has changed several while still on the tractor. I dunno though, I'm in England with very little in the way of tools but I like the idea of using a sharp chisel. I will throw that tyre away anyway. I have a good tyre on a rusted rim that I want to swap it with - do you think I could cut the rim away to make that one easier? The beer sounds like the best advice yet, no Coopers over here though, it'll have to be Fosters...

I would take the tyre off the rim while the rim is still on the tractor. Once the tyre is off use the rim of the tractor as a bead breaker for the rusted rim. The weight of the back end of the tractor should do the job fairly easily. Then I use lots of soap and the 5 foot crow bar that I use for digging post holes and another flat bar about 4 foot long. Same as any car tyre, just more swearing and more beer at the end. Breaking the bead is the hardest part. Once you have that done the rest will be OK, just heavy work. Clean and paint the rim while the tyre is off, use lots of soap on the tyre and rim and all will pump up fine. I don't like using grease on tyres as it attacks the rubber.

Regards, Frank.

P.S. Don't try cutting the rim. It will only cause grief.

Regards, Frank.

Yep, I reckon you are right, I don't want to have to do this twice if I can help it. New tube, clean & paint the rim, use the rim still on the tractor to break the bead of the other tyre. Good bush mechanics tips - thanks for all your help!

I have one steering box going back together and it is not easy. Try packing the bearings in wheel bearing grease to hold them in place. I also use a small magnet on a rod to fish out the ones that drop out. It took some time though and patience.

Maybe someone else like Majorman has a better way. Hope this is of some help and good luck, Mark.