Igniting starter fluid to seal the bead

[bobhamlin]

Try as I might, I just couldn't get the new front tire's bead to seal enough to inflate. I used soap, Pledge, put it in the sun, used a ratchet strap around its circumference--all in the hope that the bead would press up against the rim's ridge to seal the incoming air from my compresser. Dejected, I was even toying with taking the rim and tire to the local bike shop (that would have been a defeat) when I googled...

... and found an intriguing method that sparked my interest. It involves starter fluid and fire and an explosion. I am a guy, after all.

Youtube has a couple examples. After watching them, I figured why not. It worked exactly as it is supposed to. Just be careful with the amount of fluid. I used 2 seconds of spray...

... this guy used a lot more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI38RZ2f6Ls&feature=related

[blowndodge]

this one's better!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSDPHjo1zRU&feature=related

[Loafer]

BD, Your guy made it look safer.
Bob, did you spray all the way around?

[ringadingh]

Ive been using that method for years, It works great. When Im out hunting I always have a can of starting fluid in my Argo.

[macmac]

Oh geeze........

[cnc]

A friend of mine who runs a boat dealership showed me this trick a number of years back. I've called him Macgyver ever since.

[Cajunrider]

Several years ago I watched an old guy seat mobile home tires that way. Worked on every attempt. Whoever thought of this had one hell of an imagination.

[bkmaxvrb]

We did that to seat a bead on a bus sized tire. We used a lot more than 2 seconds worth of spray.....a WHOLE lot more! Makes for quite the explosion!

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Something I don't mind watching in a video or in person from a distance. Nothing I am going to try personally.

[billmac]

Something I don't mind watching in a video or in person from a distance. Nothing I am going to try personally.

I am with you Gene. Maybe it has something to do with our old age.

[bobhamlin]

BD, Your guy made it look safer.
Bob, did you spray all the way around?
No. I sprayed just halfway--one second in each quadrant onto the inside of the rim. That's what they did for some motorcycle tire videos on Youtube.

The two seconds worked on the front tire. During my research, someone wrote: "If a little doesn't work, you can try again with more (starter fluid)." Too much starter fluid, on the other hand...

I DID wear safety glasses.

[ridemslow]

They been doing this for years with truck tires. These days, Kids also use starting fluid to make Potato Guns. Ever seen one of them? Sometimes, they use hair spray too, on the potatoe guns that is.

[macmac]

LOL I built a tater gun with my son ages ago. He painted it camo. If anyone does that all I can tell ya is a tater will indeed smash a windshield at 200 yards. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif