How to install a tube in a lawnmower tire, step by step

A flat lawnmower tire on a fine, sunny morning can ruin your mood. It seemed the perfect day for mowing your lawn. You have got punctures fixed several times, but things have started to get out of hands now, as the lawnmower has a flat tire again. The tube inside the lawnmower tire has been weathered because it has had various fixed punctures on its surface and needs to be replaced. This can be done easily at your home. All you need are a few tools. This article shall guide you about how you can put a tube in a lawnmower tire.

How to install a tube in a lawnmower tire, step by step:

• Step 1. Remove the lawnmower’s tire
• Step 2. Separate the tire from the metal rim
• Step 3. Check for any nails
• Step 4. Install the new tube inside the tire
• Step 5. Reinstall the tire on the metal rim
• Step 6. Reinstall the tire on the lawnmower

Please keep reading the article for further elaboration on the steps mentioned above.

Materials Required:

To complete this procedure, you will require the following equipment:

• Some screwdrivers
• A pair of pliers
• Transmission fluid/oil

It would be best if you also have a good quality replacement tube that has the correct dimensions. Check the old tube or consult your user manual.

● Step 1. Remove the lawnmower’s tire:

The first step is to remove the lawnmower’s tire, along with the rim, from the mower’s body. This is done by following the steps mentioned below:

– Step 1.1. Remove the rim’s plastic cap:

At the middle of the tire’s surface is a plastic boot (or a cap). Using a pair of pliers, catch this boot, and remove it from the rim. The cap’s internal surface retains some oil or grease and is brittle. So, you need to grab the boot gently and try not to break it.

– Step 1.2. Remove the c-clip:

A c-clip is located behind the rim’s plastic boot. Hold that c-clip’s tab using a pair of pliers, and pull it out.

– Step 1.3. Remove the tire’s washer:

Once you have removed the c-clip, you shall see a washer. Remove this washer from the lawnmower’s tire.

– Step 1.4. Pull the tire out of the axle:

Pull the tire out of the lawnmower’s axle.

● Step 2. Separate the tire from the metal rim:

After removing the tire from the axle, the next step is to separate the tire from the rim to install a new tube inside the tire.

– Step 2.1. Remove the tire from one side of the rim:

The tire needs to be removed from at least one side of the rim to extract the old tube’s nozzle.

Hammer a screwdriver with a flat head at the intersection of the tire and the rim. After the screwdriver gets inside the intersection, please give it a push and try peeling the tire off the rim. Repeat the same step for the tire’s opposite side.

– Step 2.2. Pull the nozzle out of the rim:

The new tube cannot be installed inside the tire until the old tube’s nozzle remains fitted in the rim. So, the next step is to pull out this nozzle from the rim.

Grab the rubber located at the nozzle’s back:

At the end of the nozzle, a tiny circular rubber traps the nozzle inside the rim and keeps it jammed. Use a pair of pliers to grasp this rubber and cut it off.

Extract the nozzle out:

After cutting the rubber off, use a pair of pliers to catch the nozzle’s head and pull it out in the upward direction.

– Step 2.3. Remove the entire tire from the rim:

This step is the most technical one. A couple of screwdrivers would be required to peel off the tire completely from the rim. While there are special tools to detach the tire from the rim, we will use screwdrivers to save some expenses.

Insert screwdrivers at distant positions:

• Place a screwdriver inside the tire and rim’s junction and move the screwdriver upwards so that the tire begins to rise from the rim.
• Use another screwdriver to make the same move, inserted at some distance from the first one.
• Keep doing the same step by working around the tire.

Remove the tire from the rim:

The tire is completely free from the rim’s grasp now. Remove this tire from the rim.

● Step 3. Check for any nails:

Grab a torchlight and check if any nails or a sharp object is pinched inside or on the tire’s outer surface. If you find any, remove them from the tire’s surface.

● Step 4. Install the new tube inside the tire:

After performing the steps mentioned above, you have now reached the point where you can now install the new tube inside the tire. A new tube needs to be installed if the previous one had been weathered or has had multiple punctures.

• Insert the tube inside the tire, and stuff it in
• The tube’s filling valve must be in line with the filling valve hole within the rim, where it is to be mounted.
• Insert the tube’s fill valve inside the rim’s fill valve hole.

● Step 5. Reinstall the tire on the metal rim:

After accomplishing the main task, the next step is to reinstall the tire back on the rim. Some screwdrivers and hand force will be all that’s required for this step.

– Step 5.1. Apply transmission fluid:

Apply transmission fluid to the internal circular edges of the tire. This is done to make the edges softer so that they fit on the rim easily. Oil can also be used in case transmission fluid is not available.

– Step 5.2. Push the tire inside:

Apply pressure to one side of the tire, then attempt to force the tire inside the rim using a few screwdrivers so that the tire is crammed in on all sides.

– Step 5.3. Fill some air:

In compliance with the tire’s prescribed air pressure, fill the tire with some air.

● Step 6. Reinstall the tire on the lawnmower:

When the tire has been placed back on the rim, it shall now be attached to the lawnmower’s body.

– Step 6.1. Place the tire on the axil:

Just like the way you pulled it out earlier, put the tire back on the lawnmower’s axil.

– Step 6.2. Install the washer:

Insert the washer back into the rim of the tire.

– Step 6.3. Install the c-clip:

With the help of pliers, reinstall the c-clip back into the metal rim.

– Step 6.4.  Install the plastic boot:

Reinstall the plastic cap back on the rim.

For a hands-on demonstration of how to put a tube inside a lawnmower tire, you should watch the following video:

Related Questions:

1. What points should be considered before purchase a new tube for the lawnmower’s tire?

To find out what type of tube shall suit your lawnmower’s tires, a few key points should be considered, which are as follows:

– The tire’s size:

The first and most important thing that needs to be considered is the lawnmower’s tire size. You cannot buy any tube just because of its superb quality and expect it to fit into your lawnmower’s tires. Normally, tire tubes are available in a size range from 2.5 inches (internal diameter) to 8 inches (outer diameter). Hence, the lawnmower tire and tube size should be kept in mind before buying a new tube.

– Tube’s rubber quality:

The quality of rubber determines the service life of the tube it is made from. It is recommended to buy the tube that has been made from the best quality rubber.

– PSI capacity:

The lawnmower’s tire tubes cannot hold the amount of air that a 4-wheeler passenger vehicle can carry. Most of the tire tubes can hold about 30 PSI of air. But some may have less or more, depending upon the lawnmower’s manufacturing brand.

– How to fill the tire:

There are two types of air pressures through which air can be filled into the lawnmower’s tire tubes. One of them is through heavy-duty inflators, usually available at gas stations. In contrast, the other one is filling air through a hand-held air pump. Some of the tire tubes must be filled through heavy-duty inflators, while others can be easily filled through a hand-held gas pump.

2. What will happen if I install larger tubes than the recommended size in my lawnmower tires?

• Gears: If larger tubes are installed inside the lawnmower tires, then the lawnmower gears would be affected.
• Faster speed: The lawnmower would travel much faster with each gear shift than its speed when smaller-sized tubes were used. This would affect the vehicle’s torque and resultantly affect the gears.

Final Remarks:

Lawnmower tires may seem unimportant, but they affect the lawnmower’s mowing ability and service life. A flat tire is a result of a punctured tube, and a new one should replace the tube if it’s weathered or has had multiple punctures. All of this can now be done conveniently at your home by following the steps mentioned in this article. Don’t forget to wear protective gloves before starting the procedure to protect yourself from unnecessary injuries. The lawnmower’s other parts, such as filters, engine, spark plug, fuel quality, etc., shall also be maintained to prolong the lawnmower’s performance.