[400exred1]

I just bought my 03 400ex and when i got it the tires wouldnt hold air. got to looking and found out that the tires were slashed all to hell and when i tore the tire down they had tubes in tubeless tires. so i went and bought two new front tires and went to put them on. well needless to say that the damn bead wouldnt seal up. the rims are jacked all to hell and i really dont have the money for new ones right now and havent even been able to ride it that much. i was curious if anyone had this problem or an idea as to what i can do to fix this without buying new rims.

 

[shadetree]

I just bought my 03 400ex and when i got it the tires wouldnt hold air. got to looking and found out that the tires were slashed all to hell and when i tore the tire down they had tubes in tubeless tires. so i went and bought two new front tires and went to put them on. well needless to say that the damn bead wouldnt seal up. the rims are jacked all to hell and i really dont have the money for new ones right now and havent even been able to ride it that much. i was curious if anyone had this problem or an idea as to what i can do to fix this without buying new rims.

just how bad are the rims ?..are they warped really bad ?..if not..then you may be able to use them...if they are warped..your best bet is to find some used ones off ebay..or from a salvage yard. if the outter lip is bent..take a pair of vise grips..and try to bend them back into shape..then with a bench grinder with a wire wheel..brush them really good. a neat little trick as for getting the tire on and seat..grease the outter rim up on both sides..just at the bead..do the tire also..after you get the tire one the rim..grab the tire..and bounce it a few times..then put some air to it..the grease helps seal the tire bead..so it will inflate...as your doing this..if you see that one tire bead doesn't want to seat..just keep putting air to it..sooner or later it will pop out...just don't stand or be in front of it..in case it pops off the bead..becareful !!!..if the bouncing trick doesnt help with getting the tire bead to help getting started..take a ratchet tie down strap..go around the center of the tire..snug it really good..throw some air to it..it will seal then..just make sure to let off the strap after it starts to fill with air.

 

[longhorn]

I have used bead sealer from O'Reilly's Xtra Seal 14-101 - Bead Sealer | O'Reilly Auto Parts
I use it on my wife's atv to keep out creek gravel and bark from all the trees she rubs with the front tires.

 

[Helmut]

I have used bead sealer from O'Reilly's Xtra Seal 14-101 - Bead Sealer | O'Reilly Auto Parts
I use it on my wife's atv to keep out creek gravel and bark from all the trees she rubs with the front tires.

I agree, that bead sealer works good.

 

[ostrx250]

thats what i was gonna recommend works real good on old truck rims

 

[pioneer]

im new to this 4x4 stuff but i spray starter fluid in bobcat and trailer wheels and lite it up .that usealy works. it dosnt take alot and its going to go boom

 

[pioneer]

on second thougth if you havent used starter fluid to seal beads before maybe you shouldnt try it. i havent tryed it on small tires and wheels

 

[Redracer]

Get a ratchet strap/tie down and put it around the tire following the center tread lugs. Tighten the strap as tight as you can, This forces the bead of the tire onto the rim not allowing air to pass by the tire.