Finiky tire won't set bead

[dwerbil]

I'm installing, or attempting to, a new rear tire on the '84 RS, and the confounded bead won't set properly on one side, maybe about a foot worth of tire bead. I'm going by the small ridge on the sidewall, maybe about a quarter inch from the rim. The bead is all perfect except that few inches where the ridge hasn't emerged into its proper bead.

I've tried about all the tricks I know in the book....running the tube pressure way up past 50 lbs, breaking the bead and re-soaping the rim. I even tried wailing away on the sidewall with a rubber mallet (with 40 psi) to no avail.

Maybe I'll just let it set for an hour....see if it pops in place by itself.

Any other ideas to get this bead to set properly?

[Major Softie]

You named 2 of my 4 secrets: lots-O-pressure and lots-O-lube, but I have real NAPA tire lube and I'm not afraid to go WAY higher than 50 lbs. Secret number 3 is to smooth out the inside of the rim nicely before putting the tire on. I've only once had one that won't go on with those techniques, and that brought out number 4: a ratcheting tie strap wrapped around the perimeter of the tire squeezing the center of the tread in toward the center of the wheel. This simulates an inflatable tool I used back in my teen years when seating automotive rims.

[dwerbil]

Yeah...the ratcheting strap. I forgot about that one. Think one time I had the same problem and used a similar fix, but it was with a length of mule rope twisted tight around the flattened tire...air pressure was applied and the bead set in a goodly fashion.

[ME 109]

Try 70-80 lb. if your compressor will handle it.

[robert]

Vaseline petroleum jelly will slide the tire on the bead. Better than commercial water based tire lubes with no corrosion problems.

[dwerbil]

I deflated and broke the bead all around the gimp side. Gave it a generous suds up then rammed about 60 lbs or so in there. The last second or two, there was a loud pop. The gimp finally met its match.
The tire is good to go!

[Major Softie]

Woo Hoo!