Vintage Scene SeptemberOctober 2021_Layout 1 03/09/2021 15:11 Page 4
A Pressing Pressing Matter…Not! By John Lindley
W
hen I bought my 35, it came with turf tyres which, apart from them standing flat for the best part of twelve years, I didn’t particularly want and so, early on in the restoration process, I decided to replace them with standard rear tyres.
covered in tyre-fitter’s gunk, it came off easily; some hours later, with the aid of both sledge and lump hammers, I got them back to something like normal and ground off the sharp edges that would almost certainly have cut the side walls. With that experience behind me, I decided not to go that way again. A while ago, I joined the Ferguson Club from whence I’d received some sound advice on other matters, so I gave John (Selley) a call. It transpired that he’d come across the same problem but he, not wanting to save the old tyres, resorted to various knives and an angle grinder in the removal of same! As my turf-tyres had life left in them, I wanted to get them off relatively undamaged if possible, hence the call to John.
Now I’d had trouble with front tyres previously on my 20, trouble breaking the seal that is. I tried all kinds of things like running my car onto the tyre while it was flat on the ground, smacking it with a sledge hammer, various crow bars and the like and finally I thought of my vice. Luckily, I have an old blacksmiths vice with plenty of room between the jaws and the screw, enough in fact to allow room for the tyre when the wheel rim is resting on the jaws. I used a foot square of ¾” scrap ply between the back jaw and the rim, to spread the weight, and with the front jaw as close to the rim as possible, a good squeeze from the vice broke the seal, it was then turned round and the process repeated, the tyre was then removed with the aid of my lump hammer and a couple of crowbars (some of you may have proper tyre levers!) That was relatively simple on the front tyres, but the rear ones were a different kettle of fish! Some years ago, I’d had to replace one of the rear tyres on my old 20 (it never had much tread when I bought the tractor some 38 years ago) so I set to, without success I might add, trying to get the thing off. I eventually gave up and resorted to the “professionals” at the local tyre company; well, they did get it off and they supplied a new one but, in the process, they totally mullered the rim; both sides. I wasn’t best pleased, but they did give me a 10% discount! Then, of course, I had a beat-up rim, albeit complete with tyre, but as it was only a few hours old and
4
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
He knew a man who knew a man who had a hydraulic press that would easily break the seal if we could get the wheel in it; we couldn’t, but he directed us to a farmer a way down the road who “might be able to help.” Now, said farm sported a newly opened farm shop & café staffed by an extremely attractive young lady who plied us with coffee and sticky buns whilst waiting for the farmer to appear. He’d “never had that problem” but thought the local agricultural dealers might be able to help. By this time though, I was lost as John was driving, so I have no recollection of where or who they were (John doesn’t even remember the trip) which is a great shame as I can’t directly credit the chap who gave me the solution to the problem. (If you are that man and happen to read this, please let me know and I’ll give credit where credit’s due.) Anyhow, John met an old mate outside and whilst he was chatting I went in search of a press. In the workshop I met a chap to whom I explained the problem and “did they have a press?” “You don’t need all that junk mate” he explained “you just need three old bits of old angle iron, a lump hammer and room to swing it! Look here” he said gesticulating to a huge Fendt tractor “it’s so simple; if I wanted to change those tyres, I wouldn’t even bother taking the wheels off.” I can best illustrate his method with the photographs I took as I tried it out back at home. I firstly cut three lumps of 2” angle iron about 4” long and de-burred all the edges then, as my wheels were
call 01295 404099 to advertise or email advertising@vintagescene.co.uk
