Some guys use a ratchet strap, around the diameter, helps seat it.Should have said, I tried the ratchet strap idea, no joy.
I've never seen anyone use a bike pump. Sounds pretty cool. I never would've guessed you could build up enough pressure.
There's always ether.+1 Used to do it on big truck tires all the time. Whoosh!!!
I'm no tire pro but I've mounted a lot of tires over the years as a mechanic. Some tires sizes just seem to be harder than others to seat. I have a feeling that the tire guys or dealers that get the job in the end just put air in them till they seat- whatever the pressure. I get pretty spooked as pressures go up but I haven't had an explosion yet.Murphy's, huh... I'll have to try that. I've been using laundry soap and water for years, just because it's handy in the garage. Just mounted a tire yesterday and had an issue. The first bead came over with some irons and rim protectors, and the second bead always comes off for me by just pushing it off by hand. But not this time. I was spent and the tire was slick, and I gave up. I ended up taking a utility knife to the sidewall and making an access hole, and cut the bead to push it off. Never had to do that before, but sometimes stuff happens. Kinda like your tire not inflating.
My only tip is to use a Murphy's oil soap in a stiff dilution to lube things up. It is slicker than dish soap.
I can't imagine using a bike pump. Ether works good on big tires, I've never tried it on small stuff.
how you liking the 701 vs the PR2? I would think you would not like the 701 compared to a PR2.Haven't ridden the new K701 but I've had a couple on before. They're ok, I'd prefer a PR3 110/80R18 but this thing was cheap and it's approximately the same width.
Did you go to a proper sized 110/80? It fits the rim correctly and handles better.
I've been mounting my own tires for few years. I normally use my Cycle Hill machine, RuGlide and a decent compressor and have had no issues, until this year. I decided to try the PR3 on front (stock size for the '88) and couldn't get the tire to seat.
I tried ratcheting, bouncing - everything I could think of except ether (kinda skeered of it, LOL) and finally gave up and took it to a local bike shop who said they'd set it for $25. At this point, I was frustrated so off I go.
They worked on the tire for over 2 hours (small shop so I was back in the shop watching/helping). They tried ratcheting, ether, took the tire off the rim 2 different time before they decided the 'normal' methods wouldn't work.
What did work for them was putting 4x4 blocks of wood around the tire and heating it up (to bring the sidewalls out a little). Put it on and it sealed the first time! They worked their butts off on it and didn't charge me any extra (I even tried to buy them some dinner after they got it on, LOL).
Their opinion was that the tire was probably on the bottom of a stack during shipment and got 'compressed' and need to be stretched back into shape. I now have one more thing to try for stubborn tires :-)