How to Fix a Flat Wheelbarrow Tire? Problem Solved!

A wheelbarrow is such a tool that tends to go through much in any garden. You put whatever you want into it and it keeps carrying those as a loyal carrier for you.

But for how long? Well, I saw that good quality wheelbarrows keeps carrying stuff without needing any major repair for tens of years. But after that?

Expect that you’ll need to do some sort of repair now. Wheelbarrows have some common problems, that most of the people tend to face. The question that is asked most over the internet is –

How to Fix a Flat Wheelbarrow Tire?

Okay, let’s get through the process of fixing a Wheelbarrow tire! I’m gonna cover every type – tube, tubeless, etc. Also, a suggestion to refrain the tire from going flat ever again will be shared! The mystery is gonna be solved, yeah!

1. How to Fix a Flat Wheelbarrow Tire? (Tubeless)

Tubeless wheelbarrow tires tend to have 2 types of problems. One that happens in cold weather, the tire tends to go flat. Other when it goes flat due to leakage.

When it goes flat due to cold weather, the only thing that is to be done is inflating it. But in case of leakage, you first have to seal it and then inflate the tire.

The inflating process is the same in both cases. So if I tell you how to fix the leakage and how to inflate a wheelbarrow tire, that’ll solve both the problems regarding the tire.

Fixing Tire Leakage

First, you’ll need to turn the wheelbarrow over so that you can access the wheel easily. Then remove the bolt or cotter pin from the axle and slide itself out with the help of a pair of pliers.

There’s the chance that the axle won’t like to slide out when you’ll have to tap it lightly with a small hammer. If even that doesn’t work, take WD-40 and spray a small amount on it. That’ll do the job and the tire will be free for repair.

To repair the tire, first, you need to identify the leakage. To do so, immerse it in water and bubbles will be visible in the water where the air is leaking from. Mark the spot.

The next step is breaking the bead. Insert a flat screwdriver or the flat edge of a tire iron between the edge of the rim and the tire.

Work your way around the rim and it’ll separate the tire from itself. Repeat the whole process on the other side too. This is how to remove the wheelbarrow tire from the rim.

Now it comes down to plugging the tire. Open the plug kit and you’ll find a plug and two hand-operated tools that help the process.

Take the rounded file and push it through the leakage hole. Push and pull the tool in and out the rough up the hole.

Take a plug which is a long, black sticky strip, push it through the opening of the plug insertion tool. Make the length of the plug is even on both sides of the insertion tool.

Finally, push the plug into the hole with the insertion tool. Push until about one-third of the plug is left in the outside part of the tire. Then pull the insertion tool straight back out, leaving the tire filling the hole.

Trim the leftover of the plug outside with a scissor or knife. Make sure it is even with the tire tread.

Inflating the Tire

The next question arises is how to inflate a wheelbarrow tire or how to get a wheelbarrow tire back on the rim!

This part is quite easy, with a little trick. Without this trick, most people struggle.

The inflating process looks pretty straightforward, only when air does not leak around the bead, which tends to happen most of the time.

To solve this, take an adjustable strap and wrap it around the circumference of the tire to help it stay in place until you fill some air in it and it touches the rim.

But before all this, remember to clean the tire bead (the area that contacts with the metal ream) and clean all dirt. Then apply tire bead sealer or dish soap to assist in the bonding process.

Then line up the tire bead and press it lightly against the ream. They do the wrapping job as mentioned above and start infiltrating. After you got some air into the tire and the bead is firmly sealed with the rim, remove the strap. Then complete the infiltration to reach the desired tire pressure.

Done!

This video might help.

For ensuring, you may immerse the tire in water to check if it’s still leaking or not (I hope not). But if it is, shout a loud f**k and repeat the process.

If not, position the wheel properly, and re-insert it into the wheelbarrow, replace the bolt and your barrow is a go!

2. How to Fix a Flat Wheelbarrow Tire with Tube?

Tube-d wheelbarrow tires tend to go flat more often, but they’re easier to fix as well.

First, break the bead of the tire, in the same process explained for tubeless tires. It’s easier this time.

Insert a flat screwdriver or the flat edge of a tire iron between the edge of the rim and the tire, work your way around the rim and it’ll separate the tire from itself.

If you want to save even more money by fixing the leak on the tube, you can do that too. Or just consider replacing the tube. Buy the right sized tube in such a case.

In case of fixing the tube, fetch it out of the tire, infiltrate it a little bit. Now immerse it in water to see where the air is leaking from. Buy a tube sealer, and apply it to seal the leak. They put the tube inside again.

Check this video out.

In the case of replacing the tube, just buy a new tube the same as the old one. Put the new tube inside the tire.

After putting it inside, line up the tire bead and press it slightly against the rim. It’ll sync easier this time. Infiltrate is to reach the expected tire pressure.

Wheelbarrow Tire That Keeps Going Flat?

Tired and exhausted of fixing flat tires? Alright, it’s 2021, everything is possible now, so is finding a tire that is forever flat-free, Solid tires!

If you have the money to spend, consider buying the Marathon Universal Fit, flat-free wheelbarrow tire and wheel assembly with an adapter kit. They’re super expensive and they’ll remove your hassle.

A Little Wrap Up

I hope that helped. You’ll never have to worry about going to a mechanic and spending a bunch on money to fix your wheelbarrow tire. You yourself can do it now. Yeah yeah, thank me later, lol!

There’re some other common problems many wheelbarrow owners face. Like –