How to Change the Front Tires on a Yard Machine Riding Lawnmower

Place the Yard Machine on a level surface such as the garage floor or the driveway. Set the brake and use the steering wheel to ensure the front wheels are pointing straight. Turn off the mower and take out the ignition key.

Put wood blocks behind the rear tires. Position a floor jack under the front frame of the mower. Raise the front of the Yard machine until the bottom of the tires are 6 inches off the ground. Set jack stands under the front frame on each side of the floor jack. Lower the jack just enough that the weight of the mower is on the stands. Leave the jack in the raised position as an extra safety measure.

Pry off the center hub cap from each wheel with a flat-head screwdriver. Bend the ends of the cotter pin, going through the end of the axle, straight with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Pull the cotter pin out of the axle with the pliers. Slide the flat washer away from the rim, and then pull the tire off the axle. Repeat for the opposite side.

Lay the tire on a solid flat surface with the valve stem pointing up. Remove the valve stem cap and press the stem needle with a flat-head screwdriver to remove all air from the tires. Insert one crowbar in between the tire and rim, and then pry up until the side of the tire pops over the rim. Hold the first crowbar in place and insert a second crowbar 6 inches away from the first.

Pry the side of the tire off the rim using both crowbars. Once one side of the tire is off the rim, position the crowbars under the opposite side of the tire and between the rim. Pry the opposite side of the tire with the crowbars until the tire is completely off the rim.

Angle the new tire over the rim and push down on the tire to push it in between the rim edges. Once half the tire is on the rim, use a large rubber mallet to pound the other side of the tire until the entire tire is over the rim. Avoid prying the tire onto the rim with the crowbars, as it could damage the sides of the new tire. Repeat for the remaining tire and rim.

Apply bead seal with a brush to both inside circumferences of each tire. This is the part of the tire that presses against the inside edge of the rim. Place a ratchet strap around the circumference of the tire, and then tighten the strap until the sides of the tire are against the rim.

Add air to the tire until the tire begins to add pressure to the strap. Loosen the strap slowly to ensure the sides of the tire do not pull away from the rim. Continue filling the tire until it has 12 psi of air.

Slide the tire rim over the axle, with the valve stem side pointing away from the mower. Slide the flat washer over the axle, Insert the cotter pin through the hole in the axle, and bend the ends of the pin around the axle. Push the hub cap over the end of the axle.

Raise the front of the mower until the frame is off the jack stands, once both front tires are on the axles. Remove the jack stands, and lower the Yard machine mower. Move the jack away from the mower.