I just got my 1972 Franklin Fowarder back from the mechanics, having spent $33K on rehabing it and three days later I hear what sounded like a shotgun blast. I was in my bandsaw mill yard working near Ole Ethel and lo and behold the tire side wall that had the bubble sticking out blew. Called a local tire supplier and for $2,400.00 more I can get a new Firestone tire mounted. So here are some pics. And by the way, my fowarder runs like a dream.
getting photos up
I just could not resist seeing the pictures. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/16544/PICT1062.JPG)
Nice looking forwarder.
Can it be vulcanized? You could do it for a lot less than $2,400.00. You wouldn't believe some of the tires I have seen vulcanized that go on for years.
I cut the sidewall of a tractor tire this past summer.
Found a tire repair shop and they vulcanized the repair.
It is holding up just fine, and was less than half the price.
They had tire from very large land moving equipment.
They also did retreads on tractor trailer tires.
Good luck.
From my experience vulcanizing a forwarder tire is an exercise in futility, especially on the sidewall. Loaded forwarders put a massive strain on their tires. A few years ago when i was running a TJ 610 Forwarder, we went through 1 tire with a vulcanized sidewall in a matter of a few days, that tires replacement lasted a few weeks. By the time the boss bit the bullet and bought 2 new tires and we swapped them out we had lost about a weeks production due to tire troubles and we had taken tires off and put them back on about 10 times.
I did not get other pics up of the 'tired tire', but I assure you there was not much left to this tire. It is now holding back dirt on a steep side-hill of mine. There were multiple ply's showing through in several areas. I checked out the vulcanization process, but all who saw the tired tire said the same-junk it.
I used to run one of those a bit years ago,a 165xl if i remember correctly ,had a 4-53 and a barco 60 loader on it . they were a tough machine,i did have to change the big bronze swivel bushing in it that was a pain. good luck. Don
I think the older logger special tires are not the sameas the newer smaller fatter forwarder tires in use today. We had a Franklin forwarder and had a section repair done on the sidewall( bad scuff on a stump), it cost a few hundred bucks but lasted for years and was a lot cheaper than tossing out the tire. As long as the casing and belting is in decent shape, it would bear looking into alternatives before you go for a new one , IMO.