A grinding bit is provided. The grinding bit includes a shank having a central axis and a cutting body. The shank further includes a first shank end and a second shank end opposite to the first shank end. The first shank end is configured for operably coupling to a rotary tool. The cutting body is coupled to the second shank end and extends axially away from the shank along the central axis. The grinding bit may include a shoulder surface extending radially from the shank in between the first shank end and the second shank end.

A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.

An apparatus for removing flash from a tire includes a laser sensor which, while the tire is rotating, can be moved along the outer contour of the shoulders and tread area of a tire to detect the contour of the tire. A first sanding assembly removes the flash from the tread area, while the tire is not rotating, by moving horizontally and vertically in accordance with the detected contour of the tread area. A second sanding assembly removes the flash from the shoulder area, while the tire is rotating, by moving horizontally, vertically, and pivotally in accordance with the detected contour of the shoulder area.

A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.

A device for removing a tread from a wheel (e.g., a closing wheel of a planter, a gauge wheel of a planter, a gauge wheel of a cultivator, a gauge wheel of seed drill etc.) includes a body configured to support the wheel, and a fastener coupled to the body. The fastener is configured to engage the wheel when the wheel is supported by the body, and position the wheel on the body, and then compress the wheel against the body to thereby allow removal of a tread from the wheel.

A method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair includes the steps of providing a template having a pair of guide edges, securing the template to an interior surface of the tire, providing a tool for forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, with the tool, along the guide edges of the template, and removing the template from the tire.

A method of measuring wear rate in an actual rubber tire. A section of rubber is cut out of an actual tire below the surface of the tire. The cut out section is attached to the surface of a first wheel. An abrasive substance is attached to the surface of a second wheel. The two wheels are rotated for a predetermined time, in opposite directions, in contact with each other, at uneven rates resulting in some slippage between the surfaces of the two wheels. The wear rate of the rubber tire is measured based on the changes in the cut section over time, in much less time and using less resources than required by conventional wear measurement methods.

A tire pre-conditioning system for conditioning a bead of a tire includes a burnisher and a controller. The burnisher is attached to a shaft. The controller is in communication with at least one of the burnisher or the tire. The controller is configured to move one of the burnisher or the tire until the burnisher is opposing the bead of the tire. The controller is also configured to supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to cause the bead to contact the burnisher to burnish the bead of the tire.

A tire repair tool for buffing an interior surface of a tire, the tire repair tool including an elongated housing that extends along a longitudinal axis, an electric motor disposed within the housing, a gearbox coupled to the electric motor, a chuck coupled to the gearbox and configured rotate about the longitudinal axis and to receive a workpiece tool such as a buffing wheel, a switch that operatively controls the electric motor, a biased trigger operatively coupled to the switch, and a battery for supplying power to the electric motor. The battery has an elongated housing that defines a battery axis, wherein the battery axis forms an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis.