| Author | Message | ||
     Xb1200rick |
Anybody ever try any of the liquid sealants. I picked up a nail in a almost new tire and I need to ride somewhere next week and don't have time to get a new tire before then . I put a plug in it to get home and it seems to be maintaining pressure. I was just thinking about using some kind of stuff in case the plug leaks. Rick | ||
| Pwnzor |
Slime usually works ok, and in conjunction with the plug that's already in there you should be safe. I just know the guys who change my tires don't like it when they have to clean that stuff out of there. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I put slime in my last flat tire and I'll NEVER do that again! It blew out and threw that crap all over my bike. What a mess to clean up! I have had success with plugging tires before though. I carry a plug kit and a compressor on my Uly now just in case it's needed. | ||
| Teeps |
+ a million on not using slime, though their pump is good. I carry a (Nealy Tire) MINI TIRE REPAIR KIT (Part No. 11007) $11.95 and a slime pump ($30 @ Pep Boys) in the Uly's storage compartment. Touch wood, no flats on the Uly; but I have used the plug kit on my son's car tire a couple of times and they worked out well... http://www.tirerepairkit.com/whichkit.htm http://www.slime.com/product_111_Power_Sport_Tire_ Inflator_(40001).html | ||
| 86129squids |
I'm not really a fan of Slime or similar stuff- in my experience, a properly plugged tire will do just fine. REAR ONLY. I'd plug a front to get home, but would replace the tire ASAP. If it's a rear, AND the hole is small, AND NOT near or into the sidewall, AND plugged by ME or someone well-trained to do a plug, I'd trust it for many miles. Granted, you'll always know it's not absolutely 100%, but I've had plugged rear tires perform just fine until the whole tire wears out. YMMV. Just my $.02, but a well-plugged rear tire may go a lot longer than most peeps realize. | ||
| Reepicheep |
FWIW, found a nail in the back of the Sync on the Uly changing the oil this afternoon. Removed the wheel, removed the tire, patched from the inside with a glue on patch, put it back together, it looks great... We will see how it wears, I'm not worried. | ||
| Swampy |
OK, what is the correct way to plug a tire? | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've used Slime successfully...on my lawn tractor. Low RPM tire speeds, no issues  Damned briars are tough around here, keep slicing my sidewalls! I do like their pumps, though - one lives under the Uly's seat. With a plug kit. (Message edited by ratbuell on August 01, 2010) | ||
| Ulynut |
OK, what is the correct way to plug a tire? I worked in a busy tire shop for a couple of years, and plugged MANY tires. Never plug the sidewall. Never plug a hole thats bigger than the diameter of the reaming tool. Air up the tire. Locate the hole, and pull the offending object (if still present). Insert reaming tool and ream out the hole. Load plugging tool with plug. Coat plug with rubber cement. Insert plug with plugging tool. Trim off the ends. Inflate tire to correct pressure. | ||
| Reepicheep |
For motorcycle tires (where the stakes are high), this is my approach.. 1) Look at hole... as said, it has to be small (nail or screw) and not in the side wall. If it's a slice, or in a side wall, the tire is toast. 2) Loosen the axle pinch bolt (allen head under the rear swingarm). Loosen the axle (tool in your tool kit). 3) Put the bike on the side stand, put a jack under the can at the rear jack point, and lift up the rear wheel about two inches. 4) Remove rear axle. 5) Carefully work the belt off without kinking or stressing anything. If you remove the pulley this is easier, but I feel like if I am careful this usually goes pretty well. Likewise removing the rear caliper is probably recommended, but I didn't need to. 6) Remove wheel, unseat tire bead (both sides of tire). Remove tire from wheel. I use a harbor freight tire changer welded up to a trailer hitch my neighbor and I set up for his F150. Works fine. Alex and I did it with two guys, two tire spoons, and a bench vise in a pinch. I have heard you can break a bead with a side stand, never tried it, seems like it would hack up a pulley or a rotor. 7) Remove nail (or whatever) and inspect for structural damage to tire carcas. 8) Rough up and clean inside tire surface carefully where patch will go. I use a shot of brake cleaner or alchohol on a paper towel. 9) Apply tire patch as per instructions. If you do it right, it sticks amazingly well. 10) Put the tire back on, reassemble. That is what has worked for me. I had a Dayton OH shop that would also do the remove / patch / replace for $35 or so... it's hard to find places that bother because the profits are so low an the liability could be very high. | ||
| Jstfrfun |
I like to put glue on the reaming tool to prep the hole before plugging with glued plug, haven't had one leak or come out yet. And for me, patching the inside is too much like work for the amount of benefit. | ||
| Swampy |
OK the only difference is I will remove all the air from the tire before dipping the cord in glue and putting it into the tire. If the tire still has air in it it will move the glue to the outside, I have only done car tires thank goodness. I have yet to patch a bike tire. When I do I know it will bug the heck out of me until I replace it....LOL | ||
| Nm5150 |
Plugged my first Corsa(rear)and went another 1000 miles on it with no problems.Small hole and the tire was toast when replaced.Even did a squidly burn out in the parking lot.The service guy came out and said,"You must be the guy that called me about a new tire." | ||
| Reepicheep |
The external patches probably are fine... I just have more peace of mind knowing it's patched from the inside, and I wouldn't hesitate to take that tire on a track day (novice class) if patched that way. The hassle factor of getting a flat on a bike while out on the road is just so high (ask Alex... it interrupted a perfectly good beer ) that I don't mind the 30-90 minute effort of pulling to patch. Compared to dirt bike tires (which it seems I am also always replacing) the street bike tires are a cakewalk. If the tire had less then 30% life I'd just put on a new one. |
