'

[..]

'

[Jess from VA]

You don't have a simple electric air compressor?

Small ones are not powerful enough to run nail guns and air tools (esp continuous) but for all tires, or blowing out my clogged windshield drain tubes or desktop computer, it gets used often.

The six gallon doughnut tanks are more powerful, but harder to lug around (and bang your knees), and cost more.

Walmart 3 gallon tank (I've had good service out of the cheap Walmart Hyper Tuff tools) :  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-3-Gallon-Air-Compressor/54513339



I have one of those tiny air pumps in my saddlebags that runs off the SAE battery tender pigtail plug ... and have been lucky enough to never use it.  

[Serk]

Sucks, but better to be home, wishing you were riding, than 50 miles from home and have it fail rapidly in a curve....

(Trying to keep a positive attitude and all that...)

[carolinarider09]

Interesting.  Makes one wonder how it got in there.   

I mean, just thinking of the physics, it has to have some angle of attack to penetrate or something to make it stand upright so you can roll the tire over it to force it in. 

Just thinking out loud. 

Glad you got it fixed (well it appears to be fixed).

[Jess from VA]

I mean, just thinking of the physics, it has to have some angle of attack to penetrate or something to make it stand upright so you can roll the tire over it to force it in. 

Yep, and it was slowly getting worn down.

Kinda freaky using a drill to enlarge the hole for the tire plug.

I believe there are far more rear than front MC tire punctures.

I think what often happens is the front tire picks the sharpie up and flings it into the back tire (they are right in line with each other).  If the angle of attack is right, it gets driven right onto the rear tread.  Assisted by the spinning rear tire.  Plus the rear is nearly always wider than the front (like a catcher's mitt).

I've thought about a mud flap kind of a thing, almost to the ground, installed under the bike just after the kickstand assembly, to deflect thrown objects and maybe stop this from happening. 

In my 50 years of riding, I've only ever had rear tire punctures.  To hole the front, the sharpie has to be standing up.   

[carolinarider09]

My experience is the same as Jess, regarding tire punctures.

As I have mentioned before, I was repairing tires at the gas station I worked at in the 60's.   Used the same plugs as we have today (or the ones I use).   But, the notion (new to me this century) of drilling out the hole, well it sounds rational but, I worry about stress on the tire threads. 

Seemingly that is not an issue. 

[Jess from VA]

The old fashioned string plugs with glue are a superior patch to a plug-gun plug.  Regular plugs are known to come out.  You are always hoping the hole is between two raised treads, to better hold the plug or string plugs.  You cannot plug a sidewall puncture, safely.  

I carry a string plug kit, with reamer and string plugger (inserter, like a big needle the strings thread through).  The reamer and plugger have T-handles because screwdriver type handles are much harder to work with (on your hands).  With this system, if the hole isn't large enough to get the strings and plugger through, you use the reamer to ream it larger.  You get the hole ready, stick the strings in the plugger, slather the plugs with glue (also a lubricant) and push them through the hole, then pull it back out slowly /turning the plugger in one direction as you do.  Then cut the strings off the plugger (then nip them down fairly even with the tread).

A kit (except I'm not seeing the glue):  https://www.amazon.com/HolaKit-Compact-T-Handle-Puncture-Motorcycle/dp/B0B3W4MQGZ/ref=sr_1_2?hvadid=631557002599&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9008139&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9933895221663329318&hvtargid=kwd-377745776618&hydadcr=7511_13589626&keywords=t-handle+tire+plug+kit&qid=1690325608&sr=8-2

Better yet is an inside outside patch (but the tire has to come off, so it can't be done on the road).  An  inside patch glued on with a plug in the center, pushed through the hole from the inside, then clipped off at the tread.  

I also learned tire repair at 16/17 in a gas station.  We used the air plug gun when we could and the inside/outside patch when we had to.  I never once saw a string plug repair at that gas station.  I also learned to use the infernal tire machine for getting rubber off and on the wheels (with soapy water).  I'd be scared to do that today; that thing could injure you badly.  Buck twenty-five an hour.  I got a 25 cent raise when I could do oil changes.  And a nickle commission on every quart of oil I sold.  The owner was the last of the big spenders. 

[carolinarider09]

Regarding the gas station and tire repair.   We moistly repaired car tires but, on occasion, we had to do a truck.  I was taught and instructed that they were different and deadly.   

The deadly part, if I remember correctly, was the metal "rim" that held the tire in place on the metal wheel.  If I remember it had a split area so it could be wedged on and off.  If you inflated the truck tire as you would a car tire and metal "rim" failed to maintain proper contact with the rim if blow off and severely injure you.

Had to fill the tire from the back side hand through the rim, as I remember. Front of the tire facing away from you and anyone else.  But that was 57 years ago. 

[Hook#3287]

The one I carry.

https://www.stopngo.com/products/7857

I've used one similar to that with the same plugs and have plugged car, truck and even bobcat tires with it.

Those mushroom style do have their limitations and do not work well with a puncture that is angled.

But straight on, they work well.

I remember patching bicycle tire tubes as a kid and having to light the glue on fire.