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mike in miami
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« on: July 21, 2011, 04:10:37 PM » |
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Hey guys,
98 valk: I noticed a few weeks ago that the front tire had gone flat, (about 2 weeks since last ride).
I have a compressor and filled it, flat again in 2 days. I keep filling it and it keeps going flat. I lifted the bike and inspected the tire, no obvious screw or other puncture. The valve didnt have any obvious flaws, either.
Any suggestions before I remove the wheel and take it to the shop?
Thank you, Mike
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Bugslayer
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« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2011, 04:14:15 PM » |
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Lift it up again and use lots of soapy water. (especially around the valve stem). You should be able to find where it's leaking.... Good luck.
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BradValk48237
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« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2011, 04:15:00 PM » |
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Check the valve stem......
But sayin that, my rear kept going flat last year and could not see a hole...
Use some soapy water on it after you fill it up and look for bubbles.. can just put some in a spray bottle... thats how i found the leak in the tire.
B
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2011, 04:26:53 PM » |
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I would bet its the start of a failure of the valve stem. You will probably need to submerge the wheel at the valve stem so the whole thing is under water and then use a finger to move the thing around and see if bubbles appear.
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Mr. Nuts
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« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 07:56:27 PM » |
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Soapy water in a sprayer and overinflate it a bit. Also take the plastic keeper off the valve stem and wiggle it around real good. If its bad it usually cracks where the wheel meets the stem. Do not ride it until you are really sure the stem isn't bad. The design tends to make bad ones let all your air out at speed.
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“Speed has never killed anyone.... Suddenly becoming stationary, thats what gets you.” - Jeremy Clarkson
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Jess Tolbirt
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« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2011, 08:23:20 PM » |
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probably as said above,,,Valve Stem,,,it wont leak until you get the wheel spinning up to about 40mph,,,,fill the tire up with air and push the valve stem with your finger toward the tire,(outward),,away from center,, i bet you will hear it go pssstttttt
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Ricky-D
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« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2011, 07:58:28 AM » |
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Flat front tires are not the usual thing! You have to run over something already standing up to puncture the front tire which is probably a higher occurring event than a problem with the valve stem. Whatever, I had the same happen to me a month or so ago.
Seems like most posters are valve stem afficionado's to which i have no criticism but I just wanted to say that I must have run over a briar stem because the leak was constant and took a week to finally locate it.
The culprit was a thorn that was able to penetrate through the tire body and nylon belts causing the leak.
It took a lot of hard looking and the soapy bubble trick at first and second try was no help.
Finally I found the small thorn and got it out. The hole it made was very small and not a good candidate for a plug. That was eventually how I stopped it however.
A week or two later the tire showed some tread separation so then it got replaced. The Shinko was the bad tire and now it's replaced with an Avon.
Regarding the valve stem. I still have the originals and they exhibit no signs of failure so I am still having confidence in them.
***
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2000_Valkyrie_Interstate
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vanagon40
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« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2011, 07:21:16 PM » |
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If the tire goes from fully inflated to flat within 48 hours, this should be an easy leak to find with soapy water. As others suggested, spray or soak the tire, spray water around the beads and valve stem.
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vanagon40
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« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2011, 07:27:21 PM » |
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. . . The hole it made was very small and not a good candidate for a plug. . . .
Exactly. That is why I hate plugging tires. You start with a pinhole and ream it out in order to get the tool and plug though the new and improved, much larger hole. I use plugging only for emergencies. If there is no emergency, remove the tire and patch from the inside. The pinhole remains a pinhole, and tread separation is unlikely. |
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« Last Edit: July 23, 2011, 07:31:12 PM by vanagon40 »
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mikeb
Member
Posts: 311
vrcc-29271
dansville mi by lansing mi
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« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2011, 07:32:23 PM » |
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pluging and patching should only be done to get you to the repair shop
plugging only makes the hole bigger and patching with out plugging only covers the hole
.. your life is worth more that the cost of a tire ..
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i dont care what you ride just ride mike & kari mivrcc capital city leader s.s.d.d.  |
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Ricky-D
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« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2011, 09:40:40 AM » |
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"If there is no emergency, remove the tire and patch from the inside. The pinhole remains a pinhole, and tread separation is unlikely." Yeah, I considered that, but summarily dismissed it since the separation occurred 180 degrees out from where the plug was. I know there is still the possibility that the plugging did in fact cause the separation. *** |
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2000_Valkyrie_Interstate
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Hoser
Member
Posts: 5844
child of the sixties VRCC 17899
Auburn, Kansas
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« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2011, 02:08:25 PM » |
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Regarding what Ricky said, replace the valves with a metal one or replace the stock one with a new one with every tire change. If that is what he meant, I apoligize. hoser  |
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I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride my motor sickle  [img width=300 height=233]http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/ |
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