Tubless tire repair kit information

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by newtonsfirstlaw

...I also forgot to pump up my tires before I went out. The other ones are probably ok, but there is one tire with a screw embedded in it that loses 20 psi in a week, and that certainly affects my gliding.

I assume you have tubeless tires. You can easily fix that with an el-cheapo tire fix kit. I've done it to so many flat tires that I now keep one of those kits in my car.

[newtonsfirstlaw]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

I assume you have tubeless tires. You can easily fix that with an el-cheapo tire fix kit. I've done it to so many flat tires that I now keep one of those kits in my car.

Which kind? The ones where you spray some sort of liquid stuff inside the tyre? Or what? (Yes, tubeless of course.)

[Silveredwings]

I haven't used the slime or goop stuff so I can't talk to that. I use something "like" this item:


or:

or:
http://www.autobarn.net/vicv106.html

but I'm sure you can probably pick something up locally.

The kit should include a tool that's kind of like a giant thread needle (but open at the end), a round file with a sharp end for roughening the hole, rubber cement, and several strands of the plug material. The plugs are like very sticky rubber bands about 1/4" (~.6 cm) square by about 3" - 4" (~7 - 10 cm) long. The steps are easy (included in the kit):

1. Find the puncture and remove the obstruction. Mark the hole or stick the file in it.
2. Run the file in and out of the hole to roughen it a little. Note that this takes some force and is why the T-shaped tools are a little easier.
3. Put some rubber cement on the file to coat the hole .
4. Thread a strand of the plug material into the plugging tool so that the eye of the tool is at the midpoint of the plug strand.
5. Coat the plug with rubber cement and stick it into the hole so that "some specified" amount of the 2 ends stick out.
6. Pull the tool out leaving the plug jammed in the hole.
7. Once the glue is dry, cut off the excess with a utility knife.

Have a happy new year!

[newtonsfirstlaw]

Thanks, and happy new year to you! I will check it out very soon.

[newtonsfirstlaw]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

I haven't used the slime or goop stuff so I can't talk to that. I use something "like" this item:

Thanks Silveredwings, I used that stuff a week ago to great effect. Problem solved!

[Stan]

The plug-type repair kits work great, but I would stay away from any of those spray can flat repair gimmicks. All they do is spray some adhesive crap in the tire. You then have to drive for a period of time while it dries, otherwise it will pool up in one spot throwing the tire's balance off permanently. The tire changer guys hate it too, as it gums up the wheel as well.

[AndrewJ]

They make a "lower profile" version of the flat-kit that silverdwings showed (they kinda look like screwdrivers), I keep one in the glove box, just in case.
And if you're having trouble spotting a slow leak, put a little dish soap into a bottle of water and spray/splash it over your leaking tire.
Find the spot where the bubbles are spewing forth and you've found your leak.

[trebuchet03]

I keep my spare inflated Then bring the punctured tire in for an internal patch. -Ideally

I do have some of those licorice plug thingers like in the picture - and AAA

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

They make a "lower profile" version of the flat-kit that silverdwings showed (they kinda look like screwdrivers), I keep one in the glove box, just in case.
And if you're having trouble spotting a slow leak, put a little dish soap into a bottle of water and spray/splash it over your leaking tire.
Find the spot where the bubbles are spewing forth and you've found your leak.

All true, in fact that's the kind of kit I have. I showed the "T"-handled ones because the screwdriver ones are a little hard on the bare hands...I suppose I coulda used gloves.

Also, if you're short on soap, a field expedient leak locator agent is good old fashioned spit. One time I was near a lake and just took the tire off, submerged it in the water, and looked for the stream of bubbles.

It's so easy, you'll go looking for a flat. Well maybe not, but you know what I mean.

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

I keep my spare inflated Then bring the punctured tire in for an internal patch. -Ideally

I do have some of those licorice plug thingers like in the picture - and AAA

I used to do that but I found it to be too much work.