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Post by billellis on Jul 8, 2012 18:31:02 GMT -5
Is there a simple way to fix the lack of a good seal between the 2006 Reflex tire sidewall bead and the rims? The owner found both tires flat. After pumping the tires up and examining the tread area for nails, I found the front tire leaking air in six places at the bead and rim area. The rear tire is also leaking at four places at the bead and rim area. I've tried over pressurizing the tires, I've tried reducing the pressure (10psi and whacking the sidewall near the leaks with no success. Thanks for you help. Bill  |
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Post by dumbass on Jul 8, 2012 20:18:56 GMT -5
Of course no one can say exactly what is wrong with an individual rim or tire. But I can tell you what I have done for this type of problem on my cars, tractors and bicycles tires. When a tire is mounted and pressurized the tire actuals slids on the rim untill the bead seats. If it does not slid freely it will not seat properly causing leakage. I have had this problem more times then I can count. A few years ago I had a set of new tires mounted on my car. 2 out of 4 leaked badly. I requested them to fix the problem. So they remounted the tires with no improvement. So I again requested them to correct the problem. They said there was nothing they could do because I must have a problem with my rims. I told them the rims were fine with the old tires so why would they now be a problem? I asked if they lubed the tire sidewall before mounting them. They stared at me like I was from Mars. I told them to remount the tires again and this time to wipe on a little soapy water. Da, problem solved..... Never had leakage again.
This maybe a simple solution for your problem. Just deflate the tires and wipe on some soapy water and repressurize. Increase the pressure to about 10 above normal and then lower to normal pressure. You should be able to do all this without removeing the tire from the rim or the rim from the bike. Just be sure you break the bead on both sides of the tire 100%. And you lube 100% of the tire before pressurizing. Hope this helps.
Bob
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Post by nulldevice on Jul 8, 2012 22:02:39 GMT -5
If DA's advice doesn't work you should take the tire off and inspect the wheels and tires. I suspect they were either run flat or the beads and/or rims were damaged when the tires were mounted.
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Post by gy6fandan on Jul 8, 2012 22:03:48 GMT -5
A product made by "SLIME" is sold at walmart. SLIME makes stuff for tires (patch kits, tire valve tools, etc).
They have a liquid you add to the tire and it finds the leaks when you go for a drive and seals it up (for how long this will last you and your situation I dont know).
It's sorta like fix a flat but not so nasty when replaceing a tire latter on - from what I understand.
I dig the soapy rim teatment idea to seat the tires already posted. I may try that if I ever have to change my tires valve stems or when a tire change is due.
good luck
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Post by hamm36 on Jul 8, 2012 22:12:05 GMT -5
I agree with the soapy water, but before that use a scotch paid on the inside of the rim all the way around both sides, and use a rubber cleaner/conditioner on the tire. Rubber and vinyl cleaner like you use to clean the inside of a car. I would refrain from using slime on anything that goes over 5 miles an hour. It is good for a wheelbarrow, or a riding lawn mower, but nothing else.
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Post by rockynv on Jul 9, 2012 0:29:19 GMT -5
Instead of soapy water use bead sealant as it has rust and corrosion inhibitors in it. Sometimes dawbing the tire bead with Green Slime can get very troublesome beads to seal. I am not a big fan of sliming a tire though as once the tire wears out it can make a messy job out of dismounting the old tire and putting the new one on however a reasonable amount on just the bead can get you past a bead sealing issue.
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Post by oldkid on Jul 9, 2012 12:55:37 GMT -5
Bill, my dad used to own gas stations and he always cleaned the wheel and bead of the tire with soapy water to aid in sealing. Your responses are right on, including the bead sealer.
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Post by billellis on Jul 12, 2012 16:21:40 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone. I sent the tires and rims off to a bike shop and they broke them down to get them clean so they would seal.
Bill
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Post by scootinround68137 on Sept 7, 2012 0:49:47 GMT -5
I worked in a shop most of my life and we always grinded down the rims before putting new tires on. I know most shops don't do this but all rims oxidize from salt and water seeping through the bead. Pretty easy to see once you pop the bead. They sell sanding disks at oreily's auto parts that you can put on a dremel or any other rotary device. If the shop that did your tires did not do this, there is no chance your tires will seal properly.
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Post by skuttadawg on Sept 7, 2012 1:08:04 GMT -5
A friend of mine had a leaky tire he put a inner tube in it and it was ok . Steel wheels can get bent or warped and some of the crappy tires are not exactly perfect in shape . My TaoTao the rear tire came off of the rim 3 times even those it was not low and had to use a strap around the outer edge to get it to seat . I have read where many have had leaks at the valve stem and replaced with the 90 degree bent ones .
Plain water in a spray bottle , a vat or large tank of water to where you can dunk it , and baby powder can help find leaks .
I have had great results with Fix A Flat and forgot about having a bolt in my tire on my truck and 3 months later I saw where the bolt head was worn off . I like to put a tiny bit in with the air pressure a lil low to do a preventive coating then inflate to specs .
Aluminum wheels do not bend but can bust in hard impacts .
When I took a 2 year course in Auto Repair we always wetted the bead with plain old water . I have seen the Zippo lighter fluid trick where one lights it up then puts it out but I DO NOT SUGGEST IT .
Remove the tire and inspect the wheel and tire for defects
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Post by rockynv on Sept 7, 2012 10:09:21 GMT -5
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Post by prodigit on Sept 7, 2012 16:09:32 GMT -5
Something they used to do on my tire replacement store, is paint the tire wall edges (those that will be covered by the rim), with some sort of tar.
It's an oily substance; you probably could use silicon glue as well, but will be left with dirty remnants, or just use plain old grease, or the liquid of fixaflat.
The problem most likely is just grains of sand or some dust, small openings between the rim and tire that needs to be sealed. In case if it's grains or dust, wiping them off will work. In case it's small cracks in the rubber, you must seal with better product like fixaflat, which is basically a rubber in liquid form, that hardens and seals as it hardens!
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Post by rockynv on Sept 8, 2012 8:02:14 GMT -5
Please never use grease or petroleum products to seat a tire. Rubber tires that come into more than just momentary contact with an oil smear will break down and start to fail. On a scooter or motorcycle this is even more critcal due to the potential of a tire failure sending you on a deadly high side fall.
This came from my dads 47 years as a engineer manufacturing tires and industrial rubber products.
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