[Turbo329]

I discovered that my rear tire has a slow leak today. About 2 .psi every 3+ hours or so.

I examined the tire today and could not find any nails, screws, or any foreign objects lodged in the tire but is definitely a slow leak. It's really weird. The tire only has about 500 street miles on it.

I was thinking about using some 'Flat Fix' tomorrow just to get it through the first part of winter and was wondering if any of you have any experience with that. I just want to keep the tire on there until I swap it out for my Jennings track day in January I will eventually put a new tire on there but didn't want to throw it on so early.

Anybody ever used Flat Fix on a motorcycle tire before?

 

[Dezmo]

check the valve stem. The rubber one deteriorate over time and can leak, crud can get stuck in the valve and cause a leak, or the core can loosen and cause a leak as well.

Also check the bead area with soapy water. If possible, remove the wheel and lay it on its side, then fill up the bead area with soapy water and let it sit...if it looks foamy after a few min, you might have corrosion on the wheel.

if all else fails, fill your tub with water and partially sink the wheel. you wont be able to get the entire wheel under water (you dont want to submerge the bearings anyway), but youll be able to check it in sections and look for bubbles.

I personally dont trust sealers, they just make a mess when you decide to change the tire, and the idea of liquid sloshing around in my tires doesnt sound appealing to me. :twocents

 

[Turbo329]

check the valve stem. The rubber one deteriorate over time and can leak, crud can get stuck in the valve and cause a leak, or the core can loosen and cause a leak as well.

I was thinking this as well. It could very well be the valve stem and it is rubber.

Also I didn't consider the mess that I would encounter when I change the tire if I use Fix-a-flat. lol

See that's why I come here. Thanks.

 

[ccolwell]

Take off the valve stem cap and spread a little spit on the top of the stem to see if its leaking there. If so, pull the Schrader valve and clean it with WD40.

 

[Turbo329]

Take off the valve stem cap and spread a little spit on the top of the stem to see if its leaking there. If so, pull the Schrader valve and clean it with WD40.

Thanks. I'm going to give that a shot.

 

[Dezmo]

if there are any issues with the valve stem or core, replace the entire stem. They are cheap and are easy enough to replace. Or you could upgrade to a permanent bolt in type for some more $$.

 

[Turbo329]

YEah, it's a really slow leak. I filled it up to 39psi yesterday around 5pm and this morning was at 29psi. So it's about 10psi every 15 hours. So it does seem like it's coming from the valve stem/core.

 

[Dezmo]

YEah, it's a really slow leak. I filled it up to 39psi yesterday around 5pm and this morning was at 29psi. So it's about 10psi every 15 hours. So it does seem like it's coming from the valve stem/core.

dont rule out a puncture, Ive seen really slow leaks that turned out to be small punctures I only found by submerging the tire.

 

[jaymags]

Stay away from the fix a flat stuff..It will unbalance your wheel badly..like everbody else said, check the stem and bead around the wheel...

I put some of that stuff in the right front tire of my GT500, for a short term fix, once I hit 50 mph the front end vibrated like crazy...got home took the tire off and had a lot of fun cleaning up the wheel and sensor..not really

 

[banda]

Fix a flat will get you home when you get a puncture on the road, but I personally can't stand riding a bike with goop in the rear tire. Maybe it's all in my head, but it just doesn't feel right, even on the street.

Make sure you're replacing your valve stems with every other tire change.

 

[fotomoto]

I would consider a couple of pounds per week a slow leak.

I picked up some glass shards in my 51's rear tire on a long day ride. Came out of the cafe after lunch to find the bike standing nearly straight up after the rear went completely flat. I was about 50 miles from home with no tire repair kit so fix-a-flat was the answer.

Side note: three hardley f*cks were eating at the same cafe and we parked in the next slot by them. They left before us but not one of them came back in to tell us about the flat or that it was about to fall over (very windy day). :banghead

Yup it makes a mess: