mrbios
Active Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2019
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- San Diego, California, USA
Tire - Very slow invisible leak - For educational purposes
Symptoms:
My front tire lost a bunch of air. First sign it was hard to turn the handlebars when backing up. Checked pressure at home ~ 8 psi. Filled to 35 psi. Overnight 8 hrs later it fell to 25 psi.
Search for leak:
1. Sprayed bottle filled with soapy water. NO LEAKS Detected - valve stem, beads, tread - rotated front tire with bike on center stand.
2. Filled a special rectangular wood box that looks like a flower bed that hangs under a window and filled the tire to 50 psi - ZERO BUBBLES! 2 hrs later tire shows 50 psi indicating no leaks.
3. Toss water and park bike on side stand and next morning - 12 psi. There IS A LEAK!
Solution:
Bought ~ 12 oz can of Supertech Walmart brand generic fix-a-flat for $8. Note: do not remove the valve stem, shake can well, Let out rest of air and inflate then top off with regular air and go for a ride 5 mile ride ideally on the highway. Problem solved.
The first time I came across this problem with on my 250cc scooter in the rear tire. I removed the wheel and submerged the tire - ZERO BUBBLES and no loss of air until tire reinstalled and weight on tire. I inspected the tire and there was single a thin metal piece about the thickness of a tack - however when in the water there were no bubbles at that location. I pulled the metal out and applied a standard tire patch inside the tire - 4K miles later no leaks and replaced that now bald tire.
Moral of the story: You CAN have a tire leak and completely submerse the tire and see NO AIR BUBBLES and have NO DROP in PRESSURE as long as the wheel is not mounted. I have proof - a video of the scooter tire and the Honda tire.
Symptoms:
My front tire lost a bunch of air. First sign it was hard to turn the handlebars when backing up. Checked pressure at home ~ 8 psi. Filled to 35 psi. Overnight 8 hrs later it fell to 25 psi.
Search for leak:
1. Sprayed bottle filled with soapy water. NO LEAKS Detected - valve stem, beads, tread - rotated front tire with bike on center stand.
2. Filled a special rectangular wood box that looks like a flower bed that hangs under a window and filled the tire to 50 psi - ZERO BUBBLES! 2 hrs later tire shows 50 psi indicating no leaks.
3. Toss water and park bike on side stand and next morning - 12 psi. There IS A LEAK!
Solution:
Bought ~ 12 oz can of Supertech Walmart brand generic fix-a-flat for $8. Note: do not remove the valve stem, shake can well, Let out rest of air and inflate then top off with regular air and go for a ride 5 mile ride ideally on the highway. Problem solved.
The first time I came across this problem with on my 250cc scooter in the rear tire. I removed the wheel and submerged the tire - ZERO BUBBLES and no loss of air until tire reinstalled and weight on tire. I inspected the tire and there was single a thin metal piece about the thickness of a tack - however when in the water there were no bubbles at that location. I pulled the metal out and applied a standard tire patch inside the tire - 4K miles later no leaks and replaced that now bald tire.
Moral of the story: You CAN have a tire leak and completely submerse the tire and see NO AIR BUBBLES and have NO DROP in PRESSURE as long as the wheel is not mounted. I have proof - a video of the scooter tire and the Honda tire.