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SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:47 pm
by Paul B
JUST PUT ALL NEW TIRES & TUBES ON MY 1913 TOURING T. THE SLOW LEAKS ARE DRIVING ME BONKERS, EVEREY FEW WEEKS THE PRESSURE IS DOWN ON ALL. I'M THINKING OF USING STOP LEAK / FLAT RERAIR COMPOUND. ANY THOUGHTS WILL BE MOST APPREECIATED. THANKS, PAUL

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:02 am
by mtntee20
Paul,

I sure understand your feelings and frustration. Keep in mind, most tire sealants will cause patches NOT to stick to the tube OR inside a tubeless regular tire, wherever the sealant has flowed. As with most things, there are advantages and disadvantages.

Good Luck,
Terry

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:16 am
by Art Ebeling
I just had the same trouble with my new tubes/tires. After replacing the valve stem cores the leaks stopped. I think the problem is the valve stem threads were rough not allowing the cores to tighten/seat properly. Art

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:35 am
by Humblej
Art has it. Try reseating the schrader valve. Loosen them a couple of turns, then tighten.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 2:47 am
by Alan Long
I have eliminated valve leakage as my issue with Tubes dropping pressure. I fitted metal covers and they are bubble tight but still drop pressure. Until we demand tubes being 100% Butyl the issue will continue. To date I believe the Hartford brand
are the best available. Alan

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:07 am
by Allan
If a tube will not hold air, it is not fit for the purpose for which it is made and sold. Perhaps they should be replaced by the vendor. He/they need to sort this out with their suppliers. Tubes used to hold air, so it's not unreasonable to expect them to do so now.

Allan from down under.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:56 am
by Henry K. Lee
You are not alone!

Thinking you are buying quality and then you just think it was trapped air in between tube and tire after 4-5 times..., not.

I have to test my new tubes before installing! Pretty sad when 1 out of 5 fails!

Hank

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:57 am
by Charlie B in N.J.
Put a drop of water on the end of the valve stem. if it's leaking you'll see a bubble form. At least it'll eliminate them if that's the problem.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:06 am
by agriscience
At one time we replaced the air with nitrogen gas to improve the pressure drop!
Any inert NON FLAMABLE gas would work!(argon, nitrogen, freon)
Happy Days!

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 1:33 pm
by Erik Johnson
You can't trust anything these days. Before installing a brand new tube, test it for leaks in a bucket of water, laundry tube or bath tub.

Leaks at the base of the brass stem where it meets the rubber casing is a common problem.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:10 pm
by BE_ZERO_BE
It may not be a leak at all.
I have seen this phenomena before.
When a tube inflates there is trapped air between the tube and the tire.
Over time this trapped air seeps out and the tube appears to loose air.
This effect will dissipate over time and the tubes should old pressure.

One technique I use is to inflate the tube until it holds its shape.
Then I push the valve stem back into the rim and bleed this trapped air out.
This greatly reduces the "leak-over-time" effect.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:12 pm
by Scott_Conger
Hank!

what's your beef?

Darn car only has 4 on the ground!

Sounds like you've all but hit the lottery!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:45 pm
by Henry K. Lee
My Asian cousins from afar are failing me Scott! Next family reunion they will hear what I have to say! The big problem..., they no speaking my dialect!

Hank

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 6:23 am
by Allan
If you blokes bought a new refrigerator and it wouldn't keep food cold, would you not go back to the seller for a replacement? Why are faulty tubes something to be worked around to try and make them work as they should? Is it not the seller's responsibility to sell goods fit for purpose?
I don't get it.

Allan from down under.

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 9:01 am
by hah
Made in america??? Or ???

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 5:42 am
by Alan Long
738 Views on this subject. This makes me think the issue is very wide spread. I’m going to contact the two companies
in the UK again to ask if they have geared up to make quality 100% Butyl Tubes with the original thickness material yet.
Another option were the Metric version Michelin Tubes.
Any UK T Folk care to comment on this subject?
Alan

Re: SLOW LEAKS

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:18 am
by modeltbarn
Make sure the valve ores are tight.

Use the metal caps that have a small rubber seal inside them, not the cheap plastic ones.