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Tire repair or fix-a-flat [wire wheels].

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SpannerMan

SpannerMan

Jedi Trainee
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On the way back from the motor vehicle inspection place I ran over a nail and got a flat. My second flat in 2 months since moving here (northern NJ). Hmmm - there might be a pattern emerging, we'll see. I have the 72-spoke w/w with tubes. It is hard to track someone down sometimes who really knows how to work on them, including balance.

So, I am looking for (please!)

a- a referral for someone nearby (Morristown NJ area) who knows how to fix these

or

b- an answer (this should be good for a laugh): I pulled the nail out (it wasn't a very thick one). Can I seal it with a can of fix-a-flat and skip the process of taking the tire somewhere to have it fixed? Given that it's a tube tire it wouldn't make a mess of the tire itself- just the tube if anything. How long does the stuff usually hold up?

Thanks a lot!... Pete
 
Interesting.
There is a product called "Berryman Tire Sealer" which, as described on the bottle, can be used in tubes. I have tried it on a garden tractor wheel with tube and it did not stop the leak.(It is low speed) If I recall correctly the "Green Slime" tire sealer is not recommended for tube type tires.
Anyway, if you are willing to put up with continued (potential) inconvenience it may be worth a try.
On the other hand remember the adage "fix it right, fix it once".

Good luck.
 
Pete,

Not sure if it would actually seal but it could throw the entire balance of the wheel off if the goop settles to one end. In other words the sealent would be a temporary fix at best until you had it repaired anyway. If you can mark the location of the tire to the rim with marker and break one side of the bead you may be able to sneak a new identical tube in. Just make sure the marks line up when you reinflate the tube/tire.
 
I would only use a Fix-a-flat type product in an emergency. It is not designed to be perminant, and will throw off the balance.
You're eventually going to have to find a shop that handles wire wheels sometime anyway. Might as well do the legwork now.
and most likley, the fix-a-flat will seep out of the hole in the tube for a time, till it dries, and make a fine mess between the tire and the tube
 
Gee Spannerman ,Didn't you ever own a bicycle??.Fixing a Punchure on an LBC tire is the same Just need a jack and some parches.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
Get your tire fixed correctly. The tube needs to be repaired with a patch NOTHING LESS, no black magic, snake oil, or bs. Get on the phone and call the tire stores around you to see who still knows this near lost art of tube repair. If "u th man" the tire does not necessarly have to be fully removed from the rim, just one side, in order to get the tube out enough to put the patch on. If you never patched a bike tire, I personnaly would not experiment with the Triumph. you might try places that repair truck tires because they know how to patch a tube but they do NOT know how to handle a wire wheel.
 
You never want to use fix-a-flat except in extreme emergency! the stuff is a real PITA to clean out of the tire, and will cause rusting of the wheel. It also won't do anything for a tube to my knowledge.
 
The red line michelin's that were made for TR6's required a tube and should have one weither you have new or old rims.
 
Thanks guys. Been travelling a few days so I haven't a chance to follow up before now. Trying to sneak the tube out the side to patch it sounds like it might be worth looking at. I have patched bike tires so I know how to go about it. Given the size of the nail I pulled out, I think it's worth a try as long as I use a good size patch. If not, guess I'll try finding a place to work on it.

Pete
 
Also, tubes are cheap so if you would rather not have a patch you could sneak the old tube out and sneak a new tube in.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Gee Spannerman ,Didn't you ever own a bicycle??.Fixing a Punchure on an LBC tire is the same Just need a jack and some parches.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

thats what triple A is for! (AAA) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
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