Fixing a flat in the middle of nowhere

[Mike188]

Hi Ken

I have a kit like this tucked under my seat, its a hassle to push an R3 when the tires are up, nigh impossible with a flat...

X-tech emergency tyre repair kit (also replacement plugs and glue), Repair kits, motorcycle, tyres, parts, accessories, Auckland | Cycletreads Most bike shops will have them for sale.

Purchasing this has ensured that I will never actually get a flat now. Seems to work. I have not used my kit ever but friends have similar ones and swear by them, need lots of gas for R3 tyre so carry both spare bottles.

As Zone3 says if its leaking round the bead call AA as there's no way the tiny cylinders have the guts to push the bead back into place and seal it.

Have something similar, haven't had to use it on the R3R yet, but did use it on another riders bike that copped a nail in the rear tyre, worked ok and got them to a servo
On a side note, another mate with an Rocket, for the hell of it removed all the air from the rear tyre and then used the CO2 bombs to reinflate it, took 8 of them to get it up to riding pressure to get to a servo, so I now carry 8 CO2 bombs all the time..............

 

[ZoneIII]

Thanks for your replies, folks, but I think the thread got a little side-tracked. My question is about how to get the bead back on the rim if it's seal is broken. I've already ordered a very good compressor and patching kit but that's not the issue I'm concerned with. As I mentioned, I know that some use a ratchet strap (and I see cusso ken is prepared with such a strap). I'm not a member of AAA and, being a very self-reliant person, by nature, I won't be. Also, I don't want my bike being loaded up and hauled by AAA or anyone else unless absolutely necessary and I will be in very remote places. So my question is specifically about how to deal with a broken seal of the bead and the rim.

There is a show on TV available for streaming on Amazon or Netflix (I can't remember the name off-hand) where they demonstrate various tricks to solve problems. In one episode, the problem was how to seal the bead to the rim on a car tire - the subject of my original question. The solutions were the ratchet strap and and a quick shot of starting fluid. The starting fluid method worked beautifully. It worked like this: A quick shot of starting fluid is shot into the tire. By quick, I mean just a quick squirt for a fraction of a second. Then a match or lighter was held at the bead of the tire and the starting fluid explodes and the tire is instantly popped onto the rim creating a seal. I'm betting you can see this technique demonstrated on YouTube if you search. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has any other methods for solving this problem as I rather not pack a can of starting fluid. If not, I may just carry a can of starting fluid and a lighter on long trips. Believe it or not, it really works. If anyone has any more suggestions besides calling AA, etc., I'd like to hear them.

 

[ZoneIII]

The Stop and Go kit with a compressor is the go, I had a cut back tyre from a sharp stone and the cord hole type repair was useless, the stop and go has a mushroom head that will deal a large cut or hole,
also don't waste you money on Co2 canisters as you will need a bucket full of them to get the tyre any where near inflated...... Only speaking from experience

Thanks. That's useful information. The thread got a bit side-tracked but you've answered one of my questions indirectly. I had wondered if a C02 capsule could blast enough air in a tire to seal the bead to the rim. From what you are saying, it can't. (I had no plan on using it to inflate tires. I was only interested in whether it would blast the bead to the rim causing a seal.) I've ordered the best compressor available and plug kits but I'll check out the Stop and Go kit you mentioned. I did see them but didn't follow through on them. I'll check the out right now and probably add that to my kit. Thanks!

 

[BenchracerBob]

Thanks. That's useful information. The thread got a bit side-tracked but you've answered one of my questions indirectly. I had wondered if a C02 capsule could blast enough air in a tire to seal the bead to the rim. From what you are saying, it can't. (I had no plan on using it to inflate tires. I was only interested in whether it would blast the bead to the rim causing a seal.) I've ordered the best compressor available and plug kits but I'll check out the Stop and Go kit you mentioned. I did see them but didn't follow through on them. I'll check the out right now and probably add that to my kit. Thanks!

Had a few flats myself but never had the bead come off a tubeless tyre. But I did have a rear flat on my old Vulcan 1500 and the bead still never came off, unfortunately with a tubed tyre the ride is over, never had any success with the 'goo in a can, and had no way of removing the wheel away from home.

 

[ZoneIII]

Had a few flats myself but never had the bead come off a tubeless tyre. But I did have a rear flat on my old Vulcan 1500 and the bead still never came off, unfortunately with a tubed tyre the ride is over, never had any success with the 'goo in a can, and had no way of removing the wheel away from home.

I had a couple flats with tubed tires on my '69 Bonneville back in the late 60s and early 70s. I fixed them on the spot but,of course,that bike had a stand and removing the wheels was no problem.

I've had the beads break their seal on yard machines and tools (rototillers, wheel barrows, etc.) and it was a PITA to get them to seal even with my big shop compressor. What usually did the trick was whacking the tires with a mallet while pumping in air. At some point, the bead would momentarily touch the rim all the way around and then things are fine. But that would be impossible with a motorcycle tire. But, recently, as I mentioned, I saw the trick of using a ratcheting strap to compress the tire and force the bead to the rim. That would also be difficult, I think, on a roadside repair. But the starting fluid method worked so well in demonstrations that it's something to consider and I'm going to try it the next time I find one of the tires flat on a machine, wheel barrow, etc. If you try it, just remember that a very quick blast of the fluid is all that's needed even for a car tire. Check YouTube for videos demonstrating the method if you're curious.

 

[ZoneIII]

Check these out. There's nothing like seeing something done...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=starting+fluid+seal+tire+to+wheel

 

[mully95]

Yeah I've used the starting fluid trick a time or two inflating truck tires.

Most of the time it is necessary to remove the valve core to get enough air to flow in while man handling the tire to get it to seat. With the valve core installed it doesn't get enough air fast enough. Just wanted to throw that pointer out there.

 

[cusso ken]

You are dead set right Mully , taking the valve core out is the trick to reseat the tyre on the bead if a big shot of air is available ,also taking the weight of the tyre is important, on the Touring the bike will lay on the bars if you gently lay it over and take the weight of the tyre

 

[Fingers]

Most m/C tires for cruisers have pretty stout sidewalls so the bead breaking loose should not be a problem.I had a rear tire blow out on my C109RT and rode about 1/2 a mile to get off the road and the bead was still in contact with the wheel.

 

[cr0ft]

Quite aside from the bead seating thing, I'd also say "stop n go" over the usual rope plug thing. The stop n go kits actually insert a mushroom shaped plug on the inside of the tire, and the "mushroom head" is then pressed against the hole by the air pressure inside the tire. I think their system is seriously clever and probably can be trusted (in most cases) to actually be a permanent fix.

The mini compressor is pretty crap though from everything I read. Better than gas canisters, but painfully slow.

I was thinking of one of these, but they're a bit bigger. But I could probably wedge it into my now empty air box... Edit: stopped waffling about it and ordered one, won't exactly break the bank.

RAC630 | 12v Automatic Digital Compressor with LED Light | Air Compressors | Ring Automotive

Also, I'm getting one of these, just for ****s n giggles. Not sure it can handle the Rocket, but if it can being able to spin the rear wheel during flat repair should be very helpful. In fact, worst case scenario and if desperate enough, you might be able to get the entire wheel clean off. Maybe. Not that I'd ever try.

Snapjack

Worth $50 to give it a whirl. I'll post about it working or not working once I get it.