Flat tire help
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 280
From: Russellville, Arkansas
RE: Flat tire help
800 miles on the tire.....I would probably try plugging it.
Someone else mentioned installing a tube.....that is another feasible idea.
It is getting more and more difficult to find someone that will repair a motorcycle tire.....been lots of lawsuits over the years. Most insurance companies do not allow the dealers to repair tires either....all due to increasingly lawsuits and liabilty. I sure do miss the good ole' days.....any service station use to be glad to help someone out. Not anymore........
Someone else mentioned installing a tube.....that is another feasible idea.
It is getting more and more difficult to find someone that will repair a motorcycle tire.....been lots of lawsuits over the years. Most insurance companies do not allow the dealers to repair tires either....all due to increasingly lawsuits and liabilty. I sure do miss the good ole' days.....any service station use to be glad to help someone out. Not anymore........
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: Flat tire help
After plugging, and if not installing a tube, I'd add a can of Ride On.
http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp
http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 34
From: Ca
RE: Flat tire help
Read this today, then went into the garage to do some work. I have a nail right in the center of the front tire. The shop wants $250 for a new tire. Can someone please name a good plug kit? I assume I just buy it at the local auto parts store.
Thanks
Thanks
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
RE: Flat tire help
I bought a plug-n-go kit. I had a nail in a rear tire with only a few miles on it, I knew there would be times that over the life of that tire I would make some 80+ mph runs so I decided to replace it. But I decided I need a plug kit to get me home in case it happened again. So for practice I used the plug kit on the old tire. The mushroom type plug was pretty impressive, on the inside of the tire the plug looked good enough that I might just might try it if it happened again. It's deffently better than the rope type plugs.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
RE: Flat tire help
OK An update....
I decided to plug... dug out my old tire plug kit..... cleaned the spot to plug... got the plug ready.... and DANG IT ALL TO HECK... My rtubber cement was all dried out.....
SO I go to my mountain bike repair kit...... find a full tube of rubber cement... sweet... untwist the cap.... IT is all dried out also!!!! CRAP!
Well long story short... I bought a whole school issue bottle of the stuff..... Plugged the hole with the kit..... and rode to the auto parts store.... I now carry in my ride along with the issue tool kit:
Plug kit
Bottle of Rubber cement
Needle nosed pliers
12 Volt compressor (it is only about 7 inches by 5 inches and 4-5 inches tall. ---Now I just need to buy the accessory plug kit)
A can of Fix a Flat.
---I also seen these cool chrome air stem caps... had to get those also... but that is besides the point...[8D]
Anyways... did 50 miles today on it... got home... the plug was stable and pressure looked good.
I decided to plug... dug out my old tire plug kit..... cleaned the spot to plug... got the plug ready.... and DANG IT ALL TO HECK... My rtubber cement was all dried out.....
SO I go to my mountain bike repair kit...... find a full tube of rubber cement... sweet... untwist the cap.... IT is all dried out also!!!! CRAP!
Well long story short... I bought a whole school issue bottle of the stuff..... Plugged the hole with the kit..... and rode to the auto parts store.... I now carry in my ride along with the issue tool kit:
Plug kit
Bottle of Rubber cement
Needle nosed pliers
12 Volt compressor (it is only about 7 inches by 5 inches and 4-5 inches tall. ---Now I just need to buy the accessory plug kit)
A can of Fix a Flat.
---I also seen these cool chrome air stem caps... had to get those also... but that is besides the point...[8D]
Anyways... did 50 miles today on it... got home... the plug was stable and pressure looked good.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
RE: Flat tire help
Never Patch A Tire, It Is Your Life.
[IMG]local://upfiles/41735/46DF41542BAB4AC29D445F75DDB81465.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/41735/46DF41542BAB4AC29D445F75DDB81465.jpg[/IMG]
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor, MI
RE: Flat tire help
Must be bad 08 luck. I picked up a screw in the rear tire at 1000 miles. I replaced the tire. I ride 2 up a lot and do a lot of rather long trips with lots of luggage. Guess I'm just chicken. I gave the tire to my buddy who hads tube type tires on his laced wheels. If you do decide to plug, the best is the kind that have a patch built on the plug. You have to remove the tire, but the plug with patch is put on from the inside, pretty much eliminating the chance of it coming out. Did this on a Sporty about 3 years ago and it is still working fine. see ya Ken
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Flat tire help
Check out the back of your Genuine HD Service Manual. It will tell you the procedure for plugging a tire. Dealers don't want to plug a tire to make more $ off of the sale of a new tire.
If I were scared of a plug, I'd tube it and ride on. I definitely would not throw away a tire with only 800 miles on it.
To all of you "replace it" guys: Please send me your nail punctured tires with good tread on them. I will gladly wear them out for you.
If I were scared of a plug, I'd tube it and ride on. I definitely would not throw away a tire with only 800 miles on it.
To all of you "replace it" guys: Please send me your nail punctured tires with good tread on them. I will gladly wear them out for you.