Do factory cast wheels leak air??
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 190
From: Penticton BC Canada
Do factory cast wheels leak air??
I have an 05 RK custom with chrome plated factory cast wheels.
When I bought the bike last October I brought it home and spent 3 days cleaning and going over everything. At that time both the tires were low, the back was a brand new Metzeller and the front was the factory original that was about 2/3 worn out. Over the winter I replaced the front with a new Michelin C2.
I finally got to ride the bike in May when the weather cleaned up. The first ride felt a bit funky, so I went back home and checked the tires, they were at 25-20 psi.
Over the last 5 months and 6000 miles I've aired up the tires about 4 times, they seem to lose about 4-8 psi per month each, and they lose the same amount front and back.
Its not the tires and I doubt its the valve stems, at least I can't find any leaks.
????
When I bought the bike last October I brought it home and spent 3 days cleaning and going over everything. At that time both the tires were low, the back was a brand new Metzeller and the front was the factory original that was about 2/3 worn out. Over the winter I replaced the front with a new Michelin C2.
I finally got to ride the bike in May when the weather cleaned up. The first ride felt a bit funky, so I went back home and checked the tires, they were at 25-20 psi.
Over the last 5 months and 6000 miles I've aired up the tires about 4 times, they seem to lose about 4-8 psi per month each, and they lose the same amount front and back.
Its not the tires and I doubt its the valve stems, at least I can't find any leaks.
????
is the ambient temperature changing a lot in your area well give you loss air pressure or the chrome on the wheel is allowing the air pressure to weep out of the bead of the tire or not
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 80
From: currently an Okie
factory wheels leak air
I have an 05 RK custom with chrome plated factory cast wheels.
When I bought the bike last October I brought it home and spent 3 days cleaning and going over everything. At that time both the tires were low, the back was a brand new Metzeller and the front was the factory original that was about 2/3 worn out. Over the winter I replaced the front with a new Michelin C2.
I finally got to ride the bike in May when the weather cleaned up. The first ride felt a bit funky, so I went back home and checked the tires, they were at 25-20 psi.
Over the last 5 months and 6000 miles I've aired up the tires about 4 times, they seem to lose about 4-8 psi per month each, and they lose the same amount front and back.
Its not the tires and I doubt its the valve stems, at least I can't find any leaks.
????
When I bought the bike last October I brought it home and spent 3 days cleaning and going over everything. At that time both the tires were low, the back was a brand new Metzeller and the front was the factory original that was about 2/3 worn out. Over the winter I replaced the front with a new Michelin C2.
I finally got to ride the bike in May when the weather cleaned up. The first ride felt a bit funky, so I went back home and checked the tires, they were at 25-20 psi.
Over the last 5 months and 6000 miles I've aired up the tires about 4 times, they seem to lose about 4-8 psi per month each, and they lose the same amount front and back.
Its not the tires and I doubt its the valve stems, at least I can't find any leaks.
????
No, the wheels don't leak.
If you are losing air pressure, it's either bead leak or valve leak.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 190
From: Penticton BC Canada
I agree that they shouldn't leak. The chrome is good, no corrosion or pitting, the beads are clean, I haven't been able to find any leaks around the stems.
Both tires leak down about the same. I've never had a vehicle that leaks down as slowly and evenly as this.
Back in the seventies factory cast wheels still had tubes because the castings were sometimes porous. I didn't think leaky wheels were likely these day's but thought I'd check with you'all.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 39
From: Central Florida
WTF are you guys talking about they shouldn't lose some pressure? Call it leaking or whatever.. every car I own and bike I've owned has done it to some degree. 8 psi seems a bit high for a month but 4 certainly doesn't. I check my cars every couple months and try to do the bike every month..
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
The tires themselves leak down over time, I check my tire pressure often and end up putting a few lbs in more often than not. I never go more than a month without checking the pressure.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 283
Likes: 3
From: Guymon, OK
I bought a brand new '13 SG about a year and a half ago. Seemed like the front tire kept losing pressure. Got down and looked....had dry rot all around the side wall. Didn't figure that was the problem with it leaking, but took it in to the dealer I bought it from. They replaced the front tire and I figured that would fix the leak problem too. Went on a deployment...came back, front tire was flat again. It'd go flat in about five or six days. I called the dealership and told them about it. I live two hours or so from Amarillo. Tripps had a truck with a trailer in my area so they picked it up. Turned out the front wheel had a pin hole in the casting. They replaced it for free. Tripps Harley in Amarillo is a really good dealership though.
If you're losing more than a couple lbs a month I'd say you have a bead problem or a valve stem problem. Did you try the soapy water trick?
If you're losing more than a couple lbs a month I'd say you have a bead problem or a valve stem problem. Did you try the soapy water trick?
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
There are several ways a tyre can loose air: valve; valve stem; around the tyre bead if not seated well; the carcass itself. There is no such thing as air-tight rubber, so over an extended period of time a tyre will naturally lose pressure. In addition atmospheric changes cause fluctuations of pressure, both up and down. 8psi a month sounds excessive, yet both wheels indicates it is a common problem. If the chrome extends onto the tyre seat that may be the source of the problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,624
Likes: 4,078
From: Virginia
Check the tire pressure once a month. Never had a bike that didn't loose couple of psi every month. 4 psi is probably ok, would worry about anything more than that.
Good investment is a portable air inflator/charger and a digital tp gauge.
Good investment is a portable air inflator/charger and a digital tp gauge.