Tire plugging

Post by **Daryl_stamp** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:06 pm

Ever wonder how well those plug kits that come with the bike work?
Ever take comfort in knowing that it's there, just in case, even though you're clueless about how well they work.
Ever wonder if you've got the nads to make that thing work alongside the road in, say, rural Appalachia, with the banjo's dueling in the distance..., at night..., hearing the occasional pig squeal..............?

Well, did ya?

I was always pretty smug thinking this little jewel of a kit was right under my behind for those rare emergencies.

Time for a new rear. Time to learn how well that little kit works. Learned the value of training in the Navy, if for no other reason than to know firsthand that your OBA works and you really can put out that 20ft high fire working w/ 5 guys you never met before.

I drove the screw in, jammed it around some & screwed it out; didn't leak much until I reamed the hole per the instructions. Next time, I'll be sure to have the plug ready the second the reamer comes out, to minimize air loss. By the time I got the plug gooped up the tire was so flat I could push it in halfway to the rim.

How's this thing supposed to get in there if it breaks when I try to shove it in?

WTHDIDN (What The Hell Do I Do Now?)
Found this in the bottom of my toolbox, been in there since I drove home from NAS JAX in '90.

Goes in, stays in, holds air?

Used up all three cartridges, only got up to 20psi. Time to improvise; didn't kill the battery or overheat the bike using this, but only got it up to 30 PSI because the thing works so slow. Figured 30 was enough to get to the gas station air.

I'll be looking for the world famous Cycle Pump or equivalent over the next week or so, this things just too big.

Realized I better stash some quarters in my took kit if I plan on using one at the gas station in the future.
Took it for a ride to the gas station, realized I left my air gage at home. Better make sure I keep one in my jacket AND in the tool kit, because I'm stupid enough to lose one of them. Then I realized there was a gage on the air hose at the gas station. Took it up to 40psi. Ran some errands, took a few back roads, came home w/o incident, seems to be holding air;

Learned several things;
1. I'm not sophisticated enough to use the Teutonic version (or maybe the plugs were as old as the bike; '02) or maybe those plugs are just a little too fancy of a design.
2. The Wally World stuff sometimes holds up, even longer than the Teutonic version, sometimes for decades, sometimes simpler is better. Looking for guidance from somebody with more experience as to what is best and why.
3. Three CO2 cartridges work, sorta; I'm buying one of those electric inflators to stash on the bike somewhere
4. Keep some quarters in the tool kit, and leave them there for actual emergencies, not a jones for java
5. Latex gloves will have a permanent place in the tool kit with the Wally plug stuff and quarters and tire pressure gage
6. Riding on a plugged tire isn't my idea of fun, but I know I can do it if I really have to, at least if the hole is pluggable
7. A little preparation & training brings a lot of peace of mind (sorta)

Post by **AndyRR** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:49 am

I would also add:
8. Fingernails should be painted to match purty pink toenails.

Seriously - I have put thousands of miles on those inexpensive plugs on both bikes and cars. Not one problem

Post by **Daryl_stamp** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:41 am

You caught me; I really made MLW do all the work while I was surfing.

DLS

Photoguy · Post by **Photoguy** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:48 am

Good to know. I've carried the wally world kit with me through 3 different bikes now and never have had the need to actually use it. btw +1 on the nail polish!!

jeepinbanditrider · Post by **jeepinbanditrider** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:57 am

mnnden · Post by **mnnden** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:05 am

Great report!!!! I agree on the practice, it makes a person a little more comfortable when the situation arises in the field Thanks Den

Post by **Daryl_stamp** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:16 pm

The plug held air for a local ride and didn't lose any pressure overnight.
Good, a little boost to the traveling confidence.

Changed the rear tire today, first time ever.
Took less time than I expected, although I wasn't quite done in time to take it to Church, so we took the boring car.

Finished torquing the wheel studs & caliper bolts this afternoon, did some spring cleanup and we were off for our first ride on my freshly & personally installed tire.
I intended to take it out for a check run by myself, but MLW was keen to go & was up for participating in the operational check.

Did around 100 miles roundtrip to our favorite gelato place and the only hitch was that I forgot to remove the old wheel weights when I put in the Dynabeads. Took them off around 2/3 of the way through the trip, didn't really notice a difference. Only problem I see so far is that plugging a tire will likely muck up the operation of the dynabeads.

DLS

mnnden · Post by **mnnden** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:31 pm

DLS, Do you have a tire changer? if so what model, I am seriously thinking about one, Thanks Den

Post by **bikermeow** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:42 pm

I've often volunteered to patch my mates' bikes when I can to get the practice.

Yes, the BMW plugs are next to useless (unless I do not know how to use them) they break on me too.

The "worms" on the other hand are great. I know that patching is a supposed to be a temporary fix but I have ridden about 5,000 km on a patch with no issues. YMMV. BTW, I usually trim off the ends; and often wonder whether that was necessary?

The Slime 41 airpump is great but for the fact that it has no built-in gauge. The Cyclepump while looking better is kinda expensive at more than US$100. I have not tried a bicycle handpump - any views?

Airman · Post by **Airman** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:24 am

Here's my only flat. This occurred at 18k so I just changed the tire out, but I intend to do a practice plug when my StopnGo plugger kit gets here.
This is like a 3" nail. Didn't leak a pound until I pulled it out. It made me worry all the way home from work though.

Post by **Boxer** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:35 am

Airman,
You mention the Stop-n-Go plugger. My experience with this kit is that it is almost useless. I've plugged a tire that leaked down just setting in the garage. Others I have met have had similar experience on the road, with it not holding for very long. I now carry the the little tool that Daryl shows in his first post, along with some of those rubber worm things. There's supposed to be a better plug that is like the worm but blue....self vulcanizing rubber...or some such description. There was a write-up in one of the ON mags a short time ago, citing one company that sells the kit. I can't recall the company right now but the kit shipping was so high I didn't order it. I imagine you can purchase the same type worms at WalMart or NAPA.

My air pump is a $12 WalMart variety that I removed from the plastic outside case and reduced it down to a size that fits under the rear edge of the gas tank wrapped in a baggy and hot wired to my Centech fuse block. I just take the seat off, pull it out, attach the locking hose end and turn on the switch. It has a tendency, on rare occasions, to blow a fuse when first starting up, but I keep a spare fuse anyway.

Post by **rdsmith3** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:44 am

I have the string type tire repair kit. I just bought one from Harbor Freight for a cheap price. I also carry the Cycle Pump.

I recently discarded the BMW plug kit. I figured it was just taking up space.

Post by **NoRRmad** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:49 am

I used the Stop-n-Go once, riding south on I-15 out of Las Vegas. It was hot out. After I made it to the side of the road, I took off my riding suit, had a good long drink of water and sat in the shade of my bike for quite a while, reading the instructions -- which are not quite obvious. Once I was pretty sure I understood the directions, the procedure was pretty simple. The only hinkey part was pulling on the plug after it went in, to seat the mushroom-head; I was afraid of pulling it out all the way. One hint I got from a tech (afterwards) was to ream the puncture "until your arm got tired," which was what I did. I think that if the hole isn't big enough, the air pressure won't push the head tight to the inside of the tire, allowing a slow leak.

I took seriously the instructions to not exceed 55 MPH, or to go more than a couple of hundred miles on the plug, and the tire held just fine, even through an overnight sit in a motel parking lot.

jeepinbanditrider · Post by **jeepinbanditrider** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:16 pm

I've got thousands of miles both four and two wheeled riding on tire plugs that have not failed (knock on wood). But I only use the "cheapo" worm/stringy tire plugs.

Maybe the "mushroom" style plugs have a limitation.

Airman · Post by **Airman** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:43 pm

jeepinbanditrider wrote:I've got thousands of miles both four and two wheeled riding on tire plugs that have not failed (knock on wood). But I only use the "cheapo" worm/stringy tire plugs.

Maybe the "mushroom" style plugs have a limitation.

I've installed scores of the string type repairs when I worked at a truck repair place. I have also seen them leak. My technique was to use two of the strings. I figured if I had to struggle to pull them back through the hole they were tighter than just one. The reason I'm looking at the plugger is because if you think about it, there's not much keeping that string in there, and the steel belts are sawing around on it. StopnGo's website has a demo video that shows the install. They say to pull the plug out 2" to seat it, then cut it off flush. Cerrtainly if you loose that plug after reaming a bigger hole in the tire the air will leave quickly. The real fix, assuming you want to keep the tire, is a vulcanized plug and patch repair installed from the inside of the tire. I had one of these done on a car tire some years ago, and it lasted for the life of the tire.

jeepinbanditrider · Post by **jeepinbanditrider** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:28 pm

I've never (once again knock on wood lol) had a worm/string type repair fail on me and even then that's operating the tire till the end of it's life.

Post by **Buckster** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:44 pm

jeepinbanditrider wrote:I've never (once again knock on wood lol) had a worm/string type repair fail on me and even then that's operating the tire till the end of it's life.

Me either.....but I've never used one on a bike....but I have some if I need them.
I think I like rdsmith's idea about the BMW plugs!!! I have no idea if they would work and I don't know how to use them either!

Post by **Daryl_stamp** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:51 pm

mnnden wrote:DLS, Do you have a tire changer? if so what model, I am seriously thinking about one, Thanks Den

No, just 11" tire irons, vise grips & some wood. Check out youtube for a guy changing his tire on the cheap. I broke the bead w/ a fencepost, vice grips & the wood. Batteries are dead in the camera right now, will post pic later.

Used to think I needed special tools for everything, now I balance use vs. space vs. cost; I'd rather have the space & the $ and the practice w/ roadside repair at home.

YMMV.

DLS

Daryl.Stamp · Post by **Daryl.Stamp** » Thu May 14, 2009 6:02 pm

Changed the front last night (only my 2nd tire change); much easier than I used to think.
The Dyna Beads are easy to install too.

Rode around 300 miles today, no problems.

If you've ever thought of trying to change your own tires, check out some of the clips on youtube & give it a try. You'll never go back to paying someone else to do it.

DLS

mnnden · Post by **mnnden** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:05 am

Thanks for the information, I have changed tires, but that was a long time ago, I would like to start again, (I kind of like doing it) so I'm a little crazy, Thanks again, Den

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