How to Fix a Slow Tire Leak

[TerryR]

One of the front tires on my JD 870 has a slow leak. The fronts on the 870 are fairly small, R-1, but loaded.

I've not attempted to fix a tire since I patched an bicycle inner tube 40 years ago, so need some advice.

I've found the leak - a small pinhole in the middle of the tread, between the bars. When I park it with the leak down, it leaks liquid, and when it's parked with the leak up just air bubbles slowly coming up through the wet hole.

I think it's tubeless. I remember I bought tubes when I got new tires a few years back, but as I recall when the guy came out to install them he found the originals were tubeless and decided to install tubeless again. That seems to agree with the observation that as soon as I park with the hole up the water stops. How can I be sure?

Assuming it is tubeless, I'm thinking a plug would fix it. That right?

How hard is it for someone with no experience to install one? Does all the air pressure have to be released to do it? Can I leave the liquid in if I release the air pressure?

 

[Peter 315]

Re: Fixing a Slow Tire Leak

I use this brand and plug with the tire aired up........Tire Plug Kits, Fix Flat Tire, Tire Repair Tools | Safety Seal

 

[jaxs]

One of the front tires on my JD 870 has a slow leak. The fronts on the 870 are fairly small, R-1, but loaded.

I've not attempted to fix a tire since I patched an bicycle inner tube 40 years ago, so need some advice.

Assuming it is tubeless, I'm thinking a plug would fix it. That right?

How hard is it for someone with no experience to install one? Does all the air pressure have to be released to do it? Can I leave the liquid in if I release the air pressure?

Just take the tire to a tire shop and have them fix it. Now that that's out of the way,what kind of job do you think I will do cutting my own hair the first time since I was 5 years old?

 

[runharley52]

Re: Fixing a Slow Tire Leak

I use this brand and plug with the tire aired up........Tire Plug Kits, Fix Flat Tire, Tire Repair Tools | Safety Seal

Second this. Use it a lot on all kinds of non road tires. Works great.

 

[TerryR]

Just take the tire to a tire shop and have them fix it.

Good idea. But so far as I know, we don't have a tire shop in the county that will work with loaded tires.

 

[zzvyb6]

Make it a slightly bigger round hole so a plug can be pushed in. Don't pull it out any because you loading solution will weaken the seal. You might even try shooting some rubber cement into the tire with a horse needle and avoid the complications from a plug.

 

[jaxs]

Good idea. But so far as I know, we don't have a tire shop in the county that will work with loaded tires.

They don't work on them because they don't have training so that should tell you what chance a novice has in doing a proper repair. Similar to self inflected haircuts,botched tire repairs only make things worse. I suggest looking for farm tire shops and if all are too far away,make do as you have been until you need to go near one of the shops on another errand.

 

[TerryR]

They don't work on them because they don't have training ....

No, they don't work on them because they don't have provision to collect the liquid if they have to dismount the tire, and don't want to bother with it.

 

[RickB]

Your tire is leaking now. If you buy a plug kit, plug it and it still leaks, what are you out?

Buy a tire plug kit and use it.

 

[WranglerX]

MY first though would be to drain the "juice", dismount the tire and dry it out, place conventional patch inside, and refill....

Dale

 

[seville009]

two words....”Flex Seal”

better than nothing as a temporary plug at least

 

[Smokeydog]

I had good luck plugging ballasted tubeless ag tires. Truck and tractor safety seal brand works.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I would not think twice about plugging the tubeless tire. It’s a few bucks at risk. Keep in mind you might need a bit heavy duty plug kit handle wise since the tires might be thicker and stiffer than a auto, or that bicycle of years past. It’s very likely to work this time and next time you have a issue you will already have the items

 

[marcusmerritt]

My 1980 F100 had probably 4-6 plugs in each tire from screws left on the ground after volunteers helped build sets for youth theater in my driveway. Even a magnet on a stick didn't solve the problem of dropped screws. I used one of those plug tools in all the punctures and never had one fail. Cheap fix compared to $15 per plug at the local service station. Once you've done one, the rest are a breeze. However, they don't work for cuts thru a side wall.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Just take the tire to a tire shop and have them fix it. Now that that's out of the way,what kind of job do you think I will do cutting my own hair the first time since I was 5 years old?

Dont know of many tire shops that would fix a loaded tire. if anything they would just plug it like the OP could do at home.

 

[rangerfredbob]

If a small hole, I've had great luck with plugs. Got refused on a couple holes at tire shops because they were too close to the sidewall (2 fingers), went home and plugged them and good to go for years...Never done a loaded tire but if you do it with the hole up I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[PILOON]

Once had a leak on my plow truck.
No plugs on hand and about 1.5 hrs to get it fixed.
LOL, hammered a 6 inch nail flat and drilled a small hole to insert a plug.
Next tore apart an extension cord to get the plastic fillers out.
OK, did have some contact cement so I dipped my DIY 'plug' in the cement and proceeded to 'plug' my flat.
I then lit the plug to heat seal that hole.

When I sold that plow truck some 3 years later it still sported that DIY plug!

Lesson learned, I now keep a full plug kit on hand.
But as you would know I have not had a flat ever since then, so I call it insurance!

And, the cost of a kit is but a fraction of a dealer's flat fix price.

 

[TerryR]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. Looks like I should go for a plug kit.

 

[Peter 315]

I just paint some of this on the plug to make it slide in easy......Amazon.com: Western Weld Clear All Purpose Tire Repair Vulcanizing Cement Brush Top Can 8 oz: Automotive

 

[TerryR]

It took me several weeks to get to town and buy a plug kit - with covid I leave the place as little as possible. Then it took a while for warm enough weather to get to the barn and tackle the job. It went smooth enough. I pressure was down to maybe 10 psi, so I took the weight off with the FEL and followed directions to insert the plug. It's been some weeks now and it seems to be holding fine, as many of you said it would. Thanks for the advice.