Finding and repairing a very slow leak in a tire.

huckflynn · Sep 7, 2001

I've had this leak in the right front tire of my BX2200. Nothing major -- it takes about a week for the tire to slowly go flat. I have a small battery powered inflator that fills it up again in about 5 minutes still, I don't want to have to go through that routine this winter -- so I was determined to fix it today.

I considered something like fix-a-flat but there was nothing in the directions to specify how much to use for a small tractor tire. I decided to search TractorByNet for some help. I found two recommendations:

1) something called "green goo" that was supposed to be available at Gempler's. This stuff is like fix-a-flat but it's a gel that does not harden like fix-a-flat does. The idea being that it just keeps waiting to fill the next leak -- good idea!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

2) Rope plugs. As the ad at Gempler's puts it "Simply thread a repair strand through the eye of the inserting tool, push the threaded tool into the puncture up to the handle and give it a turn and a half. Remove handle and cut the plug." From what I read in this Forum such plugs are highly reliable.

I was not able to find "green goo" at Gempler's. What they are touting is a product called Flat Stop (which looks kind of pinkish in color).

Anyway, I ordered both rope plugs and a pint of the Flat Stop. Anybody have opinions on which is better and why?

Also, just a tip for anybody trying to find a pin prick of a leak -- don't just look for the bubbles when you put soapy water on the tire -- listen. I never did see the bubbles but I did hear a faint hiss and tracked it down by sound.

Huck

Bird · Sep 7, 2001

Huck, I'm not familiar with the brand names you used. Personally, I would never use the fix-a-flat stuff that uses propane as a propellant. That stuff's for stopping a leak and simultaneously inflating the tire in an emergency. But there are a number of {usually} thick stop leak products on the market that you put in the tire, then inflate it. They usually work for very small leaks but not very well for big punctures. The rope plugs usually work very well (only on tubeless tires, of course).

Bird

Mike_Dumond · Sep 7, 2001

Huck, it sounds like you either have a valve stem leaking either from the mechanism or where it attaches to the rim. Or your bead is leaking. Try reseating the tire in the rim, using a sealant and/ or change the valve stem. In either case, clean the rim with a brush first.

Hmmm, I guess I didn't read your last paragraph. Try a patch from the inside, on a small hole, should work well.

Keep the greasy side down.
Mike<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Mike_Dumond on 09/07/01 06:23 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

Von · Sep 7, 2001

Re: Finding and repairing a very slow leak in a ti

Huck,
The green stuff is called SLIME and you can get it at K-Mart. I just put 16 oz. in both front tires on my tractor to stop rim leaks, cost was $10.00. So far so good, I just checked them last night and still holding 22lbs after 3 weeks. I guess I got them fixed, but time will tell.

MikeGross · Sep 10, 2001

Re: Finding and repairing a very slow leak in a ti

I had a small leak in one of my front tires a couple of months ago. I removed the wheel and submerged it into a filled kiddie pool. The leak was apparent right away. Since it was only the tire and not the rim, I took it to a local tire shop and they patched it for $6.00.