Leaking Tire Tubes?

arrabil · Oct 28, 2010

I want to install tubes in my rear tires because the sidewalls are starting to show their age and the one tire leaks down pretty quickly as of recently. One tire sometimes leaks a few drops of RimGuard here and there too.

So I ordered some tubes and went to get the tires off the rims today. Lo and behold.... there are already tubes in the tires!!!

If I'm losing air and getting RimGuard leaking from between the rim and the valve stem, that means the tube itself is the problem, right? Does this happen to tubes often? Should I be concerned about it or just replace it and forget it?

Also, can you use a higher air pressure when tubes are installed? The tire itself says 14psi.

beenthere · Oct 28, 2010

I'd say you have punctured the tire/tube and ought to find the culprit (hole in the tube).

Maybe a nail, or a screw, or a sharp spine/spike like from a honey locust.

What tire...?

arrabil · Oct 29, 2010

The tire is a rear turf, 13.6-16, Bridgestone. There are no big holes through the tire. The RG leak is at the valve stem hole. If you wiggle the stem you can get some fluid. I noticed that when inflating them.

Zebrafive · Oct 30, 2010

Is it rim guard or water coming out at the valve stem?
Could it be possible water is condensing and that's what is coming out around the valve stem.
Under certain conditions my loaded tires sweat.

whistlepig · Oct 30, 2010

arrabil said:
I want to install tubes in my rear tires because the sidewalls are starting to show their age and the one tire leaks down pretty quickly as of recently. One tire sometimes leaks a few drops of RimGuard here and there too.

So I ordered some tubes and went to get the tires off the rims today. Lo and behold.... there are already tubes in the tires!!!

If I'm losing air and getting RimGuard leaking from between the rim and the valve stem, that means the tube itself is the problem, right? Does this happen to tubes often? Should I be concerned about it or just replace it and forget it?

Also, can you use a higher air pressure when tubes are installed? The tire itself says 14psi.

You are just as well off to go ahead and put the new tubes in. It's too big of a job to cut corners on. Use a wire brush or sander to clean the rust from the inside of your rims. Be care full to not pinch the new tubes when installing. Take your hand and rub the inside of the tire to feel for sharp thingies on the inside of the tire. "Seat" the tubes after installing. There is a thing called a valve stem protector. It slips over the valve stem on the tube and keeps the metal hole in the rim from cutting in to the stem. Tubes are as reliable as tubeless tires until something pokes a hole in either. I don't like tubes. It's an added factor to the tire that can go wrong and an extra step to repair. But with aging rims tubes are a necessity. Air pressure for tubes and tubeless are the same.

arrabil · Oct 31, 2010

I got the old tubes out. The one has a hole it for sure. RG was in the tire and was dripping all over me as I was getting the rim and tube out. Man that stuff is nasty. I think the hole was there when I bought the tractor. It never held air for more than a couple months. So some pinhole must have kept getting bigger and bigger until the weight of the backhoe really opened it up.

The rims themselves are in almost brand new condition on the inside. Even the stickers look new. So I don't see anything that would have caused a puncture. The outside of the valve hole is slightly rusty (only part on either rim) and I'll fix that.

I'm gonna clean up the rims and tires and take them to the local garage for them to install the tube. They charged me $18 to do all the work on both front wheels and that included the tubes. So it'll probably run me $10 or less to get the new tubes installed and the whole thing inflated and seated properly. No point in screwing with it at that price.

I didn't figure I could raise the air pressure, btw. But I thought what the heck.... maybe someone knows different.

whistlepig · Oct 31, 2010

It's good to hear your rims are in good shape on the inside. I had a tractor that had the tubes filled with calcium chloride and and were eat up with corrosion. I'll never fill tires with calcium chloride again. The tractor I have now has Rimguard in it.

beenthere · Oct 31, 2010

Hopefully you examined the corresponding area of the tire casing at the spot there was a hole in the tube. I'm thinking something other than backhoe work made the pinhole larger.
Was the hole on the rim side or the tire side of the tube?

arrabil · Oct 31, 2010

Haven't found the hole. Haven't cleaned out the insides of the tires yet either. You think there is something sharp sticking out, eh? Could it have just been pinched between the tire and the rim?

whistlepig · Oct 31, 2010

Black Locust thorns where I used to live was the worst thing (and the only thing) that punctured my tubes and tires. They are invisible on the inside of the tire but I could always rub my hand on the inside of the tire and feel them. It doesn't take much. One sticking up 1/32" will eventually saw its way through a tube. Rubber wears out. Locust thorns don't.