Flat Tire Help

[bennynomad]

I went for a ride Saturday in the N. Georgia Mountains and somewhere along the way picked up a 2" screw in my back tire. I didn't notice it until Sunday morning getting the bike out and I couldn't move it because the tire was flat. I pulled the screw and tried to plug it, but I cant't get the plug in the tire. At that point I just wanted to get it inflated so I could get it to a dealer for a new tire, so I used Inflate a flat. I know a no-no, but at the time I just wanted to get it up! . Well, that didn't work either. I can't get the plug through the hole, I have never plugged a tire either. Anyone have ideas? I want to get it to hold long enough to get the bike to a dealer near me on Friday and have it replaced. I have alot of riding to do this weekend, suppose to be nice. As you can tell I am not a top notch mechanic, so no I do not want to take the back tire off. Help!

[Top Cat]

What kind of plugging tool are you using?
Stop and Go makes a kit to plug tires. You can also buy a plugging kit at Walmart I believe.
Are you saying you can't get the plug in the tire or you can't get the plug to Stay in the tire. By this I mean do you use the tool to insert the plug and when you remove the tool the plug comes out also?

[zoom45]

bennynomad,
I have been there too. :'( I had 4 -16 penny nails get in my tire at one time and one was even in the sidewall. I plugged all of them and inflated it with my co2 cartridges. I got a tubeless tire repair kit from Dennis Kirk just in case something happened on the road. I also had a tire repair kit from Wal Mart that had the big t-handle grips. You need to lubricate the file in the kit with tire glue and rasp the hole out real good. I actually had to use a block to hammer it in at first. Once you get it opened up enough with the file then you should be able to get the plug in it. Coat the plug good with tire glue before inserting it and it should do fine. Worked for me.
Zoom45

[zoom45]

I may have left this out - if you never did a plug before, file the hole out first then take the new plug and insert it half way through the tool that is split like a giant needle eye. Lube it up real good and slide it in easy until it's about halfway or a little more in and then jerk the tool out real quick. The plug should stay in at least half way then air it back up.

Zoom45

[zoom45]

Here's a video that shows how:

[bennynomad]

Thank you guys, my kit didn't come with the file to ream out the hole, I couldn't get the insertion tool to get through the hole. I wil stop at Walmart tonight and get a kit with the file. Thanks again for all the help, On a side note, do you guys ride with plugs in or get a new tire. It scares me a little to do high speeds on a plugged tire. Also, did I do any damage inside when I tried fix-a-flat?

[zoom45]

I would put a new tire on myself simply because if your out in the middle of nowhere you don't have a spare for it. I doubt if the fix-a-flat hurt anything. I don't believe that stuff works anyway. All I have ever seen from it was a liquid mess on the inside. Just wipe it out. Make sure you get the t-handle kit. The ones made like a screwdriver handle are almost imossible to put enough force on to get it it the hole.

[cactusjack]

I've never plugged a motorcycle tire but I've done a few auto tires and it can be a bear reaming out the puncture with the rasp, especially on a steel-belted radial. I've always had good success with the plugs. That said, I'd only use a plugged motorcycle tire long enough to get me home or to a dealer where the tire can be replaced. I wouldn't rely on one for long-term use.

[caddman11]

I caught a nail a couple of weeks ago and thought I was in luck because I found it at a bike dealer, but nooooooo--he wanted me to buy a new tire. It was holding air so he made a few phone calls and set me up with a place that would plug it. They took the tire off the rim (back tire), drilled out the nail hole, ground the tire on the inside, added adhesive, put a "T" plug in and then covered the whole thing with sealer. Balanced the tire and put it back on. An hour later and $75 less money in my pocket, I was out the door. The plug is doing just fine, you would never notice it's there. I did have to sign a release that would not make them responsible if there was a problem.

[rooster1]

:)I have plugged a few auto tires and used an electric drill with a drill bit to make the hole a little larger to get the plug to go in the hole. Never had any problems with the plugged hole.

[flavor]

I bought "T" handle repair tools, (one was the rasp and one was the tool that you put the plug in), and the kit came with these brown gooey plugs that almost seem like cord soaked in glue. I've used them on cars as well as my motorcycle about a month and a half ago and never had a problem with them leaking. I've used the rubber plugs like they have in a gas station but they've given me problems in getting them in as well so when I tried these other ones, the brown goooey ones and they seem to go in much easier. As with both kinds, make sure you nip off the excess after you put it in.

I always have these tools with me on the bike along with a can of fix a flat. (I keep the fix a flat instead of a compressor because years ago I had a piece of steel in a tire on back roads in NH and a compressor and a plug wasn't working. However, two cans of fix a flat and two plugs got me to the nearest gas station where I had them put a vulcanized plug in. Got me through the day and replaced the tire the next day. Actually, The plug held for about 325 miles and the tire was flat the next morning so I didn't have a choice. I don't remember where the gas station was but they were great and somewhere near the Kangamangus Hwy. (I'm probably incorrect on the spelling).

[papat]

Not trying to be a smart a** but you might put the screw back in to get to the shop

[flavor]

I like that. There's nothing like a good screw. OH OH. Was that
OK???????????? :)

[ells]

Tried to fix a flat once with the seal-a-tire canned inflater, used two cans actually, and not only did it not work (with screw still in) but really annoyed the guy that ended up changing the tire. Now have a Stop-and-Go tire plugger that forces the plug in and a compressor. Haven't used it yet but did plug many a tire when I worked as a grease monkey about a number of years ago.

[coldfingers]

what papet said works sometimes!! I had a bolt in a truck tire and just left it in there until I got to the tire shop and the guy had to take a rachet and turn it out and then we sure lost the air in a hurry!!