Balance Beads question

[Smilam]

I had balance beads in a previous tire but there were times when I checked the air pressure a bead would lodge in the stem and not let it close which let most of the air out of the tire. I had read that you needed to add a bit of air to the tire which forced the air out of the stem and then you could check it without a bead interfering with the stem sealing when you removed the tire gauge. This seemed to work but that meant I could only check it at home or at a gas station that had a air pump that actually worked.
I am getting ready to replace the front tire on my trike and think the balance beads are the best way to balance the tire but hope somebody can tell me how to eliminate loosing all of my air pressure without having to to have a air compressor at the ready.

 

[Woolie]

I ordered some off EBay from Arizona and received replacement cores to go in the valve stem that have a spring on them that is suppose to act as a filter to keep the beads from getting caught in the stem. I don't know whether they work or not as I haven't installed them yet. I don't get in to too much of a hurry when it isn't necessary.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

The answer is:
http://www.ride-on.com/

 

[mhgoldwing]

If no air supply is available, then move the bike to place valve stem at 6 o'clock and tap it with something to dislodge a bead. May work - may not.

My ST1300 has beads in both tires and since I check them at home before riding I always have air supply available.

This is one of the reasons I use the Centramatic balancers on my front wheel on the trike. No muss, no fuss.

 

[Rosy]

I have used the ceramic beads for years and never had a problem, but you have to put in their special stems which will let you put air in with no problems.
I have put in air at least three to four times a season to make sure I am running at 41psi.

Rosy

 

[Baldy_54]

Have never had a bead problem in 37,000 mile of using them. Be sure to put your stem at 12 o'clock and just a shot of air and no problem. Good idea to use Nitrogen, if you can, as the tire does not lose pressure as fast as just plain air too.

 

[prariepilot]

Balance Beads

Check your tire manufacturer's warranty. Dunlop will not honor a motorcycle tire warranty if anything but AIR is put in the tire.

http://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/care/warranty-info/

Right off their web site:

• Tires injected with dry/liquid balancers or sealants, or in which anything other than air has been used as the supporting medium.

 

[Baldy_54]

Check your tire manufacturer's warranty. Dunlop will not honor a motorcycle tire warranty if anything but AIR is put in the tire.

http://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com...warranty-info/

Right off their web site:

• Tires injected with dry/liquid balancers or sealants, or in which anything other than air has been used as the supporting medium.
  

After reading all that, it appears that Dunlop does not have a Warranty Program for their tires. :AGGHH:

 

[hogcowboy]

Yeah, Dunlop sorta stinks in the regard. I still put Ride-On in mine just for balancing. I've never got a successful claim on their tires before so not using the stuff made no difference as far as I was concerned. Just rode one of their tires flat for over 15 miles. Caught a bolt or something that punched a hole bigger than a quarter inch. The Ride-On slowed the leak but couldn't stop it that big a hole. Nearest safe place was WAY down the road so continued at about 20mph. Sorta sold on the combo myself. New tire is another Dunlop with Ride-On in it.

EDIT: Forgot an important item. I'm still on 2 wheels.

Kinda makes a difference I would think.

 

[Smilam]

Thanks for the replys. Ride On sounded like the way to go until I got to the part where they said they would not recommend using it on a 2009 Goldwing since their TPMS was not a sealed unit. Maybe when the TPMS stops working I will try Ride On.
The only time the TPMS has come on is after the bike had sat over the winter and lost some pressure. I check the pressure regularly and when on trips check it almost every day and never more than two days between checks. I very seldom have to add air and I generally feel that what air was lost was due to checking the tire pressure.
One time when a bead held the valve open was while checking the pressure before leaving a hotel while on a road trip. I put the cap back on to slow the loss, jumped on the bike and rode a couple of miles to a gas station with an air pump before I lost to much air.
I will check into the cores that work with the beads.

 

[MikeyTX]

The answer is:
http://www.ride-on.com/

This ! First mod after I left the dealership and parked the trike in my driveway.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I had balance beads in a previous tire but there were times when I checked the air pressure a bead would lodge in the stem and not let it close which let most of the air out of the tire ... etc ...

Never have had that happen with my choice of 6mm hard plastic "Red Jacket" airsoft BBs?