OK, what is the deal with this tire??

[kam582]

Yesterday I posted a thread about my front tire having a slow leak in it and if I should patch or buy a new tire. Several of you were kind enough to offer opinions and advice. Well, today I have a different question. What the he$$ is up with this tire? The night I got home with the low tire I put 40 pounds in it. The next morning it was down to 34.5 pounds. Yup, a slow leak, thus the question yesterday morning. We went to church that morning, came home and did some chores around the house. I had to move the bike to get to my 4 wheeler and was ready to put more air in the tire but noticed then that it wasn't completely flat, like I thought it would be. Well I was busy and didn't mess with it. Last night I put the gauge on it and it was still at 34.5 pounds. Hmmm. Well I put 40 pounds back in her last night and this morning it appears to have lost maybe 1 pound or a pound and a half, and that's with the garage cooling off overnight. My question, could I have simply broken the bead, lost some air, and now it has sealed back up? I do remember coming home I got into some pavement that had cracked and separated with one side higher that the other with the front tire. I didn't hit it right and it kind of threw the front tire to one side. I didn't hit it hard, but I didn't hit it very well either. Could that possibly have broken the bead? I'm stumped and really don't know what to do now. I don't see any rim damage and I really don't think I hit anything hard enough to bend a rim. More insight would really be appreciated.

 

[mhgoldwing]

sounds like the bead to me. I've had this happen once and it cured itself through the dynamics of riding and was good till the end of tire life.

If its another type leak, valve stem, puncture, etc., it will reappear again.

If it starts leaking again I would do the soap test around the bead, valve stem and tire to find the precise point of leaking.

 

[Calgary]

Was the valve stem replaced when you had the tire installed? Is the stem metal or rubber? When the air pressure is correct, does the front end handle well or do you have some balancing issues.

As suggested, soaping down all the areas should give you an easy answer. Losing that amount of air is more than a slow leak.

If you have a rubber valve stem, move it around while applying the soap suds; it could be cracked.

There's only so many things can cause your air loss problem! Systematically check them out and you'll be able to find the source! Good luck!

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Over inflate and then check using soapy water to find the leak. Make sure you check the valve stem!

 

[Gold Rush]

Was the valve stem replaced when you had the tire installed? Is the stem metal or rubber? When the air pressure is correct, does the front end handle well or do you have some balancing issues.

As suggested, soaping down all the areas should give you an easy answer. Losing that amount of air is more than a slow leak.

If you have a rubber valve stem, move it around while applying the soap suds; it could be cracked.

There's only so many things can cause your air loss problem! Systematically check them out and you'll be able to find the source! Good luck!

Good reply... So many GL1800 owners forget or have never been told about that valve stem issue. Replacing it at least every other tire change (preferably every time) is wise. Many have gone to solid steel 90 degree or straight stems. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[John Luciano]

Pump it up higher. 50 or 60 lbs. check with detergent soap and water in a spray bottle. Check the Schrader Valve . ( the little thinggy inside the valve stem.) they sometime get stuck and then only the cap is holding the air. I am sure u examined the whole tire for punctures ( nails etc.) that leaves Rim as stated and valve stem I found this info:

One of the most common reasons for a flat tire is a leaking valve stem core. A valve stem core is a small device that can be threaded and unthreaded out of the valve stem. This tiny core allows the tire to be inflated but restricts air from coming back out. Tiny pieces of debris can enter the core causing it to malfunction. This debris causes the core to stick and may result in air leakage. Tire centers use a special valve stem core-pulling-tool to replace and remove this device. Have a question? Get an answer from a mechanic now!


Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7298167_replace-valve-stem-core.html#ixzz32AQtqzhS

 

[driver10]

take soapy water and spray stem while wiggeling it and see what happens

 

[John Luciano]

Don't forget to remove the cap and fill the stem with soapy water too.

 

[Mick]

I had this problem also and it turned out to be the valve stem. The dealer overtightened the stem and sometimes it would leak a lot and sometimes a little. I wound up putting a metal stem in and that stopped the issue on mine.