Slow leak in rear tire and can't find where

[The Snowman]

Like the title says, I spent the better part of an hour spraying soapy stuff all over the rear wheel and tire trying to find where it's leaking from.

I checked the valve stem, bead, plug that Tricky Mike put in last December, and a few misc little slits from road debris and not a bubble.

So I sprayed everywhere and still nothing.

What now?

[OreoGaborio]

put it in the bath tub

[The Snowman]

put it in the bath tub

I think Annalisa would throw a shit fit.

[Tricky Mike]

I think Annalisa would throw a shit fit.

OK, FINE... light some candles THEN throw it in the bath tub.

[OreoGaborio]

well then wash it off in the kitchen sink first

[Jaynnus]

OK, FINE... light some candles THEN throw it in the bath tub.

[SSearchVT]

Check the rim as well - Seen it happen...

[Cerberus]

it can leak around the stem, through the core of the valve stem(bad or lose valve), around the bead..

and yeah, honestly, in a bath is the only way to find some of the really tricky ones..
though i don't suggest you use your bathtub..

[The Snowman]

it can leak around the stem, through the core of the valve stem(bad or lose valve), around the bead..

and yeah, honestly, in a bath is the only way to find some of the really tricky ones..
though i don't suggest you use your bathtub..

I spent a lot of time on the valve stem, moving it around to see if it leaked on any side. It's hard to do the top of it, bit I didn't see any bubbles out of the top.

I'm also not equipped to remove the wheel bearings to dip the wheel.

[Cerberus]

I spent a lot of time on the valve stem, moving it around to see if it leaked on any side. It's hard to do the top of it, bit I didn't see any bubbles out of the top.

I'm also not equipped to remove the wheel bearings to dip the wheel.

lol
no need.
you don't have to submerge the whole wheel at once...

[The Snowman]

lol
no need.
you don't have to submerge the whole wheel at once...

Show that I've never done this before.

I was thinking like those huge tubs that have at tire changing places with the air-activated thing that holds the wheel under the water while you look for bubbles.

[Cerberus]

Show that I've never done this before.

I was thinking like those huge tubs that have at tire changing places with the air-activated thing that holds the wheel under the water while you look for bubbles.

certainly that is ideal, but not required

[Eric Baker]

Yeah find a big tub of some sort, or a bathtub if need be, put about 8 or 9 inches of water in, and put the wheel assembly in. Rotate slowly as needed to get the whole tire. If it's leaking, you should see it easily, little bubbles will eminate from the problem spot.

[zgr]

it's that time of year again! sometime corrosion forms between the tire bead and aluminum rim which is a white chalky powder along with cold nights and warm days the air escapes from between the two thru the corrosion real common with rims and rubber also clean rim and remount using the new tire mounting gels and this won't happen again.

[mycirus]

If you are scared to use your bathtub go buy a big square container at walmart. I just got one last weekend for 8 bucks.

[Marc]

Jack the pressure up to 50 psi before putting it in the water.

[SSearchVT]

As mentioned before - jack the pressure right up, grab a big bin (or a cardboard box with a trash bag in it) filled with enough water to cover a section of the tire and rim.

Check it with the valve cap on as well.

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

Fyi- aLl my tires lose about 5 psi per month.
I just thought that was normal.

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

I keep tire guages on the front table so anyone visiting can check their pessures.
I would say 8 out of 10 people are low on both tires.
The winner is a young rider who came in complaining of poor handling.
1st thing I did was send him out with a tire pressure guage. 18 lbs rear and 12lbs front.

[Mondo]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)
The winner is a young rider who came in complaining of poor handling.
1st thing I did was send him out with a tire pressure guage. 18 lbs rear and 12lbs front.

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

I keep tire guages on the front table so anyone visiting can check their pessures.
I would say 8 out of 10 people are low on both tires.
The winner is a young rider who came in complaining of poor handling.
1st thing I did was send him out with a tire pressure guage. 18 lbs rear and 12lbs front.

when i first met my g/f i took her 750 out and thought "damn this thing handles like a tractor". checked the pressure...10psi in the front and15 in the rear. after that it carved like a knife

[richw]

I swear I had a shraeder valve that backed itself out when riding

When I change tires I do spend some time "dressing" the rim

Cleaning with sandpaper and filling (file) gouges and snags/burs

Also some wheel castings are porous and thats that
only painting the inside of the rim will fix

[Rambunctous]

On various cars with magnesium or aluminum rims I have had to dismount the tires. Paint the inside of the rim to fill the microscopic holes or install tubes. These rims can be porous. No reason for bikes to be any different. In fact Ford has a service bulletin for doing exactly that. Painting the insides.

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.06.3.1.20.0)

So why is it that when my bike sits it loses air, but if I ride it every day it does not lose as much air?

[The Snowman]

So why is it that when my bike sits it loses air, but if I ride it every day it does not lose as much air?

Heating up the tire may slow the rate which air is lost.