Rim Leaks

Reverb · Post by **Reverb** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:54 pm

I have a set (2 15x3, and 2 15x8) Centerline wheels that I bought (used) for my project buggy. All 4 have brand new tires, and all 4 are leaking air at the bead. I`ve taken them back 3 times to the tire dealer to be re-mounted, but they keep going flat. The guy at the tire shop said this is because the tires aren`t driven on the road to properly seat the bead. Since this is a project buggy, and it doesn`t run, this is not possible. I really need this to be a rolling chassis, because there are times I need to roll it out of the garage. Any suggestions?

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:57 pm

Well I dont buy the comment it leaks because you dont drive it. A quiec fix I think would be to put a little fix a flat in each tire and roll them around. I did this succesfully with a trailer tire that leaked around the rim.

Reverb · Post by **Reverb** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:01 pm

I thought of the Fix-a-Flat idea too, but that requires that you drive it around for about 10 minutes.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:19 pm

The only other idea I have it to put tubes in the tires...

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:34 pm

[QUOTE="Reverb"]I have a set (2 15x3, and 2 15x8) Centerline wheels that I bought (used) for my project buggy. All 4 have brand new tires, and all 4 are leaking air at the bead. I`ve taken them back 3 times to the tire dealer to be re-mounted, but they keep going flat. The guy at the tire shop said this is because the tires aren`t driven on the road to properly seat the bead. Since this is a project buggy, and it doesn`t run, this is not possible. I really need this to be a rolling chassis, because there are times I need to roll it out of the garage. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE] I have the same problem with my centerlines, when i drive the buggy regular they are OK,,,,, park it up for a few weeks, and they go flat,, its been this way for the past 6 years

I had put it down to the very low tyre pressures i run. Had the same problem also with a quad bike, I got some ATV tyre sealer for that, (looks like green slime) 3 months on, and no leaks :rock: Maybe we both need that stuff in our buggies :drinking:

manx4dan · Post by **manx4dan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:50 pm

Are Centerlines aluminum? Do you live near the salty sea air? Some aluminum wheels that don't use a good clear sealer are known for leaking at the bead once the aluminum oxidizes. Tire stores sand the bead area smooth and apply black rim sealant to fix. The old steel wheels were always painted so oxidation (rust) was less likely as long as the paint wasn't violated. Some tire stores won't work on you wheels if you admit to using Fix-a-flat, because they like to cut the valve stem off to let the air out quickly and that junk sprays all over the shop and equipment.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:30 am

I've had the same problem with my project tires... used my finger to spread a small bead of red RTV sealant around rim edge before seating bead - VOILA! - no leaks! Cleans off easily as well when time to remount/replace treads. Bryan

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:43 am

[QUOTE="manx4dan"] Some tire stores won't work on you wheels if you admit to using Fix-a-flat, because they like to cut the valve stem off to let the air out quickly and that junk sprays all over the shop and equipment.[/QUOTE]

Yes a tyre fitting shop guy refused to remove a tyre for me once, just because i told him it had fix-a-flat in it,,,, had to take it to another tyre shop,,, this time i said nothing

boy did that guy swear

I think that green slime, ATV stuff is different though, more of a permanent thing, rather than a get ya home fix.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:50 am

What's wrong with tubes??? I've used them for years esp. in the front wheels of Buggies running low (12 psi-ish) tire pressures with no problems at all.

fubar · Post by **fubar** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:08 am

The problem I had with tubes is the valve stem ripping off from doing burnouts on pavement. When I took the tubes back out it peeled off some of the urethane calk I used to seal the rim halves together. I squirted in a bottle of some green jizz from the motorcycle shop (Tire Slime??) and they hold air pretty good now. I tried the tubes because of what I read on one of these buggy sites. They did not work well for my application. My Centerlines are from the late 60's and are bolted , not riveted if that makes any difference. And if a flat tire when you do a burnout is a problem....... Steel wheels dont slip on the bead after they rust up a bit, but the aluminum can.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:14 am

I have a friend that was nearly killed by a tire with Fix A Flat in it. He got a flat while on a trip and seeing that he owns a tire store he always carried a tire plug kit and a can of compressed air. He said it's quicker to plug a tire and get off the side of the interstate then unbolt the tire and replace it. He started to run the rasp thru the puncture hole to prep it for the plug when the tire exploded. It tore up his hand pretty bad, blew his shirt right off his body along with shredding his jeans, blew the bumper cover off the mini van, blew the sidemarker lights out of the fender and ripped a couple of the fender mounts off. He was never told that his son used FAF on the tire on his last trip home from school. I guess Fix A Flat is flammable and he must have made a spark when he hit a steel belt with the rasp.

fubar · Post by **fubar** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:31 am

I think the explosion hazard comes from the propellant in the fixoflat.? Probably propane in a liquid form? The green slime stuff seems to be inert. And being a liquid gel form, you can jack up the wheel and turn it every now and again to get the goo on the bead and wheel center joint. Driving it would sling it outward where tires normally pop. The last time I bought some it came with a 12v compressor in a small zipper pouch. (for about $20) I do not carry a spare so if that does not do the job I have to drive on the rim I guess. It works pretty good on paddles and the low pressure tubless sand tires too.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:19 am

yes fix a flat is very flammable. If you ever hear of a mechanic getting killed because a tire exploded 90 percent of the time you can bet it was because the tire had fix a flat in it. I would just say to fix your leak problem have the tire guy put some black bead sealer around the bead. If you go to a Big O tire shop they do flat repairs for free. They should be able to figure it out and if they don't you can always take it back until they do.

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:37 pm

[QUOTE="fubar"]I think the explosion hazard comes from the propellant in the fixoflat.? .[/QUOTE] Wow i shouldn't have read this

im one of those guys that just has to experiment.

croakintowd · Post by **croakintowd** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:53 pm

Hello everyone, I read this post with interest, as I have some experience with this problem. I have a car with Chrome plated Aluminum wheels. Two of the tires would leak down, the other two were fine. When I took it to a the tire shop, they knew exactly what to do. They dismounted the leakers, used an air tool with a wire brush in it, and reworked the sealing surface of the rim. They applied Bead Sealer, and that fixed everything. That sort of shoots a hole in the "You don't drive it much" theory. All four tires were mounted at the same time, and driven just as much. Only two were leakers. My buggy has four new tires. One is a leaker. New tires on new rims. I plan on taking it back and having them put Bead Sealer on it. I am confident that will end the problem. I would suggest looking for a family owned tire shop, versus a chain store. I get much better service from the family store than any of the big stores, including Costco. Good luck,

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