Slow Leak, New Tire

[Ramos]

I have a new front turf tire on a new mower that goes from 18 psi to 10 psi in 48 hours. Have put ten hours on the machine hoping it would seat and seal, suspecting the leak is between the tire and rim. No dice. My dealer is over 300 miles away. Re seat it with tire lube? Take it to the tire shop? Slime it? Tube it? The leak is so slow, not sure I would find it in a dunk tank. Any suggestions? Not a big deal, just a little annoying.

 

[Wbk]

I would try the slime, it'll seal a slow leak or if it's a hole it will plug it. Just my opinion Barry

 

[85Hokie]

I have a new front turf tire on a new mower that goes from 18 psi to 10 psi in 48 hours. Have put ten hours on the machine hoping it would seat and seal, suspecting the leak is between the tire and rim. No dice. My dealer is over 300 miles away. Re seat it with tire lube? Take it to the tire shop? Slime it? Tube it? The leak is so slow, not sure I would find it in a dunk tank. Any suggestions? Not a big deal, just a little annoying.

Check the valve stem - spit will show you quick !

I like slime myself - lots of folks dont.......but beats the hell out of taking the tire off. Some say it will mess up aluminum rims.......hell - who has them ????

 

[D2Cat]

Ramos, might try to spray some soapy water and rub it on. See if you can see where it might bubble. If it's not seating at the bead, break it down and use some tire lube. Then put 8-10 # extra air in and see if it seals it. Maybe you'll find a thorn or something in the tire. Then patched it.

I use this to seal a tire. More costly then others, but it WORKS!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quadboss-TI...ash=item2a62dd6735:g:L1gAAOSwZ8ZW3jMS&vxp=mtr

 

[Jimc3165]

I just replaced my tires and one of the rear tires developed a slow leak. I took it off and took it back to the tire shop and they broke it down and took a pneumatic wire brush to the bead area but still had a tiny leak so I used slime and it fixed it.

 

[Ramos]

Thanks, guys! A special thank you to you, Hokie, for the reminder to start with the simplest solution. Checking the valve stem is something I should have already done. It would be funny if the core did not get tightened and I am running around with an air hose every few days! If that's not it, I will try to locate the leak with soapy water. I have some pretty good 'slime like' stuff if need be. It has the fibers in it along with the goop and has worked well in the past.

Again, thank you to all.

 

[Billdog350]

Slime works but is nasty...hard to remove later and some tire shops won't touch a tire that's been loaded with slime. Lastly, slime doesn't work great on the bead and valve stem....

Many of the small BX machines have issues with those stiff sidewall tires holding air, I was sent out many a time to install a tube on those....

If you can break down the tire easily (before its slimed), often you can use your loader bucket to break the bead, and install a tube...that will be the best long term solution and it won't make enemies at the tire shop if/when that tire needs to be replaced.

 

[Ramos]

Slime works but is nasty...hard to remove later and some tire shops won't touch a tire that's been loaded with slime. Lastly, slime doesn't work great on the bead and valve stem....

Many of the small BX machines have issues with those stiff sidewall tires holding air, I was sent out many a time to install a tube on those....

If you can break down the tire easily (before its slimed), often you can use your loader bucket to break the bead, and install a tube...that will be the best long term solution and it won't make enemies at the tire shop if/when that tire needs to be replaced.

I have a press in the shop that will break the bead. Fairly good friends with the only tire guy in town, as well. He would probably give me a good deal on a tube just to keep me away from the slime!

I tightened the valve cores on all four corners last night. Will see if the leaker looks any better this evening.

 

[GEP]

I bought 3 rib front tires from miller in Ohio that leaked around the bead went back to the tire shop with a can of bead sealer in my hands and said use this stuff so i don't have to come back so they did

 

[Ramos]

It's still leaking. I will break it down this weekend and inspect rim and beads. If I don't see anything I think I will order a tube, maybe two and do both fronts.

 

[Billdog350]

My experience with many of those small tires with stiff sidewalls is that you can't "see" the leak sometimes....however under use like turning or with heavy loads or side hills, the rim leaks. This is a VERY common problem on small diameter tires and the only way to SOLVE the issue is a tube. All the rest are band-aids.

Good call doing both at once. If you're taking the effort to have the tire bead broken and the machine will be down, doing both will save you time in the long run. JMO.

 

[William1]

I've suffered five leaks in the past 20 years. All were from damaged valve stems. Probably hit a branch or root.
Easy check. Bend the stem. If you get a woosh, there's your problem. Hence I replace when ever I do a tire and tires get replaced at least once every ten years, no matter the amount of 'good tread left'.

 

[Ramos]

Valve stem is good as new, no leak around it or through it. I too have had way more trouble with the smaller front tires than the larger rear tires over the years.

 

[procraftmike]

I have had lots of issues with tubeless front tires over the years as well. They always seem to leak over time. From now on, I am just going to put tubes in them from the start. Part of my issue is I seem to get debri worked into the bead over time, which over time, causes them to start leaking.

 

[skeets]

Slime the darn things and furgit abaout it,,

 

[Ramos]

I think I will tube the darn things and furgit about it,,

 

[D2Cat]

You can tube it and prevent leaks at the beads. Then if you get thorns or something else use the juice!

 

[Ramos]

You can tube it and prevent leaks at the beads. Then if you get thorns or something else use the juice!

That's pretty much where I am at. Put a good tube in it, then resort to slime if we end up with puncture issues. Where this machine is running, punctures should not be a common occurrence.

 

[Ramos]

Fronts are now tubed. Not my favorite activity but, it's done and holding. Slime at the ready, if needed. Thanks, guys, for the encouragement.