Farkle and Tire Issues

[fjr turbine]

Guys (and gals),

I need a little advice.

I have a couple of problems.

I was eating lunch today and a guy came up to me and told me that I had

a finishing nail in my rear tire, so I go out to take a look and, sure enough,

there's the head of a small finishing nail in my tire.

I call my local dealer and he says come by, and I'll take a look. So I drive

over to the service department and he gets a pair of pliers and pulls the

nail out of the tire. It appears to be between 1/4 to 3/8", and is flat at the

end that was in the tire. Service guy goes back in shop and comes back with

soapy water, so we're looking for a leak. Little bubbles every now and then,

not very fast at all, so there might, just might be a small leak in

the tire. I'll be checking every couple of days. They want to charge me $180

for tire replacement (again, the rear), but that doesn't include mounting and

balancing.

On the farkle note, I have a set of Moko's I just received from Wild Hair, but I

inadvertently used my torque wrench to break a bolt once, so do I need to get

the wrench re-calibrated, or do you think it's still good? I don't want to take any

chances with the engine mount bolts.

I'd appreciate ANY suggestions, comments, whatever related to these issues, and

thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[trinibob]

I would dismount the tire and rim off the bike and have them dismount from the rim if you cant.

and then take the tire to a TIRE REPAIR SHOP have them put a plug patch in the hole and you will be golden!

If you have any concerns about your torque wrench find a friend that has one and try tightening up a bolt behind him.

It will give you a good gauge to where your wrench is torqueing.

 

[Geezer]

If there are even a few very small bubbles coming from the nai hole then you will eventually find yourself with a flat tire. I would patch it with a string type tire patch or, as Trinibob said, have a tire repair guy do it.

If you are really not comfortable riding on a patched tire then you need to search the forum for some of the tire threads that talk about which tire might serve your needs best based on your riding style and where to get the best price, and then consider how or where to get it mounted.

 

[NoCage]

I would patch it with a string type tire patch

That's what I did and put another 2000 miles on the tire. ONLY plug/patch it if the hole isn't near the sidewall. My dos centavos.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I have patched tires on the last four bikes I have owned since 1998. Always from a nail or a screw in the center. Never had a related problem even on the FJR.

 

[Rickster]

my $.02

If the tire's new -- follow the advise and remove the tire from the rim and verify it's patched from the inside.

If the tire's close to being replaced anyway -- string plug it.

Either way -- I personally won't travel high speed, or long distance on a repaired tire. I'll commute on a repaired tire until it needs replacing.

My emergency kit (have used many times for myself and others).

* Ultraflate CO2 bicycle inflator with 3 C02 cartridges (most bicycle shops about $15, I choose Ultraflate because it has a trigger/valve and the entire cartridge isn't spent when you puncture the C02 -- allows finding a hole without using a whole cartridge)

* String plugs, reemer, and insertion needle (avail at Wal-Mart about $5)

Stick that stuff in a zip lock bag, and remember to replace the string plugs every year ($1) as they dry out.

 

[trinibob]

I would patch it with a string type tire patch

Take it from a guy that patches semi and tractor tires for a living!

Plugs are a bandage on a dam!

plugs are for getting it to a real repair shop.

A patch installed properly is as strong as the liner of the tire.

Its when your belt pack has lost some belts from the nail/bolt/deer bone /screw driver... you get the point.

that your brtter off getting a new skin.

 

[chickey191]

you didn't really say where the nail was - so I would have a couple of questions

1. How does a guy spot a finishing nail in your tire?

2. where was it? if in the side of the tire - BUY A NEW TIRE

3. if there are bubbles - then you have a leak - even 1 bubble is just a SLOW leak

4. what condition was the tire? new?

5. if the hole is in the bottom of the tire - I would plug and patch it

if anywhere near a side wall I would trash it.

Now more questions about the torque wrench -

1. what was it set at when you broke whatever is was that you broke?

2. What were you torquing?

if you broke a rusty bolt - I wouldn't worry about it

if the wrench was set on 5 ft lbs and you broke a high grade bolt - I WOULD worry about it

if you broke the bolt by hitting it sideways with the torque wrench - you might want to read the directions

if it was a dry wall screw going in your engine casing .... you might want to put the torque wrench down, grab a beer and go watch some tv.

 

[fjr turbine]

Chickey191 (and everyone else), thanks for the replies!!

1. How does a guy spot a finishing nail in your tire?

The guy used to be a wrench at a Yamaha dealership...musta liked the purdy blue on my fast '05.

The sun was actually glinting off the nail-pretty lucky catch, if ya ask me!

2. where was it? if in the side of the tire - BUY A NEW TIRE

Nah, the nail was in the outside part of the tread, just about in the middle of the tire.

3. if there are bubbles - then you have a leak - even 1 bubble is just a SLOW leak

Roger that on the leak.

4. what condition was the tire? new?

Tire has 1440 and change on it.

5. if the hole is in the bottom of the tire - I would plug and patch itif anywhere near a side wall I would trash it.

I really don't like having safety concerns on a motorcycle, if you know what I mean.

Now more questions about the torque wrench - 1. what was it set at when you broke whatever is was that you broke?

Sorry, guess I wasn't very clear...I didn't really break anything, I broke something loose.

Unfortunately, I don't remember the setting...it was some time ago.

2. What were you torquing?

I used my torque wrench to loosen the oil filter at the first oil change.

I can get this tire at a pretty good deal...see link below:

https://www.oneidasuzuki.com/store/customer...&cat=555&page=1

(I'm looking at the tire with the (J) suffix.)

So, waddya think? Good deal, or pass?

Jim