About two weeks ago, while checking the tires in all my vehicles, I noticed the front tire on the Blue Magna seemed low. Pressure measurement confirmed that it was quite low (< 10 psi, lowest readable on my guage). I inflated it to 40 psi. Today it was low again. So, I tried a squirt bottle of detergent all around, with no bubbles visible. Next, I put the bike on the lift and submerged the front tire section at a time. I let each section sit for several minutes (until the rest of the tire was dry), and could not find bubbles of any kind anywhere -- not the valve or stem, not the sidewall, not the bead, not the tread -- Nada, nothing. I would have thought a leak that fast would show up, but I can't find it.
The tire has good tread left, and I hate to replace it, but am not real fond of having to continually pump it up.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
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Over inflate it a bit (within reason) and try your leak test.
Mag wheels are notorious for this also.
HOWEVER tires are MUCH cheaper than a blowout and all the ensues when this happens!
Quote from: Greg Cothern on August 27, 2010, 09:29:15 PM
Over inflate it a bit (within reason) and try your leak test.
Mag wheels are notorious for this also.
HOWEVER tires are MUCH cheaper than a blowout and all the ensues when this happens!
Thanks, Greg I will try over inflation -- say 60-70 psi?
Would the wheel leak through the rim, other than at the bead? Would a leak through the aluminum show bubbles? I turned the wheel so each test covered from one spoke to the next, and both spokes were under water where they joined the rim.
Not sure I would go that high on PSI, maybe 50-55 or so. Not sure why they leak sometimes or from where. I know that I have had some seal up good, and some leak no matter what.
Never on a motorcycle, but I have had a tire taken off the wheel, cleaned the rim and reseated the tire and an identical problem went away. I was very skeptical, but my cousin suggested it and sure enough it fixed the "leak" I could never find.
Corrosion on the aluminum can cause a leak where the tire seats but it has to be pretty bad.
Couldn't hurt to break the seal and make sure it was all clean, maybe move the tire a bit and reseal/inflate it. Of course it will affect the balance, but nothing some dyna beads won't take care of.
IF you are going to break the seal, consider throwing a tube in there... That will stop the leak, no matter where it is.. You will again have to figure it out later when you want to get a new tire, but it will get you through your present tire..