| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
I saw at least one recent thread on "who makes the best tire plug?" that died out about a month ago, but I feel the need to resurrect the topic because of my experience last week. I don't mean to bring up the whole "plugs are great!"/"I wouldn't PARK my bike with a plug in the tire!" argument. Let's just say this is for emergency repairs for the purpose of this discussion. I had a flat on my Uly ~60 miles into a ~270 mile (one-way) trip. I had apparently ridden a good 10 miles or so without realizing the tire was flat, which I'm sure didn't do it any good. No nail or other object visible; just a small puncture dead center on the tread. I have a Stop-n-Go tire plugger and it seemed to seal well, but I stopped at the next town and bought a "sticky rope" kit just in case. To make a long story short, initial plug started leaking badly after 80 miles, 1st sticky rope plug blew out almost immediately, 2nd Stop-n-Go plug leaked badly, finally got it to seal with a sticky rope plug plus glue. Plug held for another 100 miles and then gave out 80 miles into the return trip. Used my last Stop-n-Go plug to limp to the next town and wait for my wife to come get me and bike. I replaced the tire with a used tire graciously supplied free by another Badwebber (Jlnance) until I could get home and order the tire I want. I'm pretty well convinced the reason I couldn't get either type plug to work was because the tire was damaged internally from riding on it flat for so long. After this trying experience I've been doing some research this morning and have found some interesting and recommended plug kits: 1- "Safety Seal" comes highly recommended by several on advrider. It appears to be a higher-quality sticky rope product: http://www.safetyseal.com They have an "ATV Repair Kit" for about $20 which should work well for M/C's. 2- Monkey Grip heavy duty kit- uses brown sticky string (better?); available at Wally World and other outlets: http://www.victorautomotive.net/pdfs/mg/mtarr4.pdf Looks like the string may be a little fatter than the typical black sticky string. 3- Stop-n-Go Tire Plugger- uses mushroom-shaped soft rubber plugs with special tool (no glue). Some people love 'em, some don't. The main complaint is that steel cords in some tires will eventually cut the plug resulting in quick deflation. http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp I have the "pocket plugger"; it's small and works well. I had previously plugged the rear Dunlop on my S3 using this kit and rode it for anther 5000 miles without a problem. 4-BMW Motorcycles Tire Repair kit: This looks really interesting; it uses a weird little rubber widget/plug with an insertion tool like what you use with sticky rope plugs. It can be ordered on-line from BMW and other sources: http://www.bmw-riders-gear.com/BMWRA_products.asp? page=1&mm=Gear&c=Maintain&sc=The+Basics&m=Motorcyc le&r1=&md=&a1=ON&d1=ON&i1=ON&p1=1&p2=12&s1=repair+ kit&bplo=&bphi= This link is to a discussion on its use complete with detailed drawings: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&thr eadid=336 Better photo of kit here: http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=2120 5- "Dynaplug"- It consists of sticky rope with a small brass pointed head attached, and a tool to insert it. You don't have to ream the hole prior to insertion, which helps minimize its size. Evidently the brass head also helps keep the sticky string from blowing out. http://www.dynaplug.com/ If any of you have any experience or recommendations with any of these products or something else not listed, chime in and let us know how they worked. | ||
| Etennuly |
You must have been pissed to have done that much research on tire plugs! Oh yeah, it is bad weather season. I forgot.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
80 miles from wife & relatives, 170 miles from home, 120 miles from intended destination (1st cousin's wedding on Friday afternoon), tire going flat and nothing I have will stop it. Spent 4 hours sitting in a Hardee's waiting on wife to rent U-Haul truck, get tie downs, and drive 80 miles to get me. Left wife's niece's house at 8:30 AM that morning; returned at 5:30 PM that night with a lame Uly. Missed wedding. NOT a good way to spend a day off. Yea, I was pissed. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
What about Slime - I've used it twice with tube tires in an emergency and it seemed to work okay until I was able to change it out at home. But that was with tube tires on a smaller bike. . | ||
| Dano_12s |
Next time try 2 or 3 plugs if 1 isn't enough to fill the hole. | ||
| Florida_lime |
Stop-n-Go plug kit -- bad luck for me. Cut through the first plug after 120 miles when I had 250 miles to reach my destination. Second plug made the reminder of the distance, but was flat in the A.M. When I finally changed the tire, the mushroom head was still rolling around inside, and you could clearly see the "sawed off" effect the steel cords allowed.  Replaced with the Walmart "brown rope" version that I have used most often, did require 2 plugs in the hole to seal it completely without the slow leak that one plug allowed. Dynaplugs -- I had used this product in the past with very good luck, but had run out of the special plugs, and was not able to find another source for them. Thanks for the website, I may inquire about replacement plugs for use as a back-up system. | ||
| Hughlysses |
What about Slime - I've used it twice with tube tires in an emergency and it seemed to work okay until I was able to change it out at home. Yea, that or "Fix-a-flat" would have been worth trying. 2 plugs might have worked, but the hole wasn't that big; I just couldn't seem to get anything to seal it. I suspect tire was torn up inside. I should have asked to see it after it was replaced but I was just in a hurry to get out and get the wheel back on. I was just brain-locked not wanting to miss the wedding on one hand and not wanting to get stuck FURTHER away from rescue on the other. I REALLY want to avoid a repeat of this in the future. | ||
| Gotj |
Here's one I came across that uses the technology that Etennuly and others use: Tech Tire. It supposedly vulcanizes as the tire is run and seals small fissures. I haven't tried one yet but I have used other string plugs on two tires for multiple thousands of miles without leaks. http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/cata log_item_detail.asp?catalog=776&levelcode=6023&pro duct=62247&cattype=&ProductCategoryCode= | ||
| Gotj |
For more info on Tech Tire repair stuff on a commercial level, here is the link to the home site: http://www.techtirerepairs.com/ I tried to find a local source to buy small quantities but couldn't which is why I came up with the Rocky Turner kit. | ||
| Atoms |
I got a Tubeless Repair Kit at: http://motopumps.com/ last spring. (EDITED: $41 = $35 + $6 shipping ) It comes with the sticky rope plugs which I finally got to test on a friends bike recently. He had a big screw right in the center of the tread. He just reported today that 100 miles later it is still holding air. The kit is a great thing to have anyway. I've used the compressor to top off my tires tons of times. The kit fits just fine under my Uly seat. (Message edited by atoms on November 27, 2007) | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Tire plugs, counter-steering, and synthetic oil. I advocate on behalf of all three, although every time a new counter-steering thread's started I feel the brain cells starting to shed. Wal-Mart variety tire plugs have served me well for many years. I've had to use up to 3 at one time to get a good seal and I've also dipped them in adhesive to make a positive seal. Works for me. |
