Working with rims

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sgwilly
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Working with rims

#1

Post by sgwilly »

So I told my brother I’d fix his slow intermittent leak on his rear tire. I tried to find this before with soap and water to no avail. This time, I got it up an a lift and jacked the psi way beyond recommended levels and low and behold, there was a tiny leak on the bead.

I figured it just needed some clean up so the first hurdle was to get it off the rim using my limited shop equipment.
Impromptu bead breaker
Impromptu bead breaker
2FF92991-3BBD-4BF2-A410-1BAB33D73195.jpeg (386.41 KiB) Viewed 392 times
That is a formidable color of corrosion. But that really wasn’t the issue as I found a dimple on the side wall of the bead seat where the leak was emanating. No other such dimples otherwise.
Sure is a pretty color of green.
Sure is a pretty color of green.
C48D7E58-ED73-4315-A049-85DBE3034A74.jpeg (357.63 KiB) Viewed 392 times
I got out a file and worked the surface flush, removed all the corrosion and washed it all up.
Cleaned up
Cleaned up
852796EE-41DD-4D4D-A800-5A63C71F7521.jpeg (267.96 KiB) Viewed 392 times
I think I’ll take it to a shop to get the tire mounted again. Chances are I’d just put another dimple or 3 in there with my tire irons.

And yes, I’m well aware of the whole car tire bead/motorcycle bead thing. I enjoy being out on the shaky limbs. It makes life more interesting.
Last edited by sgwilly on Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Steve
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Liam
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Re: Working with rims

#2

Post by Liam »

That green stuff looks to me like some residue of puncture sealant that was used in the past. That stuff attacks and corrodes the wheel rim. I had the same problem with my 1500 rear wheel some years back. It had the green slime fitted by a previous owner. I cleaned it out when I fitted a new tyre and got both rims powder coated.
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sgwilly
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Re: Working with rims

#3

Post by sgwilly »

The PO must have done that as I coached my brother not to. It has been doing this since he got the bike 2 years ago.
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'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
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Re: Working with rims

#4

Post by 914Driver »

Tube time?
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sgwilly
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Re: Working with rims

#5

Post by sgwilly »

I’m going see how it does without a tube first.
Last edited by sgwilly on Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
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Re: Working with rims

#6

Post by Whiskerfish »

My Brand new truck (well 10 months old) has a tire that looses about a pound a week. I know odds are the stealership will never find the cause so I will not allow myself the frustration of that experience but it is aggravating.
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sgwilly
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Re: Working with rims

#7

Post by sgwilly »

I know that feeling all too well. I brought my wive’s car in to the dealer for an airbag recall and while there I asked them to diagnose a thunking under initial braking. I had checked all the steering/suspension linkages and couldn’t find anything. And the technician could only talk about the out of round tires. Which I knew wasn’t the issue - or at least not the one I wanted him to diagnose. In the end it was a motor mount.

The whole episode did not build my confidence that a pricey dealer service visit will always successfully tackle the issue on their first try. And I don’t want to pay for their training sessions.

DIY. It’s a cursed super power.
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
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All my stuff is old. It makes me feel young.
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sgwilly
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Re: Working with rims

#8

Post by sgwilly »

And soap up those valve stems. I found 3 loose and leaking valve cores on a car my daughter’s boyfriend just bought.
Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
IBA #58082
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Re: Working with rims

#9

Post by Whiskerfish »

Yea I will be doing a oil change and tire rotation next week so I will look at it then.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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77Gowing
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Re: Working with rims

#10

Post by 77Gowing »

Good one Steve, "Steelership!".
You made me laugh hard and its so true.
Just thinking of going to a car or motorcycle steelership, I get the urge to bend over and touch my toes.
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Re: Working with rims

#11

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Huge difference between "steel" and "steal".... Just sayin'

That reminds me we need to check the pressure in the front left tire on Kay's new car. When we took it for a 2nd test drive they had to pump the tire but the next day when their mechanic inspected it for the safety certificate he couldn't find a leak.
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sgwilly
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Re: Working with rims

#12

Post by sgwilly »

I'm happy to report that my brother's wheel hasn't leaked any air since the tire was remounted about a week ago. He's also looking to sell it if anyone is interested in a 99 Valkyrie Interstate. Rear end just serviced along with new brakes, flushed brake lines, valves set, and carbs synched. $4k
GreenValk2.jpg
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Steve
'09 Yamaha FJR1300AE
'99 Valkyrie Tourer
'89 Isuzu Trooper 3.4L
'83 GL1100 MonkeyWing (on IR)
'75 GL1000 (in the queue)
'70 Suzuki T500 Titan (in the queue)
'64 MGB
IBA #58082
All my stuff is old. It makes me feel young.
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pidjones
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Re: Working with rims

#13

Post by pidjones »

Around here the motorcycle shops have begun refusing to mount CT on MC rim. However, Walmart doesn't bat an eye. Just don't ask them to balance it (I use beads, anyway). On top of that, I have a friend in Crossville that will mount them for free in his garage.
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