Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Austin on May 25, 2018 at 6:57am

One of my original tires refused to seal and also one leaked when I installed replacement tires. Instead of using a tube, I jacked the tire off the ground and removed the valve stem and positioned the valve at 12 o'clock. I then slowly pumped a few ounces of Slime for tubeless tires into the tire, slightly rocking the tire left and right from 11-1 o'clock.  The reason I positioned the valve at 12 and rocked it was that the Slime could then run down the wheel internally onto the o-ring and then run down the o-ring both ways to 6 o'clock. I then slightly over-inflated the tire (hoping that might drive sealant deeper under the o-ring) and slowly rotated it a few dozen times in each direction to distribute any excess Slime around the tire.  (Contrary to the Slime directions, I did NOT rotate the tire rapidly/or taxi or fly it right away because I did not want centrifugal force to sling the Slime away from the o-ring until it had a chance to penetrate into any unsealed area!)  I then let it sit overnight and then released the pressure back down to normal.  Both times I did this I never had another problem with leaks!

With the slow take-off and landing speed, I've never noticed any tire imbalance problems from using this method.

John

N750A

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren Warner on May 25, 2018 at 10:31am

I like John's method.

Another method.  For our nose wheel, after recently determining the leak must be at the o-ring, we broke the bead on one side of the wheel to access the o-ring, and then smeared a rubber gasket sealant around the o-ring.  Time will tell if it holds, but believe it will.  

By the way, the bead is a bitch to break using screw drivers.  Never again.  We just added a BeadBuster XB-450 to our tool box for the next time.  We may also carry a can of Fix a Flat in the field.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Del Clowes on May 25, 2018 at 3:46pm

I did the same as  John, no problems for the lasr two  years.

Del Clowes

N364DC

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim and Amelia Isaacs on May 25, 2018 at 7:35pm

Vaseline. Use lots of it.  On the ring, the inside of the rim, lots of it.  Petroleum jelly, not silicone. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Loren Warner on May 25, 2018 at 8:32pm

I used lots of vaseline the first time and it didn't prevent our nose tire from leaking.  After busting my ass to break the bead, I decided to use a rubber sealant and be done with it. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Morrisey on May 27, 2018 at 5:32pm

I gooped up the two wheel halves and the O ring with plumbers grease from Home Depot.  After slipping the O ring into place I used me finger to spread more of the plumbers grease and also used it around the perimeter of the tires.  I went through one tube of the grease for two tires.  No leaks.

• ▶ Reply