Puncture puncture puncture! Mushroom plug vs Dog turd

[EJK]

So I had the misfortune to encounter a flat tyre some nights ago. I didn't have a tyre puncture repair kit on me but no big deal. I called up AA and they got to me in an hour and transported back home. Great!

<img width="300" src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=309452&stc=1&d=1425100581" /> <img width="300" src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=309453&stc=1&d=1425100581" />

Next day I decided to get a tyre puncture kit for myself. I dropped by at Avon City Suzuki after work and saw what they had in store. There were a couple of items to choose from:
*Dog turd puncture repair kit: $50
*Mushroom plugs puncture repair kit: $70

I've heard many good things about dog turd tyre puncture repair kit. But I've also heard mushroom plugs work better because that seals from the inside using tyre pressure. However the mushroom plug doesn't use rubber glue to seal the puncture, rather relies solely on expansion of the plug inside the puncture hole. I decided to choose the mushroom plug tyre puncture repair kit.

I took it home and by following easy instructions I successfully managed to fix the hole. "Great success! Now let's pump some air in!" So I pumped up the tyre to 30psi and wet the area with water. I could see air bubbles seeping from the puncture hole! It wasn't much (very very very tiny bubbles) and I thought maybe that's "o-kay". Just to check I pumped up the tyre to 30psi and left it overnight.

In the morning I checked the tyre pressure and it seemed to have dropped to 27psi. "That's not TOO bad" I thought. "Maybe it really did the job. Now let's go on a short ride and see". So I pumped up the tyres back to normal pressure (32 front, 34 rear) and away I went. Few minutes later I realised this was an IDIOTIC-STUPID mistake.

10 minutes later, approaching a corner at high speed suddenly my bike felt like a whale! Steering was heavy and the bike did not want to turn! It felt like trying to steer an oil tanker! Luckily I managed to slow down in time, went off the corner but saved the bike from dropping on it's side. I realised that I had flat tyre again and the mushroom plug failed only after a few kms.

So again I dialed *222 (thanks AA Plus membership!) and got home a few hours after. At this stage I was quite stressed about tyre initially getting puncture + mushroom plug failing + waiting under beating sun for the AA truck for 2 good hours + hungry + $70 wasted + stupid decision to go on a ride + etc...

I raged down to nearest Supercheap Autos and I found a dog turd tyre puncture kit (without the CO2 canisters).... FOR $20!!!!! Arrived back home, open the packet, glue on the stick, shoved it in, cut off the end bit, pump the tyre. DONE! No air leaks, easy, air tight sealed and secured. Fixed as if the hole was never there.

<img width="300" src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=309454&stc=1&d=1425103298" />

So within past few days I learnt how to use both dog turd and mushroom plug puncture repair kits. And in my experience, I'd definitely choose the dog turd over <strike>fuckn</strike> mushroom plugs.

<strike>Fuckn</strike> <strike>fuckn</strike> mushroom plugs <strike>fuckn</strike>....... Wasted $70.......... <strike>fuck</strike>

Rant over.

[Kickaha]

You should have taken it off and had it done properly

Most (if not all) repair failures are beause they aren't done properly

[caspernz]

Interesting learning for yourself huh? I've really only used the dog turd repair as a "get me home" kind of repair. Proper glued mushroom patch after tyre dismounted has always followed, or at times straight chuck and replace the tyre approach. The softer "sports" tyres have been more vulnerable I've found, no surprises there of course.

Good to hear your experiment didn't end in tears :woohoo:

[T.W.R]

You should have taken it off and had it done properly

Most (if not all) repair failures are beause they aren't done properly

:niceone: Vulcanised


Never fitted a mushroom ever without a sealing agent :no: a round stem never fills a torn hole perfectly

Hate dog-turds with a passion.....replaced so many that hadn't been fitted properly and semi pulled out & ones that had dried out and started to leak.

[EJK]

You should have taken it off and had it done properly

Most (if not all) repair failures are beause they aren't done properly

I'll be seeing Jimmy at BMS on Monday. I could get it fixed properly but with the amount of treads left I'll need a new tyre soon anyways. Rather making two trips I'll just replace the tyre while I can.

[Laava]

Oh-oh!
Do some burnouts so you don't feel too bad about changing the tyre early?

[mossy1200]

s1000 and you repaired a puncture on a tire in its last 1/4 of its life.
I would have replaced the tire.

[Tazz]

Good sheeet! Cheers for the write up. Nice to try things for yourself rather than just with your chequebook , although sounds like you could have been digging deeper by getting a bit happy before testing it thoroughly :laugh: If it leaks when it's cold it's only going to get worse :S

When are you next doing a lap up around here man? You just missed out on some Hite, although that might not be a bad thing :sick:

[nzspokes]

Turd seal to get you home, then take the wheel in for a proper repair or replacement. Decent tyre shop will tell you if it is safe to repair.

I took one to Drury tyres which they fixed but said 10mm further out and they wouldnt have. The repair lasted the life of the tyre.

[Kickaha]

:niceone: Vulcanised
Not too many places that have the equipment for doing that anymore

Turd seal to get you home, then take the wheel in for a proper repair or replacement.
Not that we really do any bike stuff but I know we wont redo any repairs that have been done by someone else

[ellipsis]

...tyres are cheap, like sex, and rock'n'roll and shit from the warehouse...air's still free...take advantage of this while you can...and always remember...don't leave home 'til you've seen the country...(TM)...prob...

[Gremlin]

Only used dog turd, every one has been successful. They should be seen as temporary repairs to get you home, but I have done thousands on one or two with no problem. I don't cut the turd flush with the tyre, rather leave a little to squish out on the hole. Not too much, as it could cause the turd to be pulled out.

Once home, shops can do a proper repair where the tyre is pulled off and a patch applied from the inside. However, too close to the edge and you can't. Some tyres don't repair well either. Pilot Road 2/3/4 are notorious for patches failing... I've been lucky with a 2, but the shop said it may or may not work, and if not, then new tyre.

[skippa1]

Interesting write up......but seriously??!?......you went to test a home done puncture repair by attacking a corner at "high speed":weird:

[Swoop]

+1 for turds. ONLY to get you home or to the bike shop for a proper insertion of a plug from the inside of the tyre wall.

Innovations have a great little kit with 2x cylinders for inflation and all the good poos. Put one under your seat and have peace of mind.

[Trade_nancy]

Interesting write up......but seriously??!?......you went to test a home done puncture repair by attacking a corner at "high speed":weird:

I felt similarly perplexed....

[Erelyes]

Just echoing sentiments in this thread really....

- Kit would have been much handier out and about. At least now you can get a couple more canisters and take the thing with you to save having to be trailered home.
- As above, get someone competent to look at it once and repair properly you've limped home. 'Look at it' will mean removing the tyre. I would still suggest you do this now regardless of how 'permanent' you think your repair is.
- Attacking the corner.... whaaa? You are lucky you didn't drop your bike. You'd have wasted a lot more than $70 then, huh.

[Gremlin]

Innovations have a great little kit with 2x cylinders for inflation and all the good poos. Put one under your seat and have peace of mind.
Oh, and FYI, don't count on those cylinders delivering enough air to bring the tyre up to full pressure if you're starting from scratch. The medium cylinders deliver about 8 psi.

Either carry more cylinders (especially if you cock up the first repair... or worse, get another puncture), or use an air compressor instead... or a hand pump if you're a masochist.