Tyre gone flat three times

[xwhatsit]

So I got a flat rear tyre. Squiggles came over and patched the tube. It lasted a few weeks then went flat again. This time I pumped it up and it magically retained air, but I wasn't going to push my luck -- so I took the wheel off and went to Cycletreads to get a new tube fitted.

Now I got home tonight, and as soon as I switched off the engine in my garage I could hear air pissing out of the tube. It was dead flat within 60 seconds.

WTF is going on here? My spokes seem to be OK (from the outside at least), I couldn't find anything inside the tyre the first time when we patched it and presumably the lads at Cycletreads looked. Is this just really bad luck or is there something I should be looking for...?

I can't afford to keep forking out for new tubes all the time. About to go bananas!

[Ixion]

What's your rim tape like?

[xwhatsit]

What's your rim tape like?

Good point. Cycletreads normally put new stuff in as a matter of course, and I certainly had some new tape in when that BT45 that's on there now was fitted. So I think it's OK.

[Ixion]

Unlikely then to be a spoke-poke. Where is it holing (relative to the valve.) That will often tell a tale. Especially if it is in roughly the same place!

Is the tube definately the right size? Bike shops are rather notorious for stuffing in any tube that will more or less fit.

[xwhatsit]

Unlikely then to be a spoke-poke. Where is it holing (relative to the valve.) That will often tell a tale. Especially if it is in roughly the same place!

Is the tube definately the right size? Bike shops are rather notorious for stuffing in any tube that will more or less fit.

Right. That could explain it; a simple puncture to begin with, then the patch GORN ORF, then they fit a dodgy tube.

Have Scots (and scotch) in my blood I wonder if I could get them to do it for nix. I'd be pushing my luck with a bikeshop though.

[skidMark]

Nope....

There is something still in your tyre causing it....

take tyre right off...

Redo your rim tape while at it (3 runs around it with electrical tape)

Then get tyre and get one of those green pot/pan scouring pads....

Spend 20 mins scrubbing around the inside of it...

Make sure there is nothing left in there....

Should be fine

Also don't tighten the nut around the valve until after you have pumped it up...

Let us know how ya go...

Skid.

[Ixion]

Good point. Was the offending object definately recovered after the original puncture? I always want to see the culprit in my hand, or else probe the hole in the cover.

It is quite common to get a puncture and the 'whatever it is' does not actually protude into the tyre inner when the tyre is off. But when the weight goes on the tyre, it squashes and pushes the sharp thingy a bit further in. Do that for a few weeks and it will poke another hole. Always make sure the offending item is either removed, or the hole in the cover located and probed to be sure that nothing remains in it .

EDIT: For which reason, always mark the position of the tyre relative to the valve, before removing it.

[xwhatsit]

Well I'll be getting the bike shop to do it (not owning a set of levers myself, although I plan to get some when I can), so I suppose I'll have to get them to take a proper look.

[skidMark]

Well I'll be getting the bike shop to do it (not owning a set of levers myself, although I plan to get some when I can), so I suppose I'll have to get them to take a proper look.

On another note, were you in newmarket today?

I was eyeing up your bar end mirror as you rode past

It was purdy

[xwhatsit]

On another note, were you in newmarket today?

I was eyeing up your bar end mirror as you rode past

It was purdy

Yeah mate. Folded down under the bar though so it's only good for looking up skirts. Were you on the bus? That's where I'll be tomorrow I suppose.

By the way, are you and Ixion gay lovers now? You've both got each other's quotes in your sigs and you post in threads together.

[skidMark]

Yeah mate. Folded down under the bar though so it's only good for looking up skirts. Were you on the bus? That's where I'll be tomorrow I suppose.

By the way, are you and Ixion gay lovers now? You've both got each other's quotes in your sigs and you post in threads together.

Nah in a mates car...

Saw ya as ya came up to the roundabout by pools on broadway...

That mirror on it when you got it?

[skidMark]

By the way, are you and Ixion gay lovers now? You've both got each other's quotes in your sigs and you post in threads together.

Maybe...maybe not... i could get ixion to give you a blowy if you give me that barend mirror?

[xwhatsit]

Nah in a mates car...

Saw ya as ya came up to the roundabout by pools on broadway...

That mirror on it when you got it?

Oh right yeah. No, most of what's on the front end wasn't on it when I got it. When I got it it looked like a ratty version of what's in my avatar (in fact the CB250RS on Wikipedia is my bike, the day I bought it). $20 off eBay for the mirror.

[skidMark]

Oh right yeah. No, most of what's on the front end wasn't on it when I got it. When I got it it looked like a ratty version of what's in my avatar (in fact the CB250RS on Wikipedia is my bike, the day I bought it). $20 off eBay for the mirror.

Where did that there purdy round headlight come from feller?

[xwhatsit]

Where did that there purdy round headlight come from feller?

Half of El Dopa's parts-bike Bandit 400, half of an SR400 unit from Yahoo Japan. They're actually the same headlight, just took the best bits of both (SR400 is older lens-style though, symmetrical beam and better focus but weaker reflector). Big 8" bastard, really nice compared to the stock rectangle item.

Tomaselli knock-off clip-ons. Nice bars, them. Could use with a bit more angle though.