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wilkoi
Active Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 05:28 pm | 1st Post |
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Hi all,
As of now am planning a road trip from Massachusetts to New Brunswick, and then on to Prince Edward Island, 3 night stay each destination. The company I work for is planning a 2 week shutdown, if that changes my plans change. I am planning for the best but preparing for the worst, you know how things can go to hell quickly.
I have a Slime air pump but am wondering how you people feel a bought tire plug kits. Mushroom plug kit or rope type plugs. I also understand whichever type is used it is good to get some practice with an old tire. Your thoughts and experience will be greatly appreciated. I am running stock Dunlop tires. Ride long and often.
Last edited on Sat May 10th, 2008 05:30 pm by wilkoi
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RoundmanFabrications
Very Active Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 05:42 pm | 2nd Post |
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If you really want to be "boy scout" prepared, I'd take some of each.
Rope type for small holes, mushroom type if you pick up something large.
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Life is Good
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siataukreg
Very Active Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 06:52 pm | 3rd Post |
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Get some of this in your tyres and forget about punctures http://www.ultrasealuk.biz/flashintro.html
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ultraseal-PROTECTS-AND-COOLS-YOUR-TYRES-STOP-BLOW-OUTS_W0QQitemZ170218141740QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170218141740&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
 Last edited on Sat May 10th, 2008 06:57 pm by siataukreg
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Bartlett
Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 06:53 pm | 4th Post |
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Ive been a atv racer for many years .... the rubber plugs just dont hold up .. the 100% best plugs are the rope type leather plugs ... ive pluged hole you could stick a finger in .. (no comments  )
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2000 gl1500
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Bondy
Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:09 pm | 5th Post |
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siataukreg wrote: Get some of this in your tyres and forget about punctures http://www.ultrasealuk.biz/flashintro.html
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ultraseal-PROTECTS-AND-COOLS-YOUR-TYRES-STOP-BLOW-OUTS_W0QQitemZ170218141740QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170218141740&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Lots been said about this stuff on here, just had mine done today it really does give you peace of mindLast edited on Sat May 10th, 2008 07:09 pm by Bondy
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Arthur (Art)
Black 1994 GL1500se
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retiredintime
Senior Member
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:48 pm | 6th Post |
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Bartlett wrote: ... ive pluged hole you could stick a finger in .. (no comments )
Are you kidding? You leave yourself wide open and then say, No comments!..
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Bob..KF4GP
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!
Life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it!
79 GL1000 46K
86 R80RT
90 K75RT
Garage won't hold any more!
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Ghost Rider 2
Very Active Member
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 11:19 am | 7th Post |
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| I carry the rope type. I saw a guy at a tire shop put 3 or 4 of them in a large hole a bolt had came out of. I ask if it would be a problem for the tire down the road. He said they will bond together and will not come out. Was not my tire but the guy drove out on it.
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1981 GL1100 Std with full vetter dailey driver
1996 GL1500 Aspy. weekend rider
2004 Honda Shadow Aero 750 wife (Better Half)
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pidjones
Very Active Member
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 02:22 am | 8th Post |
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I stopped at Walmart yesterday for a bunch of things, including a new supply of the self-vulcanizing rope plugs. I had used all but my last on a Boulevard that was stranded by the road last week.
Learned a new trick on that one. I was having an awful time getting the plug in. The owner of the bike tried unsuccessfully, then I had him place his foot on the handle of the tool as I guided it - it went in very nicely, then. He had picked up a self-tapping sheet metal screw - a common hazard behind work trucks and trailers spewing their trash that the workers are too lazy to pick up at the end of the job.
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"Love 'em all... Let God sort 'em out!"
'52 wife - '69 daughter - '83 daughter
ex '86 SE-i
ex '77 GL1000
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Kit Carson
GL1800 Guru
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 11:39 am | 9th Post |
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There are a lot of products on the market.....some just waiting for a fool to be parted with his money The Ultra seal and ride on products are wonderful. They do actually work......and do not harm your rims. (do not ever use slime products-they will totally destroy your rims)
For a large hole or even damage to the sidewall such as a piece of road debris, metal or a loose reflector cuts the tire, rope type plugs will save the day sometimes long enough to limp in about 25 mph to town. One key to rope plugs is to also have a tube or can of rubber cement and liberally dip the plugs into that....and let it dry a bit. then air it up or use your can of fix a flat. If it is that damaged you are going to have to have a new tire anyway.
That mushroom thing......boy is that a pain in the A$$. I stopped to help a fellow on the way to Charleston once.....he had one of those things........you can really struggle with that thing, all I can say is unless you are Charles Atlas it is just about impossible to hold enough pressure against the tire to allow the plug to go in like it should. That little pin that holds the sheet metal handle unto the plunger.......it broke .
I was in my work van......had the rope installation tools but no rope plugs........so I cut off part of my shoelace, dipped it in PVC glue and got him fixed up enough to get to town.....called ahead and found a PowerSports shop.....drew him a map......and he made it fine as he did call me and tell me thanks when he got to the shop. Kit
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Endwell_Tim
Guru
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 12:23 pm | 10th Post |
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Kit Carson wrote:
...had the rope installation tools but no rope plugs........so I cut off part of my shoelace, dipped it in PVC glue and got him fixed up enough to get to town...  Brilliant! I guess that gives "pulling him up by his bootstraps" a new meaning!
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Endwell_Tim
81 GL1100I
"Opportunity is most often missed because it shows up in overalls, lookin' like work..."
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Kit Carson
GL1800 Guru
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 12:42 pm | 11th Post |
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Endwell_Tim wrote: Kit Carson wrote:
...had the rope installation tools but no rope plugs........so I cut off part of my shoelace, dipped it in PVC glue and got him fixed up enough to get to town... Brilliant! I guess that gives "pulling him up by his bootstraps" a new meaning!
I used to ride lots of used bikes. Always had a couple junkers sitting in the yard. One would usually go! But have learned a lot of tricks over the years. Once on I-40 coming through Tenn on military leave my HD died.....dead..........no hope for it!! The altenator had went out. It was Sunday, nothing open, I caught a ride into the nearest exit and at the gas station and small country store they had some small lawnmower batteries. I had to wait till 10 a.m or so for them to open up, I bought two batteries and some bungee cords and the fellow gave me about 4 feet of wire off an old battery charger.
Even today with the high tech new Wing.......and its almost total reliablity....my tool bag weighs 27 pounds Kit
Took me three hours to catch a ride back to my bike.......then strapped the batteries to the side of the bike.....wrapped my piece of wire around the battery wires and out to my new batteries and split the end of the wire and wrapped that up to the posts and ran about four wraps of tape around to hold the wire on......and off I went!! A lawnmower battery on a HD has about a 60 mile range.......before it dies. It was enough to get me to a large town, a motel, a phone and help the next day. Kit
Last edited on Tue May 13th, 2008 12:44 pm by Kit Carson
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Bartlett
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 11:14 pm | 12th Post |
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rope type plugs will save the day sometimes long enough to limp in about 25 mph to town ??
ha ha ha ha Yea right .... Ive personaly seen rope plugs rode for thousands of miles on a motorcycle tire ....
Ive personaly rode rope plugs for the entire life of a atv tire without problems. (trust me atv tires are thinner walled and see much ruffer life than a on rode tire.
Any of the sealants ive seen used will alter the ballance of a tire and or make a mess of the rim/tire ... I would only use in a last resort situation.
I also never use any sealant on the rope plugs ... no need .. I just install them then cut it short with a blade .. then use a torch to volcanise the end ... then forget it ...
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2000 gl1500
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Wolfman
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 12:08 am | 13th Post |
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I always carry the rope type and have used them many times.
I had one in my last tire. I picked up a nail while riding with a group and the tire went flat over the course of about a minute or two. I felt something wrong and on the CB I asked one of the other guys to tell me how my tire looked. Yep, it was looking soft. By the time I was on the side of the road it was waffling pretty badly.
I was off the bike, on the center stand and had the plug kit out of the trunk and I was lying on the ground before the last bike in the group stopped. One of the guys still comments about how fast I was. What I think was about 15 minutes later we were back on the road.
My bike has a compressor, but I don't like to use it for tires. I think it's too much wear and tear on it. So I carry a mini compressor along with my tools. A couple of aligator clips to clip it to the battery.
Previous to that on my 1200 I had three plugs in the tire at one time. I had one when the tire was brand new, within the first 1000 miles. I wasn't ready to throw away a new tire. That one I actually took the tire apart and patched it. Then about 4000 miles into the tire, I got another nail. I was in a bind so I plugged it. I intended to go back and pull out the plug and replace it with a patch. But I never got around to it. Then all the way at the end of the tire's life, I was on my last trip with the tire. An overnight trip about 900 miles long. I knew I would be replacing my tire within a couple weeks after the trip. On the second morning I came out from the motel room and the tire was flat. The bike was on the center stand overnight so I didn't know it until we were ready to leave. I needed help to get the bike back on the center stand. So we had about 8 guys standing around while I plugged that one. When I got home, I went ahead and replaced the tire. I figured 3 plugs/patches was enough, and the tire had gone bald faster than I anticipated because of running it the day before soft.
No, I don't have any problem riding on a plug.
____________________
'96 GL1500 SE
Honda Riders of Tidewater -- Chapter President
http://www.hrot.org/
http://www.hrot.org/martino/goldwing/
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Kit Carson
GL1800 Guru
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 12:42 am | 14th Post |
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Plugging a tire - General Motorcycle Discussion Forum - Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums - Steve Saunders Goldwing Page forums
Today a very intelligent person posted this on our forum . I do love to mess around, and have done some strange repairs in the field....just to get home. But this was a good post.....take a look at it.
Very respectfully, I know many folks do plug a motorcycle tire and never think twice about it. And many miles have been ridden on plugged tires, this I do not deny. The thing is it is simply risky. Take a look at the photos in this post.
See what can happen. If any of you are like me, you will go for a day ride, a pretty long one sometimes, maybe 600 miles.......and it is late.....your are tired.....your back is starting to hurt a bit........so you hit the interstate for speed and to hopefully avoid a deer. So you run 80 mph or so....yea do not tell me no.....been there done this
How many of you have ever had a tire blow out at speed? I did once about 15 years ago. It made a believer out of me. When you go six different directions all at the same time..and you do not know whether to crap or go blind......and somehow by the grace of god you are still upright after fighting that machine for a quarter mile, it will convince you to take care of those tires.
To put rubber cement or whatever on a plug is simply to lubricate it so it slides into the tire easy......and does provide a small means of securement. But mainly you can use anything......joy soap would work......anything......to simply lubricate the plug to help install it.......hairspray would work......anything
As for sealant products in tires....there is a lot of truth and non truth in the things said about those.
A product such as slime is made for temporary use only, it is not made for permanent installation in a tire.......if you leave it in a tire.....it will eat up the rim......that is a statement of fact.
Ride on is a good product, will help balance the tires......and will not hurt the rims. It is designed to be used as a permanent product. The only drawback to this is if you become complacent and do not check your tires......and a nail or screw is sealed.....you very well may be creating a dangerous situation.....with common sense and a pre ride check of the tires.....it is a wonderful product......but has to be used with a commitment to checking your tires.
Ultra seal......do not know.....never used it
I am not saying to never ride on a plugged tire......but it is like playing Russian Roulette with about 2 rounds in the chamber....you cannot see the damage maybe done inside the tire...and or to the belts.....are they damaged.....maybe.....maybe not.......
At 85 mph and up to 100 passing a big truck on the interstate......headed home.....to get a hot meal and snuggle up with Sandy........I for one want only the best tires I can get.....and no plugs.
Respectfully..........Kit
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SB in SC
Senior Member
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 02:04 am | 15th Post |
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My dad owned a service station for 27 years. I grew up working for him most of my youth. Plugging tires was one of my jobs and we always used the "rope type" as you are calling it. Its actually strips of self vulcanizing raw rubber. The best kind were made by North Shore Labs, but I don't think you can find those anymore. A few years ago, I found a kit almost identical called "Black Jack Tire Repair." The truth of the matter is, as long as the hole is in the tread, the plug will outlast the tire. You only get into trouble if the hole is more of a slit or is near the sidewall.**NOTE, ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE IS WITH AUTO/TRUCK TIRES*** I have never plugged a motorcycle tire, but I do believe in the "rope type" plugs. I've never had a problem with them.
 SB in SC
____________________
Resident Redneck
1997 GL1500 Aspencade Limited Edition
1988 GL1500**Sold**
1980 GL1100 Interstate**SOLD**
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Wolfman
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 02:14 am | 16th Post |
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Kit makes a very good point. When I used to sell tires for a living, that was one of the primary reasons we used to give for not plugging tires, we only patched from the inside, allowing us to inspect the inside.
I think there is an element of common sense here, if you pull a nail and it's an inch long and relatively straight that's different than if it's a 16 penny nail bent over.
It's a strong argument to take the tire apart to inspect the inside.
____________________
'96 GL1500 SE
Honda Riders of Tidewater -- Chapter President
http://www.hrot.org/
http://www.hrot.org/martino/goldwing/
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exavid
Top Poster
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 03:46 am | 17th Post |
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| I carry an old fashioned plug kit in my saddlebag. I'd have no hesitation in plugging my tire. We plugged my brother's BMW out in the middle of nowhere a couple years ago, worked fine. He rode it 100 miles before we got where he could get a new tire. The hole was big enough to take two plugs but it held just fine. I wouldn't ride at speed with a bum tire like that but wouldn't hesitate to use a plug to get out of the woods like we did. If it was a small hole and in the middle of the tread where the rubber is thick I'd continue to use the tire with a plug. I don't recommend that to anyone, that's just the way I do things.
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