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Post by dishe on Apr 28, 2014 16:41:18 GMT -5
Hey guys- first time posting here, used to be an occasional poster over at the scootdawg forums many years ago.
I have a 150cc GS Tracer (from GS motorworks) and a rear tire that won't hold any air. I'm not quite sure what happened to it, as I don't see any obvious holes in the tire. Before I garaged it for the winter, it did have a bit of a slow leak, but it always held air after I topped it off with a pump. Now it seems to not even hold anything.
So I have removed the wheel and called a local tire shop. They told me they won't work on it and recommended I call a motorcycle shop. I called the local cycle shop, and the guy wouldn't talk to me once I told him it was a Chinese scooter. Said they don't work on "those things", even though I told him I'm just bringing a freaking tire to be patched/replaced.
A buddy of mine recommended fix-a-flat, but I know those are supposed to be emergency fixes only. In fact, the bottle of the stuff I have has stark warnings DO NOT USE ON MOTORCYCLE TIRES anyway. So, I'm not sure what to do at this point. Buy a new wheel with a tire assembled on it? Seems a bit ridiculous. I'm open to suggestions.
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New Rider
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Post by dishe on Apr 28, 2014 16:42:17 GMT -5
I should add, I live in Rockland County NY. In case anyone is local and knows a place.
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Post by alleyoop on Apr 28, 2014 16:56:12 GMT -5
Fill it up with air get something to put water in enough to cover the rim and tire at the bottom and find out where it is leaking by turning the tire around and see if you can see bubbles. It could just be the STEM. They are not the best and with age and heat will leak. If its the tire just get a new tire and put it on the rim yourself it is not to hard to do.
Alleyoop
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Post by dishe on Apr 28, 2014 17:37:48 GMT -5
By stem, do you mean where the valve plug is? I don't mind buying a new tire, but having exactly ZERO experience with tires, I get nervous when someone says "not hard to do".  I'm scared I'll end up with a new tire and my old rim, and still be stuck with the original problem (above my skill level and no professional services want to help with it). |
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Post by alleyoop on Apr 28, 2014 17:42:48 GMT -5
You know what maybe try a regular tire shop they are usually nice folks and can find out where it is leaking and may even fix it for you if you do not trust yourself. Some guys that work there may have a motor cycle or scoot as well. I know my tire guy one guy that works there rides a scooter.
And yes the Valve STEM is the valve where you fill it up with air.
Alleyoop
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Post by jjoshua20213 on Apr 28, 2014 18:31:32 GMT -5
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Post by geh3333 on Apr 28, 2014 19:23:58 GMT -5
I wouldn't be surprised if it is the valve stem I carry a set in the trunk just in case . I had one blow out of the front tire at about 40mph luckily these tires are stiff as hel . The rubber seems to dry rot very easy .
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Post by dishe on Apr 28, 2014 21:13:44 GMT -5
The tire probably lost too much air and its seal from siting if it already had a slow leak. A tubeless tire would just inflate and continue to leak. I wouldn't be surprised if it is the valve stem I carry a set in the trunk just in case . I had one blow out of the front tire at about 40mph luckily these tires are stiff as hel . The rubber seems to dry rot very easy . To be honest, the tire doesn't seem to inflate and I don't see any obvious holes so I was starting to wonder if it was the rim or something else leaking immediately. I had to check the pump on a flat bicycle tire to make sure air was actually moving (it was)! If it IS something like the valve stem, is that easier to fix than replacing a tire? |
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Post by alleyoop on Apr 28, 2014 21:23:33 GMT -5
Here you go how to change a Valve Stem on a Rim:
Alleyoop
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 28, 2014 21:35:45 GMT -5
I had my tire go flat once from sitting up . I just bought new tires and stems and darn it it already went down twice . I push on the stem and it leaks darn it . The stock tire it would not roll, however my Michelins seem to be run flats . I got on it and noticed something was wrong ( it had no sag in the tire at all ) and I pulled over . I thought a shock broke or the frame cracked . I went home and everything looked fine and I kicked the tire and noticed it was not hard like it should be . When I put air in it I noticed the slightest touch the stem would leak . So I will be getting another stem in the morning .
I have used Goop ( like Fix a Flat in off road motorcycles but never tried on a scooter .
You can use soapy water or baby powder to help find leaks . If you want to dunk the tire make sure not to submerge the hub and get water in the bearings .
Once you fix the leak and if you can find a shop with nitrogen fill the tires with it instead of air and you will have less leakage
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Post by skuttadawg on Apr 28, 2014 21:39:06 GMT -5
I went to Bike Bandit as they have premium tires for the same price of a generic one in town and free shipping with orders over 100 . I showed my dealer my tires and he noticed the sticker as he buys from the same wholesaler as BB does . I paid cheaper retail price than he gets from a whole seller so he is now a BB customer too . |
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Post by jjoshua20213 on Apr 29, 2014 8:27:54 GMT -5
The tire probably lost too much air and its seal from siting if it already had a slow leak. **A tubeless tire would just inflate and continue to leak.** |
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Post by jjoshua20213 on Apr 29, 2014 8:36:32 GMT -5
The tire probably lost too much air and its seal from siting if it already had a slow leak. **A tubeless tire would just inflate and continue to leak.** I ment to say a tire WITH a tube. Tube-less uses the air-pressure to seal the sidewall onto the rim and keep the air in. Under a curtain psi and its going to leak everything out. Where-as a tubed tire has an inner-tube pre sealed and all you have to go is pump it up. This video should explain what i'm talking about... It uses wheel-barrow tire as the example but the same applies with all tires. I would also replace the valve stem during all this. If you see no reason for the tire to leak air this is probably the reason. |
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Post by JerryScript on Apr 29, 2014 10:23:35 GMT -5
If you change it yourself, be sure to get a set of the long tire irons. Those cheapo plastic ones they sell for bicycle tires will snap off everytime (and leave you with some skinned knuckles too). You need tire irons that are solid metal at least 9" and preferably 18" long. Rim protectors are a good idea as well, though not necessary.
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Post by wutzthedeal on Apr 30, 2014 13:38:57 GMT -5
Yep, I just ordered tire irons off of Amazon; they didn't make it THAT much easier but still took the job from a 30 minute job to a 10 minute job so was worth it for like $15 but you may find them cheaper elsewhere.
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..BAD TO THE BONE..
