Tube leak

550Doug · Jul 5, 2008

A front tire (7.50 x 15) has been loosing air. It has a tube in it, so I removed the tube, filled it with air and found no leaks. Re-installed it with a new valve and presto! it still leaks. When the tube was removed I could only get about 10psi in it to test it because it just kept stretching. But inside the tire it is loosing air at 30psi. How can I find the leak??????

RobMD · Jul 5, 2008

inflate tube pretty good, stick it in a tub of clear water, and look for bubbles.

bradk · Jul 5, 2008

Or 2 tablespoons of dish soap in 1/2 gal. water.Wring out rag over tube.

jose bagge · Jul 5, 2008

just keep blowing it up...it will get way oversized, and the hole will be easy to find.

ken in texas · Jul 5, 2008

Air up tube ,turn water on slow in garden hose and move all over tube.Should be able to see air blowing water away.

504-2 · Jul 5, 2008

Air the tire up and check for a leak at the stem, the stem can leak where it is moulded into the tube and will only leak when there is pressure in the tire. When looking for leaks use dish soap and do not hurry, soap the tube and leave it set for 10 minutes and a slow leak will show up.

RAB · Jul 6, 2008

Elementary, as most have said, find bubbles.

As a young child we were always puncturing our bike tyres. We learned from an early age how to locate the hole. Inflate tube. Immerse in water. Look for bubbles. Works every time.

We also had another trick as well. When we found where the leak was we checked the tyre inside around that position (yes we were smart enough to keep the tyre in the same relationship as the rim) to make sure whatever punctured it was removed before remounting the tube and tyre. The rest of the tyre was checked over as well but that 'thorn' was checked for very warily, after snagging you finger on one prviously!!

RAB

armand tatro · Jul 6, 2008

To save your fingers when checking inside of tires for nails, throns, bits of glass, and other items that can cause tires to leak air use a cloth shop towel to rub inside of tire. It will snag on any sharp objects and save your fingers!! Also if you are mounting new recaps use the towel on these also because they may objects in them to cause a flat. Also before demounting a tire be sure to mark the tire sidewall at the valve stem. Armand

Iowa_tire_guy · Jul 6, 2008

Your problem is that the tube has such a small hole that it only leaks when it has more than 10 psi in it. Outside the tire you can only get about 2 psi in it so don't bother looking for bubbles, they just aren't there. If you leave that tube inflated outside the tire in a week it will still be the same size. (I have done this to prove to customers that I am not just trying to sell them a new tube) You could try some tire sealer such as slime and if the hole is in the tread area it will stop it. Other than that put in a new tube.

dave guest · Jul 7, 2008

Soap suds will find the ones that water won't. Another thing Nitrogen is supposed to stay in a leaky tire or tube. Never tried it.

Tube leak

550Doug

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RobMD

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bradk

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jose bagge

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ken in texas

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504-2

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RAB

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armand tatro

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Iowa_tire_guy

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dave guest

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