Punctures & CO2 cartridges

Tone in't Fens · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

I hope this doesn't tempt The God of Punctures.

I've only had 3 punctures in the last 12 years and none of them have marooned me. For the last 3 years I've always carried a tubeless repair kit, but not enough tools to remove a wheel. I've never used one of these kits and I'm curious about the performance of these CO2 cartridges; how many do I need to re-inflate the tyre? I have just assumed one would do the trick, am I wrong?

Regards, Tone

iansoady · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

I've never had to use one either but I also carry a small compressor (the guts out of one of the cheapies you can get from Lidl, Aldi or your local car boot sale), which only weighs less than a Kg. I work on the principle that it'll work enough to blow the tyre up should I need it.

Tone in't Fens · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

I've got one of those compressors from Lidls, and its extremely useful; mine's about the size of Tigger's engine; it'll just about go on the pillion/rack ;-} -how do I put the smilies in?

F4sSprintST · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

That's a lot of flats

What are the causes? Looks like you have wire wheels, might be a spoke issue

Arrybash · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

I carry a can of holts tyre weld from Wilkinsons about £6.00.

I never had to use it on a bike but I did have cause to use it on a Corsa recently.

My other half got a puncture and I had to go and rescue her. When trying to undo the wheel nuts I broke the key that unlocks the special one.

I was on my TTR250 and I was carrying a can of tyre weld.

It was either try it or leave the car in Liverpool City Centre for a few days.

It worked a treat. It turned out there was a dirty great self tapping screw in the tyre. The 1 canister got the tyre up to a decent pressure and she drove home 10 miles. I topped it up when we got home and it stayed inflated for 3 days.

Highly recommended. I keep the canister cable tied to the Tourance engine bars.

Chris

Outrunner · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

On a camping weekend in Fort Augustus I was lucky enough to get a small screw in my rear tyre.

Local garage does not do bike punctures but they did sell me a can of Holts Tyreweld. I followed the instructions and it worked ok for me, in fact I am still running the tyre untouched 1600 miles later!

Andy.

avion · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

I've been unfortunate enough to have to use them twice in about two months last year.

One C02 'bomb' worked fine enough for me to get home again. One wasn't at full pressure, perhaps 30 bar low, but two would've of over filled the tyre.

Just watch out, they get VERY cold when your inflating.
My new kit has a foam cover which you can slide on to stop your hands freezing.

I always carry at least three of these 'bombs'.

hth

...

Tone in't Fens · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

"That's a lot of flats"?? 3 in 12 years? Come on FsSprintST! Or did I misunderstand you. They're cast wheels.

Thanks for that Avion, just the info I wanted

BoneyMalloney · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008

Rather than carry the stuff around i put it in the tyres before i get a puncture. It is brightly coloured so you can see if you've ever had a puncture.

Some bike meets (Rivington Barn) have a bloke there that will do the job for you...

miker · #10 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008

If you have a cast wheel, the CO2 cartridge as Avion mentioned will work a treat, but I also carry a hand pump. I bought this for my off roading adventures on my XR200, and it's a double action thing that folds and can clip on the frame somewhere. It's neat and light and takes about 5 minutes to pump the remaining required pressure once the CO2 cannister has done it's job after you fit the tyre plug.

Speaking of tyre plugs for the naysayers, I've got two in the rear tyre of the Tiger and one's been there for almost a year and 20,000km. Yes, although the original Anakee is pretty well toast now, it's still legal after 24,000km, but due to be changed very soon.....

Mick