Triumphrat

tccox · 05-10-2007

Was showing my brand new T100 to the guys at work and onenoticed a big ol screw head stuck in the rear tyre. No apparently air loss as of yet and heck, it might have been in there when I rode the bike home yesterday. I assume these are tube tyres. Any suggestions as to what to do. I do not have a truck or trailer. Remove the screw and hope it did’nt pierce the tube ?????Or ride it slowly to Charlotte dealer and hope ????? Oh, and no centerstand.

Boy, talk about bad luck

tccox · 05-10-2007

Well, based on advice from several folks and the knowledge that since the tyre was not flat the tube had not been punctured. Figured it was just a short screw. We started to remove it and it just kept on coming out. At least 1-1 1/2 ijnches long. And of course tyre Immediately went totally flat. Hows this for bad luck on my first full day of ownership.
So I'm leaving it at work tonight and having a wrecker pick it up in the morning and caryy it to local Triumph dealer. I just can not figure out how a nail/screw that long got in the tyre. I'm sorta wondering if its one of the screws from the crate the bike came in. I'm certainly gonna save the nail and check. And I'm ordering a centerstand TOMORROW !!!!!!!!!

5bassman · 05-10-2007

Purchase a bike jack instead. Less than a $100 at Sears. Your not going to be repairing flats on the side of the road with tubes. I found a screw in my tire late last year while I was out on a ride. I put some spit on it and found it wasn't leaking much if at all. So I slowly rode it home. There I removed the screw, it was a 1/2" screw! It still got the tube, doesn't take much. I jacked the bike up with my lift that I paid $60 for, took the wheel off and had it repaired. I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a center stand just because I thought it would help me in tire changes. Get a jack.

JBarn3 · 05-10-2007

I found a 1 1/2 inch nail in the rear tire on my Scrambler, but the tire was still inflated. When I wiggled the nail with pliers it let air out, so I knew it was into the tube. I left it alone until I could pick up a new tube, then changed it out myself.

[ This message was edited by: JBarn3 on 2007-05-10 16:07 ]

badrufus · 05-10-2007

I've got to disagree with n578md, at the risk of messing with someone from Texas! I don't think you should continue using a motorcycle tire that has been plugged. If n578md managed to do it with four plugs, the gods were with him. General practice as long as I have been riding has been to replace the tire asap. You only have two tires on a bike, so it's not like a car where if the plug is in the right place, you can ride on it. Sure, you may be able to get away with it and avoid an expensive replacement tire, but it's not recommended. Dunlop specifically states :
"Dunlop recommends only permanent plug-patch repairs of small (maximum 1/4-inch diameter) tread area punctures from within the dismounted tire by a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle dealer. Never perform an exterior repair and never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair. Speed should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after repair and the repaired tire should never be used over 75 mph."
In the Motorcycle Tips & Techniques Safety Forum, Jim Davis states:
"Here are a few things you might consider about tire plugs:
1.Almost any single puncture (thru the tread) can be repaired by the use of a tire plug. (I would be willing to ride with a properly {from the inside} plugged tire anytime.)
2.You cannot put more than one plug within the same quadrant of a tire - safely.
3.You cannot put more than two plugs into a tire - period.
The manufacturers of tire plugs specifically disavow the safety of doing either of the last two items listed above. They also void their speed warranties as a result of any tire plugging. Your tire is probably marked with an 'H' speed designation, meaning it is rated for safety up to 130 MPH. If you have even one tire plug in it you should not drive faster than about 80 MPH using that tire."

Tire Plugs

So you may be able to have the tire plugged from the inside, but the speed rating will be cut significantly. Would I put my butt on a bike with a plugged tire. No way. I'm worth way more than that.
Deborah

sweatmachine · 05-10-2007

the tire wasn't plugged, the tube was replaced.

I ran over a small roofing nail on a Saturday at 5pm. Dang. Called my dealer and they stayed open for me. I yanked the wheel off the bike and hauled azz in my car to the dealer, they replaced the tube and I tipped the mech $20.

I also put another 12,000 miles on that same tire, with the same nail hole in it.

Replace the tube and you'll be fine.

[ This message was edited by: sweatmachine on 2007-05-10 16:24 ]

CAPTDON · 05-10-2007

Got a 1 1/2 " drywall scrwew in her after 2 weeks. Paid the tow & new tube & labor. Totgal $160! If I had opted for the roadside asst w Progressive ($8) woulda cost $12 . They pay the tow, & thwe 1st hour labor! Needless to say I have it now! Havent had to use it since. At least its there!. You never get lucky & the screw / nail doesnt go thru! Bummer on a newbike - murphys law??

CAPTDON · 05-10-2007

PS Skip the center stand and get A JACK as mentioned. Have used mine more times than I can count!!

6449 · 05-10-2007

Quote:

On 2007-05-10 16:23, sweatmachine wrote:
Replace the tube and you'll be fine.

+1. Easy.

5bassman · 05-10-2007

badrufus, You sure spent alot of time typing about plugged tires! Like Sweat said, it wasn't plugged, the tube was replaced. I did the same thing. The tiny hole left in the tire closes up enough so not to be a problem. The tube holds the air. If something can stick into that hole again it can stick into the tire anyway. That's a good way to keep the tire companies happy, buy a tire everytime a small object gets in the tire. Save your money man!

[ This message was edited by: 5bassman on 2007-05-10 17:40 ]