Punctures of the Paranormal

[Marchrider]

I seem to have one of those annoying punctures at the moment that takes about 4 days to deflate, need to pump the tyre up every ride. I have had the tube out yet again today, and this time spent an age holding sections of it under the water, holding it there fir ages looking for that one dot of air escaping - at the valve I must of stared unblinking for five minutes

whats going on when this happens - had a similar one a year or two back, cured it with a new tube, seems such a waste sending a near perfect tube off to landfill

Is there anything that can be added to the tyre to cure these things - bearing in mind that I have to let the tyre down to remove the rear wheel, so whatever I add can't stay in permanently

 

[steveindenmark]

This could be a shard of Grit poking through. Take a pin and remove all the grit you can see. Then take a ball of cotton wool and run it around the inside of the tyre. It may snag the obstruction. Put a new tube in and try again.

 

[Marchrider]

but would that not make a hole in the tube that would show up on the water submersion test, I normally just check the inside of the tyre when I have located the puncture, and just that inside bit at the location of the puncture

 

[fossyant]

New tube. I've had tiny punctures like that, and unless you can find it, bin it. I always save the odd knackered tube, in case I need to clamp something to the frame - e.g. bike carrier.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

DO you have any sealant in the tube??

know that you probably don't but I had a similar problem a few months ago

I came to the conclusion that I had a hole and if the bike was parked with the hole at the top then the goo flowed downwards and hence the hole opened

for that to happen I think the hole would have to be more like a split - but anyway if I went ona ride then the hole would come under stress and the goo that was currently sealing it would become "less sealing"
then it it was at the bottom then new goo would flow over it and re-seal it
but if it was at the top then the goo would flow away from it



Prettyt much a dodgy theory based on vagie wondering and my normal level of logic
but when I got rid of all the goo from the tyre and put new goo in then the problem went away

If you have no sealant in - maybe try some???

but more likely the insides of the valve somehow

 

[alicat]

Sealant is a good idea. I find holding the tube to my lip a better indicator of escaping air than dunking it in water where the bunk created on dunking can temporarily seal a hole.

 

[Sharky]

Do the bowl of water trick again, but have a bit more pressure in the tube. Very slowly, pass the tube through the water, stretching the tube as you go, in all directions. Do with the tube with the outer nearest the surface, then with the inner nearest the surface. Also wiggle the valve in all directions.

 

[PaulSB]

Thoroughly inspect and clean the tyre. Be sure to inspect inner and outer surfaces. Bin the tube.

 

[Andy in Germany]

New tube. I've had tiny punctures like that, and unless you can find it, bin it. I always save the odd knackered tube, in case I need to clamp something to the frame - e.g. bike carrier.

Agreed. Life is short and tubes aren't that expensive: check the tyre very thoroughly as suggested by @steveindenmark, check the wheel as well so you can be sure it isn't an issue with the rim, put a new tube in and forget you ever had a problem...

 

[Ian H]

You will not have anything like the same pressure in a tube inflated outside the tyre, so the leak might well not be apparent.
If it has a removable valve you could try replacing it, or even just removing, cleaning and refitting it.

 

[Marchrider]

new tube it is

hate throwing good stuff out, this tube only has 3 patches

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

new tube it is

hate throwing good stuff out, this tube only has 3 patches

Yup - tube are not like they used to be

I used to ride round on a tube with 9-10 patches when I was a kid and think nothing about it

nowadays once it has 2 I find that it won't last much longer without another one

I suspect that the patches are not as good
and anyway - the self adhesive ones seem to be a temporary fix only - everyone I have tried has caused more problem within a few weeks
and getting replacement ones for use with the rubber solution seems to be via East Asian places and the quality is unknown until they arrive
I have about 100 ona role - cost buttons but they are a pain to use and rip easily

 

[Marchrider]

Yup - tube are not like they used to be

I used to ride round on a tube with 9-10 patches when I was a kid and think nothing about it

nowadays once it has 2 I find that it won't last much longer without another one

I suspect that the patches are not as good
and anyway - the self adhesive ones seem to be a temporary fix only - everyone I have tried has caused more problem within a few weeks
and getting replacement ones for use with the rubber solution seems to be via East Asian places and the quality is unknown until they arrive
I have about 100 ona role - cost buttons but they are a pain to use and rip easily

Don't think I have had much bother with normal patches (and rubber solution) - I sort of think this is the valve, the inner part come out with the valve cap, and may be I havn't got it in property, although I was careful, dab of silicone grease and didn't go mental tightening it - as per @Ian H I will try another inner valve, does anyone use thread loc on them?

But those self adhesive ones, what a load of rubbish (or at least the ones i bought) used two or three one winter, and they worked, but when the summer come and we had some hot weather, they all failed, they were literally a let down.
(I might of got that back to front, maybe they were put on in the summer and failed in the winter, I just can't remember)

 

[PaulSB]

new tube it is

hate throwing good stuff out, this tube only has 3 patches

Only three? You've had your money's worth. I don't bother to patch, if I puncture I replace the tube and bin the old one.

 

[fossyant]

new tube it is

hate throwing good stuff out, this tube only has 3 patches

Only 3. That's time to replace. Although I do know someone who has more patches than tube on some tubes, I've seen them.