Wheelbarrow tire goes flat
 

I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4 years
old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's flat. I'm
looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel for $5 (don't
know if mine's 10", though!).

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?). Is
there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those plastic
valve caps already. Thanks.

Dan

Dan_Musicant wrote:

I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4 years
old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's flat. I'm
looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel for $5 (don't
know if mine's 10", though!).

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?). Is
there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those plastic
valve caps already. Thanks.

Patch the hole? Replace the valve? Fill it w/ neverleak? Fill it w/
air when it needs it?

Is there something I can do to make it not leak?

Ours went flat regularly. It was mainly due to building a home in the AZ
desert with all its various cactus 'spines'.

I patched the tube about 5X then gave up and bought the new one on sale 50%
off at HFT for $ 4.99
A friend said to put green "Slime" (bike and M/C shops have it, perhaps also
Walmart) into the tire but I don't know if it works with tube type tires or
just tubeless.

R

PipeDown wrote:
....
...get a new valve and a couple bucks more for the tool to get it out.

All it takes is the metal valve stem cap w/ the built-in stem
wrench...your friendly local tire dealer where you trade regularly
(you do trade w/ one so you have good relationship w/ him, don't you?
:) ) will undoubtedly just give you one...

"Rudy" wrote in message
news:6nbBe.1948239$Xk.1180475@pd7tw3no...

Is there something I can do to make it not leak?

Ours went flat regularly. It was mainly due to building a home in the AZ
desert with all its various cactus 'spines'.

I patched the tube about 5X then gave up and bought the new one on sale
50% off at HFT for $ 4.99
A friend said to put green "Slime" (bike and M/C shops have it, perhaps
also Walmart) into the tire but I don't know if it works with tube type
tires or just tubeless.

R


Green slime is only effective for a narrow range of small holes. otherwise
it just makes a big mess in the wheel when you finally decide to replace the
tube.

Take the wheel off, pump it up and submerge it in a bucket of water (may
need to overinflate to show it up good)

Such a slow leak might be the valve stem. for less than $1 at a bike store
you can get a new valve and a couple bucks more for the tool to get it out.

Makes that $5 wheel sound reasonable though

Pagan wrote:
....
... A cheap auto compressor makes short work of it.

For that small, even the hand bicycle pump is short work... :)

"Dan_Musicant" wrote in message
...
I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4 years
old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's flat. I'm
looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel for $5 (don't
know if mine's 10", though!).

The best way to buy a tire like this is to take it off, bring it in the
store, and compare it to theirs.

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?). Is
there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those plastic
valve caps already. Thanks.

I've been told to put Slime in the tires for my wheelbarrow and hand truck.
These smaller tires, as well as bike tires, do tend to go flat after a few
months. They just aren't made to the same standards as car and truck tires.

Personally, I feel it's more trouble to put Slime, or those flat repair
canisters, in the tires than to just pump them up now and again. A cheap
auto compressor makes short work of it.

Pagan

Dan_Musicant wrote:
I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4
years old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's
flat. I'm looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel
for $5 (don't know if mine's 10", though!).

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?).
Is there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those
plastic valve caps already. Thanks.

Put a tube in it.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Dan_Musicant wrote:
I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4 years
old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's flat. I'm
looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel for $5 (don't
know if mine's 10", though!).



There's this: http://tinyurl.com/83oeb

And this, if you want to afford it: http://tinyurl.com/7zgkv

Not sure if the size on either will work for you.

I have a couple of solid tires on mine. One is rock hard, the other
somewhat spongy. You might try one of those.

I use Slime in my ATV tires, and haven't had a flat in four years. Haven't
really run over anything that big, either.

I think that sitting in the sun and dryrotting is the biggest enemy of those
little tires.

Steve

SteveB wrote:

I have a couple of solid tires on mine. One is rock hard, the other
somewhat spongy. You might try one of those.

I use Slime in my ATV tires, and haven't had a flat in four years. Haven't
really run over anything that big, either.

I think that sitting in the sun and dryrotting is the biggest enemy of those
little tires.

Steve

That's factor, certainly although the one on the barrow here is probably
at least 30 years old in SW KS, certainly a hot/dry/moderately high UV
environment. The biggest problem here is goatheads....

My wheelbarrow has a "solid" tire. It's spongy to absorb shock and will
never go flat. Got it at Home Depot.


"Dan_Musicant" wrote in message
...
I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4 years
old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's flat. I'm
looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel for $5 (don't
know if mine's 10", though!).

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?). Is
there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those plastic
valve caps already. Thanks.

Dan

I second the idea to replace it with a solid tire. They absorb shocks pretty
well, with standard rubber case, with some kind of polyurethane foam inside.
Available at home depot, complete with rim, and standard axle hole. Not
cheap, but wonderful never to have to pump it up.

"Pagan" wrote in
:

"Dan_Musicant" wrote in message
...
I've had to reinflate it a few times already and it's only about 4
years old. Not every time, but it seems like after 6-12 months, it's
flat. I'm looking whistfully at Harbor Freight ads for a 10" wheel
for $5 (don't know if mine's 10", though!).

The best way to buy a tire like this is to take it off, bring it in
the store, and compare it to theirs.

It's a Union Made (I think that's the brand), the big one (6 foot?).
Is there something I can do to make it not leak? I use one of those
plastic valve caps already.

Those are just to keep dirt out of the valve stem,not to keep air in.

Thanks.

I've been told to put Slime in the tires for my wheelbarrow and hand
truck. These smaller tires, as well as bike tires, do tend to go flat
after a few months. They just aren't made to the same standards as
car and truck tires.

Even car and truck tires need to be checked periodically;driving with
underinflated tires is dangerous and lowers gas mileage.


Personally, I feel it's more trouble to put Slime, or those flat
repair canisters, in the tires than to just pump them up now and
again. A cheap auto compressor makes short work of it.

Pagan




It's a BITCH to pump the recommended amount of Slime through that tiny
valve stem.
While you're pumping in Slime,displaced air has to come out,or the Slime is
just coming back out.

IMO,that stuff is useless.


Tires naturally leak air out slowly over time.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Duane Bozarth wrote in
:

Pagan wrote:
...
... A cheap auto compressor makes short work of it.

For that small, even the hand bicycle pump is short work... :)


I prefer a FOOT pump,they need less effort than a hand pump.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

"Roger Taylor" wrote in
:

I second the idea to replace it with a solid tire. They absorb shocks
pretty well, with standard rubber case, with some kind of polyurethane
foam inside. Available at home depot, complete with rim, and standard
axle hole. Not cheap, but wonderful never to have to pump it up.




I'd like to find a source for that foam to put in my electric scooter
tires(inner tubed),they always go flat,usually at the worst time.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:29:32 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

:I have a couple of solid tires on mine. One is rock hard, the other
:somewhat spongy. You might try one of those.
:
:I use Slime in my ATV tires, and haven't had a flat in four years. Haven't
:really run over anything that big, either.
:
:I think that sitting in the sun and dryrotting is the biggest enemy of those
:little tires.
:
:Steve

Well, this one gets kept in the garage. Thanks to everybody who has
responded.

Dan

On 14 Jul 2005 01:20:24 GMT, Jim Yanik . wrote:

:Duane Bozarth wrote in
:
:
: Pagan wrote:
: ...
: ... A cheap auto compressor makes short work of it.
:
: For that small, even the hand bicycle pump is short work... :)
:
:
:I prefer a FOOT pump,they need less effort than a hand pump.

Yeah, I've got all three. The quickest.is the foot pump. It's just a
hassle I'd like to forego if I can get the tire to not leak.

Dan_Musicant wrote in
:

On 14 Jul 2005 01:20:24 GMT, Jim Yanik . wrote:

:Duane Bozarth wrote in
:
:
: Pagan wrote:
: ...
: ... A cheap auto compressor makes short work of it.
:
: For that small, even the hand bicycle pump is short work... :)
:
:
:I prefer a FOOT pump,they need less effort than a hand pump.

Yeah, I've got all three. The quickest.is the foot pump. It's just a
hassle I'd like to forego if I can get the tire to not leak.



If tubeless,I'd put in an inner tube,and if tubed,a NEW inner tube.
If tubeless,you could have a dented rim or bad seal on the rim from rust.
Dismount tire,sand off any rust or corrosion,paint inside of rim,then
remount tire.
Others have already mentioned bad valve stem or valve,or buying a new wheel
at Home Depot or Harbor Freight(HF may have an odd shaft diameter)
I know HF sells a replacement wheelbarrow wheel,I've seen them at the local
store.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net