Can't Find Tire Leak

[freedhardwoods]

I did not read the previous responses, so this may have been mentioned already.

Get a tub that you can completely submerge the tire in water. You have to look really close, but you will see the bubbles coming to the top. You may have to turn the tire to pin down the exact spot, but you will find the leak.

There may not be anything wrong with the tire. In my lifetime, I've had several leaks where the tire bead seats on the rim for various reasons.

 

[eagle86801]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Take the tire off the mower and separate the tire from rim ,away from the wheel hub , sometimes the hub rusts and builds up to causes an air leak .If that's the problem sand it down put on some of that tire liquid sealer on it . I had it happen to me on a car years ago , it drove the mechanic crazy until he separated the tire from the rim and found the rust. good luck

 

[cboyette2232]

It may be leaking around the rim.

 

[Missouri]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Same thing happened to me. Check the sidewall, which perhaps could be patched on a mower.

 

[Homeuser66]

Didn't read all the responses, but, if you can, try sticking the tire in a bin (garbage can?) depending on the size of tire, and see if you see any air bubbles.

 

[mark3885]

I find that it is easier to find a leaking tire while using less air pressure, say 5-6 psi vs full tire pressure.

 

[M0t]

Last resort...Find a tub big enough to completely submerge the tire and rim assembly. Then fill the tub completely with water. This will even show up a rim internal weld problem. Rare but does happen.

A cut off 55gal drum might be big enough. Cut with cutoff wheel on angle grinder.

 

[daddieo]

I’ve read a bunch of the comments and noticed that not one mentioned and old time deterrent to slow leaks back in the day was axel grease. Take a brush and grease up the rim where the tire is going to seat and overfill the tire a little, like 5 lbs more just for a couple of minutes to get grease into any deviations in the rim and you should be good to go! Just remember to let some of the air out. Don’t wanna blowout!
Hope this helps!

 

[Doityerself]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

I replaced all the tires on my old Dixon, 8026D, with Carlisle tires. After 3 months or so, I had a slow leak in a rear tire. I went through all normal trouble shooting. I finally submerged the whole thing in soap water, still nothing. Took it out of water and went to lunch. When I got back to the tire, it looked like little bits of foam around all lettering and numbers on the side wall, it leaks everywhere, very slowly!
I slimed it, added extra slime, made sure the sidewall’s were covered. Still leaks just a little slower. My 1st and last experience with slime… Will not buy Carlisle tires again.

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

I have a JD X-370 that's only a couple years old which developed a very, very slow leak in the right rear tire (it would lose perhaps half its air every couple of weeks). I had used a product Sears (now defunct) sold probably 10 years ago with success on a previous mower, so I opted for Slime after doing some research on how it works. Problem solved. I'm not sure it's a fix-all for every application, but it worked for me. That was nearly 2 years ago. Be well!