Can't Find Tire Leak

[Joelk]

I realize that the leak has now been found, but something that I did not see mentioned in the dozens of posts I read (I did not read all of them) was "overinflating" the tire to make the leak easier to find. Leaks that can be very hard to detect at 10 PSI can often be much easier to detect at 30 PSI (or 30 vs 60 in a car tire)

 

[kbowley]

I realize that the leak has now been found, but something that I did not see mentioned in the dozens of posts I read (I did not read all of them) was "overinflating" the tire to make the leak easier to find. Leaks that can be very hard to detect at 10 PSI can often be much easier to detect at 30 PSI (or 30 vs 60 in a car tire)

I do not recommend inflating above the max inflation pressure that is on the sidewall, particularly when dry rotted. The first places I check for leaking tires are the bead and sidewalls. I spray some Purple Power or wipe some RuGlide on the sidewalls.

 

[herbert4]

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

Try soaping the top of valve only to see if you have a leak .if not completely submerge in water to find leak.

 

[Peterplocket]

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

Try the putting it in the bath when wifey is out! And make sure it's squeaky clean afterwards though! Rotate the tyre (UK spelling) slowly, checking both sides carefully. There maybe only one or two bubbles coming out slowly, so be vigilant.
Also, make sure the valve is in tight, but not overtight.

 

[Peterplocket]

Try the putting it in the bath when wifey is out! And make sure it's squeaky clean afterwards though! Rotate the tyre (UK spelling) slowly, checking both sides carefully. There maybe only one or two bubbles coming out slowly, so be vigilant.
Also, make sure the valve is in tight, but not overtight.

 

[MartinR]

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

In my opinion Slime will work as long as you rotate the wheel, best job, again in my opinion is to tube it.

 

[professor229]

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

Over the years I have had this problem too.. I can relate... most of the time, I found the problem to be a VERY VERY small leak around the bead... I use a little kids swimming pool... the plastic one you know.. that people give away and filled that and submerge the whole wheel/tire... What I always wanted to try was to set up a camera and use it with the tire submerged and a couple hours later, replay the recording on Fast Forward to see where the bubbles were coming from.... but never got to it... so I went to Plan B especially on rims I was pretty sure were leaking around the bead... and I break the bead on both sides, clean up the beads with steel wool or whatever method you choose and coat the metal and rubber with rubber cement and let it set for a good half hour and then inflated the tire and hope... if that was it, problem solved... you could also replace the valve while the beads are broken and then do a stupid move like I have done and dropped the old valve inside the tire... "eye roll here"..... I don't know how many times I have found a "brad" in the tire as well... magnifying glass? and PS... I had a Sears mower that had a low tire ALL THE TIME.. I never did find the reason for that.... AND finally.. one more thought... usually to find a leak you use "soapy water" but with an extreme slow leak, that makes the problem worse.. use clear water so you can see minute bubbles.....

 

[garyoldfart]

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

Did you remove the tire, lay it flat and pour dish soapy water around the bead then walk away for an hour or so. then flip the tire over and do the other side. you will get a white pimple on the bead leak

 

[Its Me]

I do submerge them to find the leak, and if there are several sports leaking I just put a tube, cost a lot less than a tire, have found them with slight cracks, finish nails, side wall leaks, stem leak both valve and seal area, quick and easy answer and it ever there is another leak easy to find and patch.

 

[bobL]

Do you use anti-freeze in your tire? It softens the rubber and allows it to swell and expand to fix most small leaks. I use it for bead, weather cracks and small puncture leaks, won't screw up the rim (actually retards rust and corrosion). Most of us have it on the shelf, so the cost is minimal. You can remove the valve core and depending on the size of the tire, just put a small hose on a tiny funnel or use a larger medical syringe to add a quarter cup for small tires, like front lawn mower or a bit more for rear tires. Then reinflate and use the tractor to move it around to coat the rubber. I can't tell you how many times I've used this method successfully.