Eddie Cesnalis Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I've been using exepensive leak guard tubes and can't find any leak in the tube. I have a tube that went flat on the plane and it has since remained inflated for months but on the plane goes low and all the way to flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Seems to me you do have a leak (probably the valve or valve stem) but you need to put pressure on it to see the bubbles. If it takes months to go flat, it's probably a super tiny leak and I say honestly, just replace it. Innertubes don't completely seal up either. If you held one under water long enough you would see tiny bubbles form on the skin (weeks to months). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I just had a plane that had a good tire until I went to put more air into. Turns out the stem was torn where it's sealed into the tube. When you moved the stem it leaked. The pressure in the tube at that point was keeping it sealed. You need to remove the tire and tube and test the tube. It could also be just a valve stem that needs tightening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhound Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I have found not enough talc prevents the tube/valve stem from shifting. Without talc the rubber tube sticks to the inner tire wall and stretches the valve stem. Unchecked, the base of the stem slowly cracks/separates at the tube. Use adequate amounts of talc to prevent sticking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhound Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 With a separation at the base of the neck it would actually hold air a couple days when static sitting in the hangar. The tube was a year old, but little if any talc was visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredG Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Always worth unscrewing and then tightening the valve stem (or replacing it). Requires a $2 tool, a $1 part and 30 seconds of time. Sometimes, that is the source of a slow leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Also remember that the pressure to air up the tube outside of the tire is far less than required with the assembled wheel on the airplane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 18 hours ago, airhound said: I have found not enough talc prevents the tube/valve stem from shifting. Without talc the rubber tube sticks to the inner tire wall and stretches the valve stem. Unchecked, the base of the stem slowly cracks/separates at the tube. Use adequate amounts of talc to prevent sticking. I always apply talc to the tube and dust the inside of the tire. You just need enough to allow the tube to slip into place when assembling the wheel. But to much can cause problems too. Excess talc will draw moisture. I have seen corrosion on aircraft wheels before that I think was related to to much talc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procharger Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 never used talc no flats in 1000 hrs.luckly I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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