Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: Very Slow Leaks.
Date: Tue, 6 May 2025 13:10:21 -0500
Organization: Yellow Jersey, Ltd.
Lines: 50
Message-ID: <vvdjad$3dco9$2@dont-email.me>
References: <7D6SP.248942$s5Kd.98838@fx14.iad>
 <m7seapF1hl3U1@mid.individual.net> <L59SP.1334$RXsc.918@fx36.iad>
 <vvbdsn$1cl75$5@dont-email.me> <qagk1ktafpmgk46342dkrm30vp6n578bdu@4ax.com>
 <5ihk1kpgm9olme5piu7s6rbtrvce4g4gdd@4ax.com> <vvdi0b$3dco9$1@dont-email.me>
 <85jk1khuuui97uk9ccv0surobhksg6r8lf@4ax.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Injection-Date: Tue, 06 May 2025 20:10:21 +0200 (CEST)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="6c2cc9a9228d19fb06e2326604097db9";
	logging-data="3584777"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX1/HGGadpv4dODzbK1M8aq1o"
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:RMIqIT9rDUUOpwB8eAvHuR934IM=
In-Reply-To: <85jk1khuuui97uk9ccv0surobhksg6r8lf@4ax.com>
Content-Language: en-US
Bytes: 3584

On 5/6/2025 1:05 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Tue, 6 May 2025 12:47:56 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
> 
>> On 5/6/2025 12:42 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>>> On Tue, 06 May 2025 10:19:59 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I once bought some inner tubes that seem to have come from the factory
>>>> with leaks. (...)
>>>
>>> A bit more.  I didn't have enough patches handy, so I used a small
>>> blob of automotive "gasket maker" to plug the hole.
>>> <https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/black-gasket-makers/permatex-ultra-black-rtv-silicone-gasket-maker-5-oz/>
>>> I didn't ride enough to determine how many months or miles the black
>>> goo was going to last, but it seems like it would work on small pin
>>> holes.  I don't recommend it for large punctures, long cuts or cracks.
>>>
>>> Also, I had some slow leaks that were difficult to find using soapy
>>> water.  (At the time, I didn't think to try the ultrasonic leak
>>> detector).  So, I over-inflated the inner tube.  I think it's probably
>>> 26 x 1 3/8:
>>> <https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/inflated-tube.jpg>
>>> Not only did the soapy water detect the leaks, I could hear the air
>>> leak and also feel the air with my fingers.  Also, the normal size of
>>> the tire is the mounted tire located behind the over-inflated tire.
>>>
>>> If I ever get around to buying a IR camera, I could try heating the
>>> over-inflated tube, and possibly see the air leak because of the
>>> temperature difference.
>>>
>> Your image shows a typical inflation for tracking down a
>> leak. Not overly large at all.
> 
> I was worried about the excessive stretching of the inner tube causing
> the pin-hole to turn into a tear.  That won't happen if the tire is in
> place because the tire prevents the inner tube from stretching too
> much.  However, I didn't know how the tube would react and didn't want
> to find out the hard way.
> 

Teeny little holes (wire, syringe needle, thin glass shard, 
thorn) can be hard to find at only moderate inflation.  More 
air, as you show in image, distends the aperture so it's 
easy to feel the escaping air on one's face by passing the 
tube across it.

-- 
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971