Dan O Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I've put new Coker American Classic radials on my 1949 76c after having the original wheels sandblasted and completely painted. Two of them leak 1/3 of their air over two weeks and the others are fine. The wheels have rivets holding them together. I think I have read here that the wheels will leak since they were made to be used with tubes, right? If there is not a leak in the tires themselves, I'm considering getting some Flex Seal liquid rubber sealant and coating the inside of the wheels. Anyone tried that or found other solutions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Have you tested the rims? Some soapy water on the rivits with the tires fully inflated may show if they are the culprit, or the valve stems, or the tire beads. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digger914 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I've put new Coker American Classic radials on my 1949 76c after having the original wheels sandblasted and completely painted. Two of them leak 1/3 of their air over two weeks and the others are fine. The wheels have rivets holding them together. I think I have read here that the wheels will leak since they were made to be used with tubes, right? If there is not a leak in the tires themselves, I'm considering getting some Flex Seal liquid rubber sealant and coating the inside of the wheels. Anyone tried that or found other solutions?I like your idea, steel wheels with rivets aren't the only wheels that leak, alloys will too. Tire slime works, tire shops hate it and if this stuff works post a u-tube how to and you could become a tire shop wheel hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Have you tested the rims? Some soapy water on the rivits with the tires fully inflated may show if they are the culprit, or the valve stems, or the tire beads.Yes, gotta find the source of the leak first! It may even be a safety issue like a crack in the rim at the bead area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLYER15015 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 If all else fails, you could find a machine shop and have the rims "Magnafluxed".That will find the smallest crack, and it will really stand out as a green crack. Mike in Colorado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan O Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 I'll try soapy water first and see what I find and report back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) If the wheels are sound.......a coat of silicone sealant is probably the clean, easy, and cheapest fix. (on the inside) As a side note and it might work here......I recently had a small screw in my pick-up tire, just enough to leak a few # per day.I experimented by pulling a vacuum on the mounted tire and letting that vacuum pull some liquid tire sealant into the screw hole.I removed the vacuum and let the tire site for a few hours before re-inflating. That has been several week and I have no air leak. Edited March 10, 2016 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hello Barney, Do you feel such changed the balance of the tire/wheel? Just wondering, Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 If you mean the silicone sealant.......just a small amount over the welds cannot weight that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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