Re: Very Slow Leaks.

On 5/6/2025 2:05 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.

In the many decades I've been repairing tires, I can honestly say I've never had that happen when inflating a tube well beyond the rated max diameter to find a leak.

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.
 

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