I noticed a few days after my last session that one of my tires had lost air... Slow leak I figured. So today I filled it before heading to the park and it was flat when I got there... CR@P!!!!!!... After running to the gas station for some Fix-a-flat to try out, I noticed the small crack in the rim... Oh poop.

Fix-a-flat didn't do much, but it held enough air to function (sort of hissing all the while)... Even got up to 22.2mph on it with the 8.6m! And Knkmanthey was there, and we haven't kited together since April. So the day wasn't ruined by any means, but now to fix it. ...

Since I'm running this tire tubeless, can I simply take out the valve stem and buy a tube to be good? Or is the rim compromised? I know the rims aren't expensive, but considering the options, $18 plus shipping (prob $12) I'm spending 4x the money than I would for a tube.

So is the answer a tube or a new rim?

What style wheel? Where did it crack at? Can you get a pic of the wheel?

I had the same thing happen to me. After inspecting the rim closely I found three cracks, each about an inch long. I didn't want to take the risk of rim failure at high speed so I replaced it with a new one.

All of my cracks were in the channel / large groove thingy that runs around the inner circumference.

The older PL wheels are a bit stronger than the new style. If its one of the older wheels youcan use ABS glue on the inside if the crack if it isnt on the ouside bead area. If its on the bead, replace it. If its a new style wheel, throw it away and buy a new on.
if its a metal wheel, it can be welded or braized. Dont do any repairs with the tire on thewheel and full of air, things will go terribly bad.
the tube thing is ok if the crack ist to big, just be aware the tube will work itself into the crack if possible, which isnt good.
or youcan just bite thebullet and buy a nother wheel.

Oh sorry... Yea, it's a PL plastic rim.

I'll post some pics later if I can

Thanks Jeff, it might be on the bead, but I can't tell, and I don't know if it's an older or newer wheel. If it's not on the head, I might try the glue AND a tube. I'll swap it for one of the wheels on my Tandem since it's likely under more stress than one of the barrow wheels on the tandem.

The new PL wheel style has a small rubber plug in the side of it that is for releasing the air pressure if you put more than 2 bars in it. I seen the remains of one that blew up, I would guess the dirty filthy grungy wheels was the reason the releaf valve didnt release causing the owner to get a bang out of it.

So the old wheels don't have the plug?

Old style:




New style(note the round relief plug opposite of the valve stem):

I had a plastic one blow up on me once. I got pics...wasn't fun. The little plug that was supposed to release at 2 bar did NOT release. I was trying to get the connector to the hose off, but it had gotten wedged in between the plastic. it released itself when the Boom happened.

Here's the crack:



It looks like it's on the bead, so I'm likey yo replace the whole rim.

Seems like a strange place for it to crack. I'm going to have to watch my wheels more closely. Personally; if my wheel cracked; I'd contact them and see if I could send it to them so they could examine it and maybe they could make changes to their design or mold: www.starco.com

To me it seems like it might have cracked under the air pressure.

I have had at least three rims crack on me over time, all the older style PL rims. All of which were cracks in the flat spans between the "spokes" it could have been air pressure, it could have been side load stress cracks, it could have been just about anything including fatigue, it is plastic. I ran Nancos on all of them. Either way, I always just replaced them rather than fix them. Peace of mind is priceless. I now have the aluminum rims and don't worry as much.

Mine was a Starco rim with the pressure relief valve. Interesting that it occurs with both old and new rims. I initially ran mine tubeless. I've now installed tubes which means that I'll have to visually inspect them regularly as a crack in the rim is unlikely to result in a loss of air pressure (unless it somehow pinches the tube).

Many thanks to Bigkid,... I've got a couple of new (used.. new to me) rims en route.

Also working with Van on getting another PL front fork so my XR can be a complete second bug (my Christmas present). It will be nice to have both a heavyweight racing machine and a lightweight cruiser for those lighter wind days. It will also be nice to have one bug on midis and one on barrows. Hopefully too, I can convince one of my girls to take up kiting so I can have a riding buddy... or I can use it to teach friends.

I'm going to rig up a different tow bar apparatus to make the XR work as an effective tandem. without having to break it down... we'll see what we come up with.

its blowing like 20 mph out there, and I wish I were able to get out in it

Glad to see you are getting a replacement....I was going to say for the 20 bucks it costs it is well worth it just in safety terms...You don't want to be cruisin at 25mph and have the thing completely blow up on you....

The new wheels are a real pain to get an air chuck on the valve as well. Very little space beside the valve.

The wheel I'm replacing is a 6.5x16-8.... Giving strong consideration to using a tube,... You guys think it's worth it?

Quote:

The new wheels are a real pain to get an air chuck on the valve as well. Very little space beside the valve

Answer: tire valve extenters.

http://www.autozone.com/wheel-tire-repair/tire-valve-stem?fi...

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

The wheel I'm replacing is a 6.5x16-8.... Giving strong consideration to using a tube,... You guys think it's worth it?

Thoughts anyone?

My 2 cents currently would be to go tubeless, and slime them first and never worry about it again. I ran tubeless at first, hated it and went to tubes. When all the tubes developed issues I ripped them out and realized tubeless was really nice. Just add some slime and you won't have flats either.

what does the slime do?

It has fibers in it that clot up like blood would on a cut. You can have a puncture and never know it.

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

It has fibers in it that clot up like blood would on a cut. You can have a puncture and never know it.

Yes, I can attest to this from experience. Like say when I went to the desert last year and filled a tire full of spikes and thorns. I never knew it and the tire never lost air. I packed the tires for the trip home and only then realized I had a dime sized hole in it amongst all the other pinholes and cuts from thorns.

Fun fact, I'm still running that tire, and it still is taking a beating! I present Exhibit A from over the weekend; a picture of the buggy after a ride in the local flying field, full of thorns ;-)

http://imgur.com/a/sTzsM

I think I'll give the slime a try. I plugged one of my punctured tires and it still has a slow leak.

Does it deliver like the fix a flat?... Sprayed in through the valve?

no. It is delivered through the valve with the valve stem removed. In other words it will not inflate your tire in an emergency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKlS7I-gwW4

because of how I ride, I've never had a tire go flat from wear or running over something... so though its not an extremely high cost, I'm not sure the slime is worth it for me.