removed nail - did not lose pressure

feathered · 04-01-2012, 10:11 AM

Seemingly simple question but my google-fu is failing me and the site search here is just crashing so..

I was checking my tire pressure today and found a nice nail in the center of the rear. It was a good 1/2 to 1/3 inch in, but was at a severe angle rather than straight down, so it's hard to say how deep it actually was. I yanked it out and have been checking the pressure every few hours - it hasn't changed.

Now what? Do I need to plug the hole with something (what?)? Do I need to take it to a dealer and replace/patch the tire?

edit: the obvious answer is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. thank you for the reassurance, all. Maybe I can get a bedtime story too? ;)
I was not mechanically inclined at all before my first bike, and I've learned the hard way to ask when I'm not sure about something motorcycle related.

2manyrides · 04-01-2012, 10:20 AM

no...

Go for a ride.

P B G · 04-01-2012, 10:53 AM

If you are concerned you could always ream it out and have it patched from the inside with a mushroom patch...

Switchblade315 · 04-01-2012, 11:38 AM

sounds to me like it didnt go inside the tire.. ride it.

acejones · 04-01-2012, 03:38 PM

This is an example of: "If it isn't broken; let me see if I can fix it".

Bigger Al · 04-02-2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acejones

This is an example of: "If it isn't broken; let me see if I can fix it".

This. Forget about it.

GSWayne · 04-02-2012, 07:43 AM

Spit on it and look for bubbles. I had the same thing happen and I saw a few bubbles then they stopped. I tried to get the reamer in to do a sticky string repair but it would not go in. I took the paranoid approach (I was in the middle of an 8,000 mile trip) and replaced the tire. At the dealer, I think he said (it was years ago) he could see that there was damage on the inside of the tire, so the nail had made it through and then the hole apparently sealed itself up. I probably rode about 100 miles to the dealer on it without it loosing significant air pressure.

thehomealien · 04-02-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSWayne

Spit on it and look for bubbles. I had the same thing happen and I saw a few bubbles then they stopped. I tried to get the reamer in to do a sticky string repair but it would not go in. I took the paranoid approach (I was in the middle of an 8,000 mile trip) and replaced the tire. At the dealer, I think he said (it was years ago) he could see that there was damage on the inside of the tire, so the nail had made it through and then the hole apparently sealed itself up. I probably rode about 100 miles to the dealer on it without it loosing significant air pressure.

Try soapy water instead of spit.

Derailleur · 04-02-2012, 09:34 PM

If you have an already opened tube/can of rubber cement stick some in the hole, extra reinforcing is always a good thing.

Other than that, take it for a ride, make sure to take a repair kit & pump with you though, better safe than sorry.

(damhik)

sieg · 04-02-2012, 09:45 PM

If it ain't losing air WTF? Forget it, it never happened. I pulled out plenty of nails that didn't go through, mostly cars, trucks and tractors but if it went through it would leak and you would have something to fix but it didn't so you don't.

ScEd · 04-03-2012, 03:50 AM

Just mark the spot and check it for unusual wear or cracking in the area. If you know the general direction the nail path took you may find a slight deformation at the adjacent sidewall area if any of the tire cords were broken. Don't be paranoid (or foolish) about it. I had a job testing motorcycle tires at one time before I was replaced by a machine.

KS Jay · 04-05-2012, 07:14 AM

"Now what? Do I need to plug the hole with something (what?)? Do I need to take it to a dealer and replace/patch the tire?"

Put the nail back in and try again....

anonny · 04-07-2012, 04:20 PM

RTF
Run till fail

Mike Ryder · 04-07-2012, 07:46 PM

Is there a chance the tire has a sealant in it? "Ride on" is in both of mine.

04-01-2012, 10:11 AM	#1
feathered ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jan 2009 Location: Hotlanta Oddometer: 88	removed nail - did not lose pressure Seemingly simple question but my google-fu is failing me and the site search here is just crashing so.. I was checking my tire pressure today and found a nice nail in the center of the rear. It was a good 1/2 to 1/3 inch in, but was at a severe angle rather than straight down, so it's hard to say how deep it actually was. I yanked it out and have been checking the pressure every few hours - it hasn't changed. Now what? Do I need to plug the hole with something (what?)? Do I need to take it to a dealer and replace/patch the tire? edit: the obvious answer is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. thank you for the reassurance, all. Maybe I can get a bedtime story too? ;) I was not mechanically inclined at all before my first bike, and I've learned the hard way to ask when I'm not sure about something motorcycle related. feathered screwed with this post 04-01-2012 at 08:49 PM

04-01-2012, 10:20 AM	#2
2manyrides shifty charactor Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Citrus Heights Ca. Oddometer: 1,559	no... Go for a ride. __________________ too many... I have completely lost count and here's my channel... http://www.youtube.com/user/2manyrides?feature=mhsn#p/u

04-01-2012, 11:38 AM	#4
Switchblade315 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Ethel, Ms Oddometer: 3,238	sounds to me like it didnt go inside the tire.. ride it. __________________ When i die bury me upside down so the whole world can kiss my ass.

04-01-2012, 03:38 PM	#5
acejones Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Diamondhead, MS Oddometer: 3,309	This is an example of: "If it isn't broken; let me see if I can fix it". __________________ If I wasn't here, I'd be somewhere else

04-02-2012, 07:43 AM	#7
GSWayne Old Guy nOOb Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Santa Barbara Oddometer: 2,686	Spit on it and look for bubbles. I had the same thing happen and I saw a few bubbles then they stopped. I tried to get the reamer in to do a sticky string repair but it would not go in. I took the paranoid approach (I was in the middle of an 8,000 mile trip) and replaced the tire. At the dealer, I think he said (it was years ago) he could see that there was damage on the inside of the tire, so the nail had made it through and then the hole apparently sealed itself up. I probably rode about 100 miles to the dealer on it without it loosing significant air pressure. __________________ It isn't the conditions its the decisions Don't bring a motorcycle to a car fight

04-01-2012, 10:53 AM	#3
P B G Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Greater Chicago Oddometer: 9,781	If you are concerned you could always ream it out and have it patched from the inside with a mushroom patch...

04-02-2012, 09:34 PM	#9
Derailleur Adventurer Joined: Dec 2011 Oddometer: 20	If you have an already opened tube/can of rubber cement stick some in the hole, extra reinforcing is always a good thing. Other than that, take it for a ride, make sure to take a repair kit & pump with you though, better safe than sorry. (damhik) __________________ Obligatory Bike list 2008 cbr 125 daily beater, tourer, track bike, 1986 vt 1100sc(paint it & sold), 1982 cb450sc(done & done, love drivers dontcha)

04-02-2012, 09:45 PM	#10
sieg Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Illinois USA Oddometer: 1,389	If it ain't losing air WTF? Forget it, it never happened. I pulled out plenty of nails that didn't go through, mostly cars, trucks and tractors but if it went through it would leak and you would have something to fix but it didn't so you don't. __________________ I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but let's take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself. Current bikes: '12 WR250R, '10 F800GS, '08 Versys, '07 WR250F, '85 RZ350, Wife's bikes: '10 F650GS, '09 XT250,'03 WR250F

04-03-2012, 03:50 AM	#11
ScEd Dances with Deer Joined: Feb 2004 Location: UpState SC Oddometer: 282	Just mark the spot and check it for unusual wear or cracking in the area. If you know the general direction the nail path took you may find a slight deformation at the adjacent sidewall area if any of the tire cords were broken. Don't be paranoid (or foolish) about it. I had a job testing motorcycle tires at one time before I was replaced by a machine. __________________ Always aim where you want it to go and never at people (DakarNick)

04-05-2012, 07:14 AM	#12
KS Jay Milwaukees Best Joined: Aug 2010 Location: KS/NE Oddometer: 252	"Now what? Do I need to plug the hole with something (what?)? Do I need to take it to a dealer and replace/patch the tire?" Put the nail back in and try again....

04-07-2012, 04:20 PM	#13
anonny What could go wrong? Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Beautiful Revelstoke BC Oddometer: 4,956	RTF Run till fail __________________ Kawasaki H1 build thread 71- 450 Honda CL re & re Just another pathetic sheep following the herd

04-07-2012, 07:46 PM	#14
Mike Ryder Kriegerkuh Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Peachland B.C. Canada Oddometer: 687	Is there a chance the tire has a sealant in it? "Ride on" is in both of mine. __________________ Yes I am quite serious.

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