-- [ From: Bob Nogueira * EMC.Ver #3.1a ] --
Stephen
Having experienced four flats ( two in the first day ) on my Alaska trip I
tried the Silicone route. What convinces me that it might work was having
a tire go low in Dawson and finding that it had traveled 5000 miles with
air trapped between the tube and tire rather than it all being in the tube
.
Once home I bought a tube of silicone sealer and put a rather thick layer
over the spokes where the tape usually is placed.
It has been three years without a tube and the wheel is still holding air.
I did this on a new wheel from British Wire Wheel * and can not say how it
would work on a old wheel.
I would note that Bill Boyles has also tried this and he did have some
problems.
* Note: I have no connection or financial interest in British Wire Wheel ,
but needing 4 new wheels for my DHC I will accept any discount they might
offer me for mentioning their name.
Bob Nogueira ' who can be a Republican if it pays '
- REPLY, Original message follows --------
> Date: Sunday, 09-Apr-00 02:45 PM
>
> From: Stephen F. Bauserman \ Internet: (sbauserman@actsnet.com)
> To: MORGANS \ Internet: (morgans@autox.team.net)
>
> Subject: Wire Wheels and Tubes
>
> Being we are in our annual two weeks of Spring in Houston, I took Scarlet
out
> for a run this morning. After lunch I went out to take care of a few
minor
> things in the garage and found Scarlet with a flat tire.
>
> When Scarlet was restored her 72 spoke painted wire wheels were replaced
with a
> set of Dayton Chrome 72 spoke wire wheels. I have always run them with
tubes.
> They have rubber inserts inside the rim to keep the spokes from making
holes
> in the tubes and they have been checked for loose spokes, but in spite of
this
> I have at least a half dozen flat tires a year. I run Dunlop SP20 165/15
tires
> on her and I drive Scarlet about 5K miles per year. Much of that drving is
at
> 50 - 65 MPH on freeway or interstate.
>
> I have been told that I can run these wheels without tubes if I will use a
> silicone sealant at the base of the spokes on the inside of the rim. It
is
> getting harder and harder in my area to get someone to repair of replace
inner
> tubes. I have replaced the last two myself. I can think of numerous
other
> things I would rather do with my time. Has anyone out there converted a
set of
> wire wheels from being tube to tubeless? Or does anyone have any ideas on
this
> subject?
>
> I just returned from Pep Boys with a large tube of Permatex Silicone
Sealant
> (Everything else is held together with Permatex, why not the wheels?).
>
> Steve Bauserman
> 67 4/4 Series V Competition
>
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
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