Another good topic split from Where Did You Fly Today...? -Z
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Savannah-Tom wrote:After 15 years, I finally got back to Owahee Airstrip in a plane. Crap! Flat tire.
tom

Took the tire off the wheel and found the reason for the flat: big old thorn went right through the thick portion of the tire tread and nailed the tube. I didn't see it when I examined the outside of the tire because it was worn off flush and quite small in diameter.

I've gotten flats from some kind of low bush in the desert, but never on trucks or motor cycles. I guess my plane tires are in-between in resistance. Anyone else punctured a plane tire on thorns?

I think I'll start carrying a patching kit or a spare tube when I head for the outback after this.

tom

Savannah-Tom wrote:

Savannah-Tom wrote:After 15 years, I finally got back to Owahee Airstrip in a plane. Crap! Flat tire.
tom

Took the tire off the wheel and found the reason for the flat: big old thorn went right through the thick portion of the tire tread and nailed the tube. I didn't see it when I examined the outside of the tire because it was worn off flush and quite small in diameter.

I've gotten flats from some kind of low bush in the desert, but never on trucks or motor cycles. I guess my plane tires are in-between in resistance. Anyone else punctured a plane tire on thorns?

I think I'll start carrying a patching kit or a spare tube when I head for the outback after this.

tom

Tom,
I have had bad thorn flat problems in both motorcycles and lawnmowers. What has worked well with me has been a product you can get at Wally World called Slime. Put about a quart in each tire and unless you slice a tire you probably won't have any more flats. I think a quart would do for 8.50's, but the instructions are on the bottle.

a64pilot wrote: Tom,
I have had bad thorn flat problems in both motorcycles and lawnmowers. What has worked well with me has been a product you can get at Wally World called Slime. Put about a quart in each tire and unless you slice a tire you probably won't have any more flats. I think a quart would do for 8.50's, but the instructions are on the bottle.

Does the stuff work on a tube-type tire? Sounds good if it works on my tube type tires. But, a quart in each tire is six more pounds of dead weight. While my patching stuff and tire pump doesn't weigh that much, I could really dig not having to patch a @#%&* tire in the field.

tom

I used it in my motocross bikes with great success. It can become a serious mess though if it spooges out into the tire with a bad puncture.

One old trick that worked well for dirt bikes in thorny Arizona was to put a thin strip of flat plastic between the tire and the tube. Worked for bikes, not sure about flying machine tires though...

Put the slime in, work it around the tube real well.

Then squeeze out as much as you can, works great very little weight.

Not sure what will happen to the Slime in freezing temps though. Might get one hell of an out of balance tire. Anyone know?

I think Alaska Bushwheels sells a product for there tires that is similar to Slime.

Keith

We used to use Slime but have switched to a product called No Tubes, it works Very well and don't freeze.

Just so you guy's understand, he is flying an experimental aircraft, that's why I recommend the Slime. I have no idea if the stuff freezes or not, never thought about it. Another alternative is a piece of Kevlar belt between the tire and the innertube, I think the Desert racer guy's used to do that, They probably are all tubeless now.
I think the Slime is the easiest and cheapest way though. Or as long as you carry the patch kit, you'll never need it. Murphy's law.

If the No tubes stuff doesn't freeze in AK, then I guess it's safe to assume it doesn't freeze

a64pilot wrote:Or as long as you carry the patch kit, you'll never need it. Murphy's law.

I already thought of that. I was hoping just bringing the air pump would be enough.

http://stansbikeparts.com/demo.wmv

Pretty neat demonstration. I was waiting for the guy to puncture his hand with the nail. I bet the NoTube wouldn't stop a blood leak!

tom

Neat video, it would be even more effective if he happened to mention the product he was selling!

I agree on the slime making a mess, though.

Ok, where do you get this stuff. and does it only work on Bicycle tires?

Most auto part stores, hardware stores and bike shops. It only works in tube tires, will not work in tubeless (exception being the bushwheel tire). The guy at the tire shop explained why it didn't work after I put it into my mower (tubeless) tire without success.

Never having had a flat in the field (I do carry an extra tube), the question is; How do you jack the plane to change the tube. Is there a light weight and compact jack that will work on the Maule spring gear? I'm going to have to work on that up in the shop unless someone else has done all the design and testing already. Thoughts anyone?

I carry a spare tailwheel tire and tube, as well as a spare 800x6 main tube. I also carry a socket set and some other basic tools, a small bottle jack, and a jack-point for the spring gear on my 170.
I have a set of jack-points in my hangars- basically, they are tapered channel-irons (a LH and a RH) which fit the taper of the gear leg. Slide them on & up the inside of the gear leg til they stop, then apply the jack. I use a rag between the channel and the gear leg, and the channel has a (kinda) flat,level piece of steel welded to it where the jack goes.
In my tool bag, I carry a short pair of angle-irons, which bolt together like a sandwich over the gear leg. the jack then fits up against the inside one. Hard to describe, but easy to make. Or I'm sure something similar is available to buy from an aircraft tool supply house.

Eric

All I carry is a SAT phone with Wups number on speed dial. And enough food and water to wait for him to get there.

Membership has its privileges

Or did I just sleep at a Holiday Inn last night?

Mr. Ed wrote:Never having had a flat in the field (I do carry an extra tube), the question is; How do you jack the plane to change the tube.

My plane is pretty light at 700# empty. I can lift one main off the ground if I lift where the strut attaches to the wing. I cut a 2x4 block the right length, tie one end of it to the strut attach bracket on the bottom of the fuselage with a string, then lift the wheel off the ground. The 2x4 swings on the string to a vertical position, then the weight can be lowered onto the 2x4. Maybe this would work on heavier planes with two people?

tom

I haven't seen one for a while, but there is an aluminum concentric wheel that is designed to jack up a trailer by pulling the trailer forward on the wheel. If your landing gear had a place for the wheel to ride on it would work, I think. The wheel didn't weigh nearly as much as even a small bottle jack. My plan is a can of fix-a-flat. I haven't had to execute my plan, so I don't know if it would work or not.