Topic: F'ing nail! (Read 6253 times)

ultrafxr · « **on:** June 28, 2008, 12:13:26 AM »

Went on a little dinner ride with the local HOG chapter this evening and when I left the restaurant immediately felt that bike was not handling right. Sure enough low, low rear tire - almost completely flat. Pulled out big f'ing nail. Sucker must be almost 4" long. Chit and this tire has only about 2k on it. Luckily I carry a plug kit and a small air compressor. So friend and I plugged her up and aired her up and HQ and I rode home about 40 miles with no problem. So gotta pull the rear wheel tomorrow am and off to get a new tire. Guess I've been darned lucky. In over 40 years of riding this is the first flat I've ever had. Still sucks though!

Gettinold · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2008, 05:21:35 AM »

Sorry about that Jerry. Good to have the plug kit and compressor to save a road call though.
Seems it would be impossible for a 4" nail to jump up there and penetrate that new rubber.

Dave

murphy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2008, 05:43:51 AM »

What kind of plug kit do you carry?

MUFFMAN · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2008, 06:13:35 AM »

I never go anywhere without my little compresser & plug kit. Funny, I've had to repair tires with the guys I ride with but not mine. Good to see you had it with you. THE MUFFMAN

ultrafxr · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2008, 08:47:48 AM »

Quote from: murphy on June 28, 2008, 05:43:51 AM

What kind of plug kit do you carry?

Actually just a cheap kit I got at auto parts store - Auto Zone I think. Worked fine.

ultrafxr · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2008, 08:49:37 AM »

Quote from: Gettinold on June 28, 2008, 05:21:35 AM

Sorry about that Jerry. Good to have the plug kit and compressor to save a road call though.
Seems it would be impossible for a 4" nail to jump up there and penetrate that new rubber.

Dave

You're right Dave. Never know but probably picked it up in the parking lot but of course unsure. Sucker was in ther at an angle and hardest part of plugging it was getting the nail out and then reaming out the hole to accept the plug. Those lops are a heck of a lot harder and tougher than I would have expected.

Sean M Cary · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2008, 08:49:57 AM »

Quote from: ultrafxr on June 28, 2008, 12:13:26 AM

Went on a little dinner ride with the local HOG chapter this evening and when I left the restaurant immediately felt that bike was not handling right. Sure enough low, low rear tire - almost completely flat. Pulled out big f'ing nail. Sucker must be almost 4" long. Chit and this tire has only about 2k on it. Luckily I carry a plug kit and a small air compressor. So friend and I plugged her up and aired her up and HQ and I rode home about 40 miles with no problem. So gotta pull the rear wheel tomorrow am and off to get a new tire. Guess I've been darned lucky. In over 40 years of riding this is the first flat I've ever had. Still sucks though!

Some tire shops can patch them from the INSIDE with a vulcanized patch, maybe you could save the tire??

Sean

Twolanerider · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:21:10 PM »

Quote from: Florida Marine on June 28, 2008, 08:49:57 AM

Some tire shops can patch them from the INSIDE with a vulcanized patch, maybe you could save the tire??

Sean

Sean, I've thought the same thing more than once over the years. If Jerry has had but the one flat in 40 years I've had enough others so that he and I even out a bit.

I carry a plug kit and CO2 cartridges to get in with. Each time I've used them over the years I've always replaced the tire that had gone flat. Have thought about saving a buck and getting it patched. Remembered all those tires I patched as a kid working in a gas station with nary a failure. Then remember that if a car tire goes flat I don't have at least a fair chance of falling down. When I think of bouncing I've bought the tire. Everytime.

ultrafxr · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:25:08 PM »

Quote from: Twolanerider on June 28, 2008, 01:21:10 PM

Sean, I've thought the same thing more than once over the years. If Jerry has had but the one flat in 40 years I've had enough others so that he and I even out a bit.

I carry a plug kit and CO2 cartridges to get in with. Each time I've used them over the years I've always replaced the tire that had gone flat. Have thought about saving a buck and getting it patched. Remembered all those tires I patched as a kid working in a gas station with nary a failure. Then remember that if a car tire goes flat I don't have at least a fair chance of falling down. When I think of bouncing I've bought the tire. Everytime.

Amen Don. To patch the tire you've got to break the bead, remove it from the rim and re-install it. Don't even know who'd I go to to get that done. Even if dealer would do that heck I'd pay just as much to repair the tire as I would to mount & balance an new one which costs $154.95 now. My a$$ is worth $154.95! I'd never patch a motorcycle tire.

ultrafxr · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:26:31 PM »

Got 'er done. New tire mounted & balanced, re-installed on bike and test ridden. Good to go for my ride tomorrow. Now just hope that light rain gets out of here.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2008, 01:44:36 PM »

Quote from: ultrafxr on June 28, 2008, 01:25:08 PM

Amen Don. To patch the tire you've got to break the bead, remove it from the rim and re-install it. Don't even know who'd I go to to get that done. Even if dealer would do that heck I'd pay just as much to repair the tire as I would to mount & balance an new one which costs $154.95 now. My a$$ is worth $154.95! I'd never patch a motorcycle tire.

Just realized I lied. I have patched and ridden. But it was when I was much much younger on rattletrap bikes assembled from god knows what going I didn't even always know where. But then it was spoons on the side of the road or a truck stop parking lot getting at old inner tubes. Some of that crap wasn't very good and I wasn't always the smartest ass on the saddle back then.

charlie · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2008, 07:13:06 PM »

Been there do that on a tire that had less then 1000 miles on it.

Talon · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2008, 11:36:57 AM »

Last year a friend of mine was on a Father's Day ride with his sons, he ran over a knife in the middle of the road and cut a slice in a brand new Metzeler tire on the back of the bike. Had to get a new tire, not a good father's day!

kojak · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2008, 08:41:40 PM »

Quote from: Talon on June 30, 2008, 11:36:57 AM

Last year a friend of mine was on a Father's Day ride with his sons, he ran over a knife in the middle of the road and cut a slice in a brand new Metzeler tire on the back of the bike. Had to get a new tire, not a good father's day!

Any day you stay upright with a blowout is a good d!

hossdog · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:54:55 PM »

I plug em and pump em with a foot pump,I don't leave home without, then head to the nearest harley shop for a new tire No patches.

Keats · « **Reply #15 on:** June 30, 2008, 10:52:03 PM »

Luck was with me coming home from Myrtle beach. I blew out my rear tire on I95 and was able to limp to a truck stop. I had no repair kit and just lucked out and bought a standard plug kit for a car. Plugged and filled with air pump at the stop. Up and Going in 15 min down I95 at 75......now I carry a kit. The tire only had 2k miles, but I replaced. no sense being stupid for $150.
Gave the tire to a cheap skate in our group, he was offended that I would throw away. Better him than me....

ultrafxr · « **Reply #16 on:** June 30, 2008, 10:56:54 PM »

Quote from: FLHTCUSE3 on June 30, 2008, 10:52:03 PM

Luck was with me coming home from Myrtle beach. I blew out my rear tire on I95 and was able to limp to a truck stop. I had no repair kit and just lucked out and bought a standard plug kit for a car. Plugged and filled with air pump at the stop. Up and Going in 15 min down I95 at 75......now I carry a kit. The tire only had 2k miles, but I replaced. no sense being stupid for $150.
Gave the tire to a cheap skate in our group, he was offended that I would throw away. Better him than me....

Yeah, the service writer at the dealer asked me if I wanted the bad tire back. Huh? What the hell for!

Coolbreeze · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2008, 01:10:34 AM »

Well, I gotta say..... YOU SCREWED UP. You shoulda kept that tire with the plug in 'till it was wore slap out. I mean right down to the cord, maybe past a ways. I've done it with every tire I ever had a flat or punture on and never had a safety problem... It's the most satisfying act of defiance there is...

Here's how you do it.

1. Plug the tire.

2. Pump it up.

3. Ride gingerly to the dealer with ALL your friends in tow. (they'll wanna watch part of this)

4. Make sure they've got your tire in stock and can install immediately.

5. March proudly out the the lot and BURN THAT F##KER TO THE CORD!!!! (hoot loudly with glee during this part, no one can hear ya anyway)

6. Don't forget to stop when it blows or you'll make a mess of the rim. (It's easy to get excited and miss this part...)

7. Then get that old worn out tire replaced while that big chit eatin' grin slowly mellows! What the heck, the tire was worn out anyway, right? (don't forget to tip the shop kid that peels the rubber out of the inside of the fender for you while the tech has the wheel out. He's earnin' his keep that day!)

the barber · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2008, 10:22:54 AM »

Just had a masonry nail in my tire. The only good thing,it had 5000 miles on it and didn't go flat!

Keats · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2008, 10:38:48 AM »

Anyone here of this theory...........
Why is it that the rear tire is almost always the tire that gets the nail?
The front tire gets to it first?

The theory is that the front tire is an accomplice..... it picks up the nail or screw laying down and flings it in front of rear tire.
now the object is airborne and has a very good chance of hitting the rear tire with the point and the ground drives it in....
at first I thought this is just a tale, but after thinking about it, it made some sense.

Especially the part about always being a rear tire......

Anyone else buy into this logic?

ultrafxr · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2008, 12:13:41 PM »

Quote from: FLHTCUSE3 on July 08, 2008, 10:38:48 AM

Anyone here of this theory...........
Why is it that the rear tire is almost always the tire that gets the nail?
The front tire gets to it first?

The theory is that the front tire is an accomplice..... it picks up the nail or screw laying down and flings it in front of rear tire.
now the object is airborne and has a very good chance of hitting the rear tire with the point and the ground drives it in....
at first I thought this is just a tale, but after thinking about it, it made some sense.

Especially the part about always being a rear tire......

Anyone else buy into this logic?

I've heard this theory a lot. Maybe we should put it to the Discovery channel Mythbusters program to prove or disprove.

Midnight Rider · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2008, 12:51:20 PM »

I think this is true, especially if the nail or screw has a head on it...front tire flips it upright after running over the head, then rear tire gets the point.

MUFFMAN · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2008, 02:54:23 PM »

That does it. I'm going to start driving backwards. THE MUFFMAN

iski · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2008, 03:05:13 PM »

Yeah, riding sideways would not make any sense......

Gecko · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2008, 08:33:50 PM »

My only flat so far was on my Speed Triple. We have this open back road a couple miles from here and I was slowing down from a spirited run. Dropping through a hundred I felt this little wiggle - that was strange I thought since the thing was always dead stable - at about forty it started oscillating, slower frequency but greater amplitude as the speed dropped. A Michelin Hi-Sport with about a thousand miles on it and a screw in the tread. They are ridiculously wide so it wasn't coming off the rim so I rode it home at about fifteen miles an hour, crab-walking from one side to the other as the tire rolled one way then the other, with images of what would have happened had it come apart at speed. Expensive tires those. Even after riding on it flat for two miles it later held together with a plug in it for the fifty miles to the Triumph dealer. I'm a believer in Michelins now.

MUFFMAN · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2008, 05:08:06 AM »

Quote from: iski on July 08, 2008, 03:05:13 PM

Yeah, riding sideways would not make any sense......

You've obviously have never seen me ride. :)THE MUFFMAN

WFP · « **Reply #26 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:30:18 PM »

Well, I caught a nail today...and it is a weird one...how about in AND out! Was riding in Middletown, CT heading to Bridgport...start hearing a new noise but could not find a cause....continued on and about 30 miles later, I hear a clang noise and then no more noise...get to Bridgeport, cant find anything. Heading home, stop at a 95 rest area in Branford to get some water. Walking back to the bike, I see something on the tire...a nail!

Well, we are 125 miles from home but I also know the tire is still full and we had just done mabe 100 miles with the spike so we hop back on and head home...I choose to sat on 95 as opposed to the planned backroads...here are a couple of picks:

WFP · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:31:16 PM »

I am at 7900 miles of a usual 10K...need to replace this sometime soon!

WFP · « **Reply #28 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:33:04 PM »

zooming in...

WFP · « **Reply #29 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:34:08 PM »

Tire was at 48 PSI when we got home...it was hot out there today!

Fired00d · « **Reply #30 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:35:12 PM »

Quote from: WFP on July 19, 2008, 06:31:16 PM

I am at 7900 miles of a usual 10K...need to replace this sometime soon!

Bill,
Do you have the ESP w/Tire warranty?

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

WFP · « **Reply #31 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:36:56 PM »

Yup...but I have no idea how to use it yet.

Quote from: Fired00d on July 19, 2008, 06:35:12 PM

Bill,
Do you have the ESP w/Tire warranty?

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

110tHunDer · « **Reply #32 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:41:23 PM »

Quote from: WFP on July 19, 2008, 06:34:08 PM

Tire was at 48 PSI when we got home...it was hot out there today!

Whoa! Glad there were no blowouts!

So, since the pressure was still up, it sounds like it did not penetrate the belts, etc.? May just be cosmetic?

Fired00d · « **Reply #33 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:54:34 PM »

Quote from: WFP on July 19, 2008, 06:36:56 PM

Yup...but I have no idea how to use it yet.

Never had to use mine either here is what my ESP contract says...

WE will pay for COSTS to repair or replace the original equipment or like replacement tires and/or wheels of YOUR MOTORCYCLE that fail due to contact with road hazard (pothole or debris on the road surface such as nail, rock, or tree limb). The most WE will pay per claim is three hundred and fifty dolloars ($350.00) and the total of all COSTS WE will pay under this coverage during the CONTRACT TERM is limited to one thousand four hundred dollars ($1400.00).

You do not have to pay the deductable under this coverage. Pickup, rental and travel lodging benefits apply to covered tire and wheel claims.

Exclusions to this coverage include: normal wear, damage due to collision (except road hazards as described above), overloading, dry rot, fire, flood, vandalism, acts of God, abnormal wear, failures of tires or wheels when tires have less than 3/32 of an inch of tread. This coverage is not available for police motorcycles.

This coverage begins on the CONTRACT SALE DATE and expires at the end of the CONTRACT TERM.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Chief · « **Reply #34 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:54:42 PM »

Quote from: 103tHunDer on July 19, 2008, 06:41:23 PM

Whoa! Glad there were no blowouts!

So, since the pressure was still up, it sounds like it did not penetrate the belts, etc.? May just be cosmetic?

Yea, just like an eyebrow ring.

WFP · « **Reply #35 on:** July 19, 2008, 08:15:28 PM »

Quote from: 103tHunDer on July 19, 2008, 06:41:23 PM

Whoa! Glad there were no blowouts!

So, since the pressure was still up, it sounds like it did not penetrate the belts, etc.? May just be cosmetic?

I wish I had a used one to see the cross-section to get an idea of the depth

Quote from: Fired00d on July 19, 2008, 06:54:34 PM

Never had to use mine either here is what my ESP contract says...

WE will pay for COSTS to repair or replace the original equipment or like replacement tires and/or wheels of YOUR MOTORCYCLE that fail due to contact with road hazard (pothole or debris on the road surface such as nail, rock, or tree limb). The most WE will pay per claim is three hundred and fifty dolloars ($350.00) and the total of all COSTS WE will pay under this coverage during the CONTRACT TERM is limited to one thousand four hundred dollars ($1400.00).

You do not have to pay the deductable under this coverage. Pickup, rental and travel lodging benefits apply to covered tire and wheel claims.

Exclusions to this coverage include: normal wear, damage due to collision (except road hazards as described above), overloading, dry rot, fire, flood, vandalism, acts of God, abnormal wear, failures of tires or wheels when tires have less than 3/32 of an inch of tread. This coverage is not available for police motorcycles.

This coverage begins on the CONTRACT SALE DATE and expires at the end of the CONTRACT TERM.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Thanks Gary! I will have to look it up...

RedDevil · « **Reply #36 on:** July 19, 2008, 10:45:28 PM »

If you have the Wheel/Tire Road Hazard Warranty, all you do is take the bike to the dealer. If there is usable tread life left on the tire, they will replace it for you free of charge. Already had to use mine on my 07 Jester. Took a nail in the rear tire. Didn't cost me a dime. Best extended coverage to get IMO. I've had to replace two rear and one front due to screws and nails. You should be good to go.

Chief · « **Reply #37 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:40:59 AM »

Quote from: RedDevil on July 19, 2008, 10:45:28 PM

If you have the Wheel/Tire Road Hazard Warranty, all you do is take the bike to the dealer. If there is usable tread life left on the tire, they will replace it for you free of charge. Already had to use mine on my 07 Jester. Took a nail in the rear tire. Didn't cost me a dime. Best extended coverage to get IMO. I've had to replace two rear and one front due to screws and nails. You should be good to go.

Sounds like you should stop riding in construction zones.

RedDevil · « **Reply #38 on:** July 20, 2008, 04:07:00 PM »

Quote from: Chief on July 20, 2008, 08:40:59 AM

Sounds like you should stop riding in construction zones.

Unfortunately, only one was due to construction that was going on in my neighborhood. One of the nails in the rear I picked up in downtown DC, the other I just picked up somewhere else...have no clue where. All I know if it wasn't for the wheel/tire warranty, those would have set me back close to $600 to fix...none of them cost me a dime.

Seems I have magnets in my tires and they pick up all the road debris.

WFP · « **Reply #39 on:** July 22, 2008, 10:32:02 AM »

Heading up to Paramount HD at 4 this afternoon for a new sneaker for the rear...wonder if there will be any 09's on the floor?

WFP · « **Reply #40 on:** July 23, 2008, 11:51:30 AM »

New tire was installed yesterday afternoon. I started to ride there and turned around withing two miles...every left hand turn I would hear tick-tick-tick....interesting since the only difference with Saturday was Anne was on the back so the suspension would have been more compressed. I was also worried that the tire was losing air possibly.

got home, pressure checked ok so I decided to load it in the trailer and take it in that way.

They removed the tire and I took a look underneath to see if there was any damage. Nothing more that a couple of marks where the nail would hit. No real scoring or metal damage could be felt.

Took a look at the removed tire and the nail never actually penetrated the air chamber. Technically, a plug could have worked to fill in the void if the nail could have been removed.

But thanks to d00d reminding me about my ESP tire coverage I got a new tire at 7460 miles! It just passed the 5/32 test!

/Bill

Sean M Cary · « **Reply #41 on:** July 23, 2008, 04:35:42 PM »

Quote from: RedDevil on July 20, 2008, 04:07:00 PM

Unfortunately, only one was due to construction that was going on in my neighborhood. One of the nails in the rear I picked up in downtown DC, the other I just picked up somewhere else...have no clue where. All I know if it wasn't for the wheel/tire warranty, those would have set me back close to $600 to fix...none of them cost me a dime. Seems I have magnets in my tires and they pick up all the road debris.

you and my wife both - when we lived up there she was Tire Kingdoms (or whatever they are called there) best friend...

It is like clockwork - within a week of me deploying, every freaking time she ends up needing to replace the tires on the van, or something takes a complete crap. No matter what I do to preempt, it is like a deployment requirement to have a major issue.

Sean

Author Topic: F'ing nail! (Read 6253 times)

Sean M Cary

charlie

Sean M Cary