Topic: Rode on a flat tire, DAMN, What damage should I look for?

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I did a quick search and didn't find what I was looking for (read, it didn't jump off the screen and slap me!).  I left work today and felt that the back end seemed a little loose.  It had recently rained, so I blamed it on the pavement.  I just made sure to ride gently.  Well, after about 3/4ths of a mile with no improvement, I got off the bike and inspected it.  The rear was flat! DAMNIT!  Walked it home the last quarter mile.

I'm going to try to re-inflate to see if its a slow leak or something more serious.  Obviously, I'll need to change or repair the tube.  While I got the tire off, what damage should I look for?  Tire?  Tube?  Wheel?  Wheel band?

The tire was new about 1500 miles / 8 months ago.  Hell, it still has tits on it!  I would hate to have killed it while so young!

[nickjtc]

How 'flat' was 'flat'? Was there any pressure in there at all?

That 'young' a tyre probably still has the flexibility that there would be no obvious surface damage. Look for any cracking or bulging to the side walls once it is re-inflated. The problem is more likely to be with the internal stucture that you cannot see, dependant on how fast/long you rode on it.

Replace the tube, whatever.

Check the inside of the rim where the tyre bead sits, both visually and by feel to see if there is any damage. Spin the wheel to check for any out-of-round that might have happened as a result.

It's a tough call. If nothing obvious is wrong with the tyre or rim then it's a really tough call!

[puppytrax]

Ten bucks gets you a new tube; inspect the inside of the tire for protruding objects (hint: run your hand around the inside and then look for the blood)  ; re-mount the tire and run it!!!   

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Yep, slow leak, sigh

Put 32 PSI in it last night, down to 30 an hour later and ZERO 24 hours later.  The PO gave me a box of parts.  A rear tube was in there.  I pulled the tube out of the box it was in and just my luck, it has THREE patches on it! GRRRRR!!  Looks like I'm headed to the M/C shop for a new one.

The debate going on in my head right now is - pick up some tire leavers too and change it myself (could use the experience of knowing how) or take the whole rim to the shop and let Shorty inspect and true the wheel then mount and balance. 

From what I can see, there are no bulges in the tire and the rim runs without a noticeable wobble or flat spot when I hand-spin it on center stand.  I don't find any loose spokes either.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Thanks Wyk!

When I was cleaning/inspecting the tire, I rolled the stem to the bottom and filled it with soapy water.  No bubbles so no easy fix.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Oh oh... just took a closer look at the spokes.  Found 4 that are loose, all in the same area.  Think I better take it to Shorty had have him check for true.

[TwoTired]

Check for rust under the rim strip inside the rim.  I had one the built a little pointed rust spire that first pierced the rim strip and then went into the tube.  Phssst.

I had to clean off the rust, paint with Zinc Chromate and then mount the new rim strip, tube, and tire.

Cheers,