Bead leaks

[tbone9]

Last year I mounted new 21" goodyears to run with tracks and no matter what I do I can't get the beads sealed. The rims are like new and I used a lot of bead sealer both times I reseated them and they stil have small leaks. I noticed the main ingredient in the sealer is toluene which softens rubber. So it should work. With 6 psi in these tires (required to run tracks) there's not much flex in the sidewalls. My latest plan is with tracks off to run the tires damn near flat and let the beads "work in". Outside of slime and tubes does anyone have any other tricks I could try?

[Mike]

What did you use for bead sealer, Permatex? Everyone seems to have good luck with that. When the tires leak, can you see the air seeping out with soapy water or is it more of a gradual leak? And is this on k-lock wheels or standard wheels?

[philipatmaxfour]

bead leaks

Last year I mounted new 21" goodyears to run with tracks and no matter what I do I can't get the beads sealed. The rims are like new and I used a lot of bead sealer both times I reseated them and they stil have small leaks. I noticed the main ingredient in the sealer is toluene which softens rubber. So it should work. With 6 psi in these tires (required to run tracks) there's not much flex in the sidewalls. My latest plan is with tracks off to run the tires damn near flat and let the beads "work in". Outside of slime and tubes does anyone have any other tricks I could try?

I am curious tbone, how much air did you use to set the beads? I hope that you used a few more pounds than recommended. Maybe even a bit more with a long remote hose and a quick fit in your hand. running them real soft for a while as you said sounds safer.

[tbone9]

What did you use for bead sealer, Permatex? Everyone seems to have good luck with that. When the tires leak, can you see the air seeping out with soapy water or is it more of a gradual leak? And is this on k-lock wheels or standard wheels?

They're on k locks and you can see bubbles with soap water. K locks require a lot of air to seat the bead as you know. Might have to try permeatex. I used regular bead sealer for tires. Can't remember the name brand

[Sparx]

Why not use tubes? I've had amazing results with tubes on my Argo and other off-road machines. Never have I torn a valve stem off and I run them as low as 2psi as well.

[tbone9]

With the k locks I don't think tubes would be an issue but not willing to take the chance. A torn off valve stem could be catastrophic with tracks. Especially in the winter when I'm miles out on a lake with all my fishin gear. Besides I'm running flush mount valve stems to prevent ice from tearing off a stem.

[ARGOJIM]

If they are new tires I generally rip the little nubs off at the bead area, though they should clear the rim often they are just long enough to create a leak if they get stuck between the bead and rim. You may want to try to unseat the leaking section and using wd40 clean all of the sealer off that bead, if reseated and reapplied the bead sealer can harden and ball on either the tire or the rim and create a leak, if you get it cleaned off maybe try no sealer.
If you ripped or nicked a bead mounting them this could all be moot.

[tbone9]

Thanks Jim. I'll give that a try.

[msafi65]

I put at least 12 oz of sealer in all my tires. I prefer a product made by Texas Refinry Corp. the mines use it in all the big tires and buy it in 55 gallon drums. It will clean up with water and doesn't freeze solid. Stops the head leaks better than bead sealer. I have one wheel on my max that was pretty bad rusty. Had to break down and set the head with an industrial sealer. Scotch 808 I believe. It's designed to adhere and seal rubber to metal. Haven't added air to that one in over a year now.

[tbone9]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[Sparx]

How is the concern of tearing a valve stem on a tube any worse then the problems you are having now? Losing air is obviously happening either way, but I really doubt you'll rip a metal shafted valve stem tube that tubes come with. I would actually put money on it that a tube will stop your problem. I had all 4 inside tires of my Argo tubed inside my rubber tracks with not one issue in weather down to -40. In fact, I have yet to ever rip a tub out of any tire I've run them on including rear sport quads with high HP and studded tires on ice... Your Argo WILL be fine running tubes... Your are struggling with bead sealers to no end, been there done that for customers and won't waste my time with roofing tar or any other tire sealant anymore, tubes all the way on a good clean dry rim...

[tbone9]

I forgot you can get tubes with metal stems. Dot they have rubber washers where they bolt on to keep water out of the tire? This is another concern I have.

[ARGOJIM]

I forgot you can get tubes with metal stems. Dot they have rubber washers where they bolt on to keep water out of the tire? This is another concern I have.

Most have metal washers though I'd guess you would be better with rubber, the problem found with most tube failures is the metal stem pulling from the tube that I've seen.

[Sparx]

Yup, all the one's I used have metal stems with the washers. Dual nuts to lock as well. You can get the 90degree bend for us track tuner guys which I plan to do if I ever need them again on this Argo. I had a bad problem with the rubber tracks pulling in logs/debris and giving me sidewall flats on the middle 4 tires. It was so bad that I was garaunteed in two rides to have a middle tire sidwall leak. Through the tubes in and not one issue since then.
Fortunate for me now with the Escargo tracks they haven't caused this repeated issue and I haven't had a flat yet in 900kms and 150hrs of very rough use. I'm actually amazed at how durable this setup has been in comparison to the issues I was having with my rubber tracks so frequently.
I have just installed a radial tube in a front radial tire that had a hole as big as my thumb in it on my SXS and have another to throw in a rear as well that's been giving me grief on bead leaks when I find time. That's a first tubing a radial tire and no issues now in the last few rides. Sure beats dealing with plugs and slow leaks. I never get water in between the tube and tire either, so I can't see that being an issue. I'm always in the water as well and have never found any water coming out of the holes in my tires or the valve stems... I torque down my lock nuts pretty tight but have never torn one from the tube, sounds like it might be an older issue with older tubes. These ATV tubes are super tough, I had my own tire machine and have been doing tires the last 20 years without one tube ripping on me or going flat even yet on various machines from 18" to 30" tires.

[plott hound]

I also tubed my corner tires,totally eliminated leaks when running my rubber tracks.ive got a set of tires that I use only with the tracks and am going to get the other 4 tubed as well.