Flat Tires?

Jay Honeck wrote:
Jay: I have used fix a flat for several years in my warrior, too dumb
to worry about the legality of it. Then a couple of years ago the
practice came up in this group and I called the FSDO in San
Antonio. He curtly informed me that the regs didn't mention fix a
flat, so I figured if he wasn't going to worry about it then I wouldn't
either.
The use helped a lot on the mains but the nose wheel still needed help.
I just recently changed to metal caps, maybe that is the culprit. Leo

Did you have any balance problems after using Fix-a-Flat? Did you go out
and taxi around while it "set up", or what?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


I just put the stuff in and taxied up and down the runway a couple of
times and went flying. I honestly don't know if I have balance
problems or not. Everything seems to work ok, no odd noises, no wheel
bearing problems and there are no obvious tire wear problems like you
would have with a car. I suspect that taxi and takeoff distances are
so short that minor balance problems would not show up. I have never
seen anyone balance a cherokee wheel with weights anyway. Leo

I just put the stuff in and taxied up and down the runway a couple of
times and went flying. I honestly don't know if I have balance
problems or not. Everything seems to work ok, no odd noises, no wheel
bearing problems and there are no obvious tire wear problems like you
would have with a car. I suspect that taxi and takeoff distances are
so short that minor balance problems would not show up. I have never
seen anyone balance a cherokee wheel with weights anyway. Leo

I really don't see any downside to trying Fix-A-Flat. A lot of folks say it
gunks up the inside of the wheels (in cars) -- but we're running TUBES, so
there should be no muss or fuss.

On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that the fix-a-flat goop can
spread evenly around a tube (and dry adequately) just taxiing and taking
off. Since those tires have to spin up from zero to 70 in a split second, I
would think balance issues would be very noticeable? Dunno.

I think I'll just buy new tubes next annual...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

I think I'll just buy new tubes next annual...

Why wait, that can be signed off anytime...

I think I'll just buy new tubes next annual...

Why wait, that can be signed off anytime...

True, but I hate to do that kind of stuff mid-stream.

Unless the tire is flat, new inner tubes are one of those "as long as the
plane is up on jacks" kinda things, in my book.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article ikZQe.293072$_o.110885@attbi_s71,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

I think I'll just buy new tubes next annual...

Why wait, that can be signed off anytime...

True, but I hate to do that kind of stuff mid-stream.

Unless the tire is flat, new inner tubes are one of those "as long as the
plane is up on jacks" kinda things, in my book.

Why not patch the tube? I have done it several times and have not
detected any problems. Just be sure to use the "hot patch" method.

That wasn't the point, Orval. The original discussion revolved around the
tendency of most aircraft tubes to diffuse air through the walls of the
tube -- deflate themselves by spontaneous diffusion as it were. THe reason
given was that the specification for aircraft tubes uses a material that is
obsolete in the real world but still used in the make-believe world of
aviation.

Somebody brought up the point that Desser (via Michelin?) has come up with a
"no leak" tube that is blessed for aviation use. Some of the group on here
reported that the "no leak" was in fact just that and a few of the folks
plan on switching to that tube at the next opportunity.

(You left a B out of your signature line.)

Jim



"ORVAL FAIRAIRN" wrote in message
news
In article ikZQe.293072$_o.110885@attbi_s71,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Why not patch the tube? I have done it several times and have not
detected any problems. Just be sure to use the "hot patch" method.

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 11:44:23 -0700, "RST Engineering"
wrote:

That wasn't the point, Orval. The original discussion revolved around the
tendency of most aircraft tubes to diffuse air through the walls of the
tube -- deflate themselves by spontaneous diffusion as it were. THe reason
given was that the specification for aircraft tubes uses a material that is
obsolete in the real world but still used in the make-believe world of
aviation.

Somebody brought up the point that Desser (via Michelin?) has come up with a
"no leak" tube that is blessed for aviation use. Some of the group on here
reported that the "no leak" was in fact just that and a few of the folks
plan on switching to that tube at the next opportunity.

They are called "Leak Guard". I thought I paid $12, but it was $28
each for 6.00 X 6 tubes through Desser.

When installing them you fit the tube into the tire with talcum powder
just like a regular ones. Line up the dots, bars, or what ever, toque
the bolts in the split rim, Inflate it, deflate it, and re inflate.
They aren't completely leak proof, but they hold air much longer than
the old tubes. I already mentioned they were only down 4 psi after 6
weeks.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

(You left a B out of your signature line.)

Jim