Putting tube in front tire

[TwoHundredEx]

Has anyone one ever put a tube in a tire on their own?
I'm hoping to go riding this weekend at a buddys dads house, but we have to leave tomorrow afternoon. The problem is that my front tire doesn't hold air at all right now and I need to get a tube in it before 3:30 tomorrow. I'll get home from school around 12:30 and I don't know if I'll be able to make it to shop in time or if the shop will have time to do it. Is this something I can do myself?

[TwoHundredEx]

Another question.. My dad's good friends with a mechanic, and he mentioned that he plugs holes for truck tires all the time and since he works in the same building as my dad he could take it in with him tomorrow when he goes to work.
Do you think the same process used to plug holes on vehicle tires could be applied for mine? I'll probably only get a day in of riding so it only needs to last a few hours...

[Dirtcrasher]

Putting the tube in is easy... Breaking one bead is hard. I'm sure you can find or have seen the bead breaking posts here. Then you just stuff it in and inflate it.


Tubes STINK. They roll and the valve stem sheares off. If it's a dry rotted tire - junk it. If it's gotta a leak, slime it up. If you have a side wall tear, your on a neverending journey of flat tubes befoe you give up....

We have tough conditions out here, I have no good luck with tubes.

EDIT - Regular tire plugs are exactly what plugs ATV tires. I buy the pack of 6 and a tube of rubber cement. I have never had one fail.....

[TwoHundredEx]

Putting the tube in is easy... Breaking one bead is hard. I'm sure you can find or have seen the bead breaking posts here. Then you just stuff it in and inflate it.


Tubes STINK. They roll and the valve stem sheares off. If it's a dry rotted tire - junk it. If it's gotta a leak, slime it up. If you have a side wall tear, your on a neverending journey of flat tubes befoe you give up....

We have tough conditions out there, I have no good luck with tubes.

Well like I said, it only has to last me a day of riding.
The hole was from a screwdriver that I rolled over (pissed me off beyond beleife because the tires in great shape) The hole is the size of a screwdriver shaft, and is in the middle of the tire. Do you think slime would work? The tire won't hold air for more than 5 minutes. If the mechanic can't plug it then I might look into that. I just need something fast.

[evand]

have him plug it, then slime it, shouldnt go flat on you.

[Dirtcrasher]

PLUG and or 2 plugs, done it before!!

Slime seals bad beads and small leaks, and helps with future leaks.

[TwoHundredEx]

Sounds like the plug is that way to go. That make me feel a little better, leaves me the option of getting a tube put in if for some reason he can't do it.
As long as he can get it done tomorrow I'll be good. I'll see if I can grab some slime too.
Thanks for the help guys.

[The Goat]

plugs will be fine man, won't take more than five minutes to do either.

[rover]

Break the bead on both sides, take the tire off the rim. Clean a 4"circle around the hole. Put rubber cement around the hole larger than a small patch. Put a SMALL patch centered over the hole. Let it dry about 10-15 minutes. Put more cement, and then the next larger patch over the first one. Then it should hold air quite well for a long time. If you have any doubts, put a larger patch over the other two.

[brapp]

hell man if he cant plug it go to wal mart and grap a blug kit for 10 bux and most have directions how to plug them. its verry simple routine. rasp the hole then put plug on the tool and pushinto hole so far and pullout quickly lol kinda reminds me of sex lol

[TwoHundredEx]

hell man if he cant plug it go to wal mart and grap a blug kit for 10 bux and most have directions how to plug them. its verry simple routine. rasp the hole then put plug on the tool and pushinto hole so far and pullout quickly lol kinda reminds me of sex lol

lol

Thanks for again for the help.
I'm hoping to get a little video too if everything works out.
This'll be the first trail ride for the 2 stroke X, and I'm not expecting to go without problems.
I'm hoping I don't run into too much but I doubt that'll be case.
Oh well, that's part of the process.

[300rman]

USE SOME TUBELESS TIRE SLIME!
i use it in my back tires on my R, and they are holding air for 3 months! would bleed down in a day before. have many other stories of how its saved leaky tires on off-road applications, but i think one is enough.

NOT FIX A FLAT, IT SUCKS. but SLIME.

[TwoHundredEx]

Yeah, I'm going to pick some up tomorrow for one of my rear tires that has a leak also.
I don't think slime would be able to stop the leak in the front tire though. Barely holds air for 5 minutes. I'll add some anyway though, after I get it plugged.
I've never used that stuff, how do you put it in? Just through the valve?

[300rman]

that will hold it just fine then.

[MADATC]

I had a bad experience with a tube in the front tire. I had one put in my brother in law's '85 R. In the middle of a drag with another kid on an '87 quad R the valve stem separated from the tube and the tire instantly went flat. Not fun when in 5th gear and WOT.