Saving ATC90 Balloon Tires?

[cosmohawk]

Yup...just trying to get the project underway...and a lot of this is "new to me" kind of stuff.

Anyways...I trying to figure out how to save these old balloon tires. 3 of the 4 rear tires are structurally intact with small leaks, and a small center puncture. The rear tire with the best tread remaining has a 4 inch split across (tire with duct tape patch...just to see if it would hold air...enough to inflate anyways).



I've called a couple local tire shops that do agri-machinery tires...repair and reconditioning. The difference here is that I know what kind of repair work would permanently fix / save the tires...whereas they are very cut and dry in terms of the work they do.

I'm thinking...inject a quantity of molten rubber into the tire...roll / spin the tire to thoroughly coat the inside (with some bonding agent)...as one fix.

The other is to fill the tire with some Ecoflex polyurethane foam to simulate the 2.0psi tire pressure, and be done with it. The foam is described as "simulating the properties of a pneumatic tire" while still being flexible...not solid. Not sure about the weight issue though...not looking for 20 pound tires to roll around.

Planned on fixing the 4 inch tear using a thick rubber patch with lots of rubber bonding agent...maybe a more rigid patch.

If anyone out there has some experience with repairing / rejuvenating these old tires...please help.

Thanks again. You guys have been more than helpful so far.

[coolpool]

I have been removing the old external patches and putting a bottle of that green tire slime in them. The tires had little value to them in the first place so "sliming" them won't make a difference. The tire with the slash is probably toast. I don't think you'll get a strong enough bond with any type of patch that will give you the strength you need to support weight. If the trike is to be suspended on a pedestal as a display item you might get away with it.

[cosmohawk]

Yeah...I thought about Slime...but have used it before with mixed results...and like the reviews say...it's messy!

I know the tires have little value...but they're what I plan on putting back on the bike once the semi-resto is complete. Serious doubt that I will find a high-quality set locally, or without spending $1000 to buy some from afar.

Don't really want to swap out the originals for some rim-tire setup of newer vintage. Want to keep it ol'skool, yet dependable.

I would rather spend $200 trying to save these ones...just can't see why there's not a more permanent dependable fix. An inner coating of new rubber would seal everything.

[Bretmd94]

We have been using Grip glue to seal cracks. We clean the area thoroughly, scratch it a little with a soft wire brush. Then wipe the glue into the cracks and over the area of the cracks. Hold the cracks closed until dry if you need too.

We did this to several of out us-90 tires. You can see the glue on the tire but its not too noticeable. Maybe try it out on your worst tire. EZmoney1979 came up with this method and had a tire with a big crack that was leaking. It holds air and has been rode on. See my US-90 vid below The blue 90 is the one with the repaired front tire.

We did it to the rest of the tires and the front on my green 90 just to fill the cracks to extend the life a bit so we can ride.

[Dirtcrasher]

I'd just change the hub so you can run other tires.

No one wants to be stranded with flat tires.......

People get 1500$ plus for a good balloon tire, to me they aren't worth owning if your gonna ride them.

[cosmohawk]

That's an awesome video BTW! I posted it on my facebook a couple weeks ago...before I bought this project ATC90. The video gave me some inspiration...and great song too! Works great along with the footage.

Thanks for the idea, using Grip Glue. I'm sure that "fixing" these old tires is going to require some serious creativity. Guess that's the kind of info I'm looking for...creative solutions that work.

This is the whole difference between the straight and narrow, and thinking outside the box.

One tire shop I contacted just sorta laughed at me...and made me feel like I was wasting his time, even though there was potential that he would get my business. Basically told me that what I had in mind couldn't be done...and he dosen't do the foam filling anymore...just fills with rubber to create a solid tire. Not what I had in mind.

Ah well...patience is a virtue...solutions will present themselves in time.

Thanks for the idea though...will give it a try.

[SUPERBEAST]

i think people have been using foam inside the tire also

[MTS]

are the cords Broken where the big split is or just the rubber cracked up bad??

[Zuplar]

That's an awesome video BTW! I posted it on my facebook a couple weeks ago...before I bought this project ATC90. The video gave me some inspiration...and great song too! Works great along with the footage.

Thanks for the idea, using Grip Glue. I'm sure that "fixing" these old tires is going to require some serious creativity. Guess that's the kind of info I'm looking for...creative solutions that work.

You ever find a solution to this? I've thought about having them wrap the tire, similar to how they do when they re-tread semi tires. Not sure if this would work though since it is rimless.
This is the whole difference between the straight and narrow, and thinking outside the box.

One tire shop I contacted just sorta laughed at me...and made me feel like I was wasting his time, even though there was potential that he would get my business. Basically told me that what I had in mind couldn't be done...and he dosen't do the foam filling anymore...just fills with rubber to create a solid tire. Not what I had in mind.

Ah well...patience is a virtue...solutions will present themselves in time.

Thanks for the idea though...will give it a try.

You ever find a solution to this? I've thought about having them wrap the tire, similar to how they do when they re-tread semi tires. Not sure if this would work though since it is rimless.

[big specht]

Ok I know this is a OLD thread PUT did any body come up with a fix for these tires??? I have one that has a dry rot crack in the side that I would like to fix.

[kb0nly]

The best fix is to hang it on the wall as a souvenir and then put a newer wheel and tire combo on, just how it is. I bet you fix one crack and ride on it for ten minutes and create more. Those tires are OLD and dry.

[ezmoney1979]

The best fix is to hang it on the wall as a souvenir and then put a newer wheel and tire combo on, just how it is. I bet you fix one crack and ride on it for ten minutes and create more. Those tires are OLD and dry.

You are wrong. The tires Bret and I repaired with grip glue are still being used. I have never had to add air to my front tire since I repaired it. I used a glue that was made for jet ski grips/pads. If I come across the old tube of glue I will post the manufacturer.

[kb0nly]

Interesting but i still think its why and bother in this case. I rode on one with balloon tires years ago, rode like crap, bouncing all over the place and the tires are like slicks if the ground is so much as damp. Though it was fun to do donuts in wet grass as it couldnt go anywhere otherwise... LOL

A good set of cheap knobbies has them beat for riding. But if your looking at it for a matter of display, aka a trailer queen that just sits on a shelf, then ok i can agree with saving them. Honestly i sell any balloon tires i come across, last set i had even cracked i got $300 a tire, why keep em at these prices!

[ezmoney1979]

What were you expecting a tire with no wheel to ride like? I'm probably in the minority on this but putting regular tires on a US90 is trike blasphemy. They are little under powered machines meant to be used in soft terrain at low speeds. Also I'm not in this hobby to sell tires, I'm much more interested in preserving their history.

[jeswinehart]

I think the idea Cosmohawk had in his first posting is the correct way to go, fix it from the inside.
http://www.alumilite.com/ProdDetail....egory=Silicone Rubber&Name=Alumilite's High Strength 2 Well I don't know why that link don't work,,, try this and look at products then High Strength 2 mold rubber. http://www.alumilite.com/ProdDetail....egory=Silicone Rubber&Name=Alumilite's High Strength 2 ,,,, okay try http://www.alumilite.com (dam it)

this stuff would a perfect choice for doing that. It would require patience to pour thru the valve stem for sure and also require very slow rotation for several hours in a environment that is over 75 degree.
IMO the 10 pound kit would be enough to do 3 tires if simply coating the thread area (not side walls).
If wanting to do the whole inside a roto mold set up would be required and I am suspecting a 10 pound kit would do 2 tires up nicely.
You will want a tin cure type of silicone (like High Strength 2) ,,, that is the only type that cures out against old Jap rubber (there are some tricks you can do to get around that but not feasible on something this large).
I really have no interest of getting into tire repair but just know it would work. Over half of my molds are made from HS2, very durable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMIUVPNioc
Those balloon tires offer up a great ride if not over inflated.

john