Sealing rims

This is a post I put on the VTXOA board last Jan. It works well, I have been rideng on the same sealed rim since then and it has worked out very well, and havent lost 1 lb. of air. Even went on a 3,000 mile trip last Sept. So if you want to go tubless this is the way to go. It has been proven, and it only cost about $12 a rim to do it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Ok guys, been geting several PMs about sealing the tires, so here is how I did it:
After you pull the tire off the rim, you all know that is the first step  
Pull the rubber band out, and look for some rust areas, I had three spots that had some rust on it, I have a little sandblaster so I sandblasted just the rust spots and put some good primer on it. I let it dry and then I used some brake clean to clean all oils off the rim were I was going to put the sealer. Then I used a little sand paper and scuff up the chrome, just a little, the 5200 that I used probley would stick anyway. Then I blew it down with air. I went to a bike shop and got a tubeless valve stem, the one I got has a 45 degree angle, you can use a straight one, and I had to drill out the valve stem hole a little, after you put it in, you put a piece of tape over it. I cut a piece of cardboard pattern for the inside of the rim, then used the cardboard, and transferred it to a piece of plastic, this is to keep the same depth all the way around the rim. Then I started to putting the 5200 on the rim using the plastic putty knife to spread the 5200 around the rim. I wanted to get it even, because of tire balancing, I had to wait about 60 hrs for this stuff to cure, because it was so thick, it was about 3/16 thick, just enough to cover the spoke nuts. I am going to do the front rim, but when I do it Im going to use two coats next time, because of the curing, I believe it will cure better that way. This 5200 is like rubber when it cures. Ship yard use it for under water sealant.
It is made by 3M Marine adhesive sealant 5200. It is spendy stuff, but it is good stuff. Retail is about $20 for a 10oz tube, I had a friend that owed me, that has a RV shop and that is how I got mine, for free  . I think you can find it on line for about 10 or 12 bucks. You have to be carefully, you don’t want to get this where it don’t belong, it is hard to get off. It took less than one tube to do the rear rim, once you open the tube it will not keep, You have plenty of working time so you need to take you time and don’t get in a hurry, and make sure it is cured before you mount your tire. You have to be careful when mounting tire, not to damage it, it is tuff stuff. Also this stuff you can patch. And don’t forget to remove the tape over the valve stem hole before you mount the tire.
There is a picture on page 11 I believe
You can balance your own tire, all you need is two jack stands and a rod to go thru your wheel and a level to make sure your jack stands a level across the top, and some weights from the bike shop. The car tire balanced so good, I didn’t need any weights, I have never had a Duncrap do that.
I hope this helps, Its not hard to do at all.
I don’t know how much $ people charge to seal rims, but I have herd of people sending the tire to them and end up with a flat tire, and going back to a tube. So far this has worked for me with no problems, If I have a flat now its going to be  
Good luck



EDIT: For good pictures also check out http://www.vtxcafe.com/showthread.php?t=50643

I sealed mine using the above directions and it works real good, it's an easy mod takes about 48 hrs to complete. here's a pic of mine.

I didnt glue the rubber band in. I put it in last, just to protect the seal job, when changeing the tire.

Works good both ways. I am going to seal my wifes rims when she needs tires.

Excellent post/job wayne (and the rest of you). Probably a better idea than using a tube in a tubeless tire? Altho both seem to be options. We need these kind of options when going darkside.

This reminds me of something I did to my front fender, and am wondering if this stuff would work for sealing the wheel. Would be easier to apply (spray on), cost would be maybe a little less. I got mine at an auto parts store. It's rubberized undercoating (made by mar-hyde (#4211) but there are other brands I'm sure).

The Valkyrie comes with a couple of rubber strips (I think they were rubber) glued to the underside of the front fender. We think they are for noise reduction. Well, sometimes they come loose and/or come off. Some of us have used this undercoating spray as a replacement, and it also helps protect the underside from rocks/debris that could dent the fender.

Not sure how thick it could be applied, but probably thick enough. Tape up the wheel, put it on your balance stand, rotate as you paint.

Just a thought that came to mind. This 5200 stuff seems to be working.

Paul

I have another rim to seal, I may just have to play around with something.
I know the 5200, you can patch if you have to.
I also thought about useing plastic dip, that you use to dip tools in, for the handle.
I was trying to keep the price down, so people could afford to do it without shipping the rims off to someone, I have heard of people doing that and it not working and they are out $$$$$.
I will be playing around with another one in the next month.

Just a little bump, so newbies can find it.

I just finished putting sealer on another rim, I tried something a little diff., Im sure it will work.

Send pics??????..................bobby


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Looks the same a the others.

wayne wrote:Looks the same a the others.

Well you could have posted the same pic and tell us here it is...............


Thanks wayne.......you the best!

.

But I dont have those pics. to post

wayne wrote:I just finished putting sealer on another rim, I tried something a little diff., Im sure it will work.

Ok, I'm missing something. What is the different something? I'm working on getting everything together to change to the darkside in the next few weeks. Went to 2 different tire stores this afternoon and got some very confused reactions about 'what kind of car is this going onto'. Looking at the Protenza 205/65 15 for around $83.00 out the door. Will manual tire spoons do the trick on mounting the tire?

Dave

Dave

I had the same reaction from the tire store. They wanted to look it up by the car, I told them a bike gave them the toyo part number. hen had to listen to how it won't work yada yada. I asked the guy if he rode a bike. "no" he says. So I asked him straight up, then what the hell do you know about what will and what won't work obn my bike. Then commenced to tell him I put 11,000 on a car tire last year. He went numb, I could tell his eyes were open but nobody home. He was mad enough that he threatened to not sell me the tire. Told him fine I could go down the road to the other guy and get it. About this time the manager came out and tried to tell me the same shit but quit when I cut him off. Needless to say I got the tire. All this after having to wait cause the guy that I had already dealt with had the tire in the trunk of his car
Anyway, you should be able to get it on with the spoons. A lot of folk do it that way. I am a lazy bastage and had mine mounted.

Good luck
See you out there
Smokey

I have two sets of spoons I use, a cheap set of mc ones that I used when I was raceing and a good set of heavy ones, the part that is hard to do is breaking the bead, you need a bead breaker. You can buy a cheap one at Harbor freight, and then just do it on a peice of carpet on the floor, but there are some tricks to getting the tires off and on, which I cant explain, but can show you. You have to be real carefull not to let the spoon come flying out and hitting you in the face,and not bend the rotor, I have seen a guy bend the rotor before, so I pop mine off so I dont damage it, and you can scarup the rim if you not carefull.

Well now, I have two Harley guys that are going to seal some rims. Im going over to the coast (1 hr) and do it for them. They ask how much? and I said just have a good bottle around when we are working on the bikes and that should do it.

Wayne, You posted a couple of times about trying some other materials for sealing the rims, did you ever find anything that works with a shorter cure time. I have had my tire on and off of the rim 4 times now and had leaking spokes each time. I was useing 3M 4200 since the cure time is only 24 hours and don't really want to go to the 5200 because of the 7 day cure but I am getting PO'd at this stupid wheel. Not to mention all the ride time I'm missing!!! So far I haven't even gotten to the part about getting the bead to seat.

David

I havent had time to mess with it, I just sealed another rim with the 5200, I havent tried the 4200.
Let us know how it works if you do it.
With the 5200, Imounted the tires within 48 hrs. and had 0 problems.

I have already tried the 4200 twice and now have it peeled back off and the rim setting bare. I guess I didn't read the instructions right, I thought the 5200 required 6 or 7 days to cure. Anyway, Ill pick up some of the 5200 tonight and use the extra day to change the color of the leds on the speedo.

Thanks,
David

If you get it online post a spot were you get it.
I got mine from a friend that owed me, and it didnt cost anything, so it would be nice to have a place so someone can get it.

Thanks.

Try this place "WestMarine".....they have one right around the corner from work.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?catalogId=10001&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&keyword=5200&Ntt=5200&N=377+710&y=89&x=351&storeId=10001&Ntk=Primary+Search&ddkey=SiteSearch


.....................bobby

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That is a good price for it.
Thanks.
One thing I forgot, I was told by the guys that use this in the ship yards, that , if you heat it up, it pops off, now I havent tried this, and dont know if you would want to get you rim that hot, I really dont know how hot you have to get it.
Also, the thicker you put it on the longer it takes to cure, If in doubt, let it set another day, You cant get in a big hurry with this stuff.

Well I guess I'm just toooooo impatient. Sealed the rim with the 5200 and let it cure for 3 days. Put the first side of the tire on last night and it scraped the sealer off, so here I go again. I guess it is a good thing I found the 5200 in a 3 oz. tube at Walmart. For everyone else you can find 3M 5200 marine sealer in the sporting goods/boating section at Wally World, it is around $5. Wayne, how much would you say you use per wheel? Maybe I'm just not putting enough onto the rim.

David

I use about 2/3 of a tube to do a rim.
Been puting the rubber tube saver in to help protect the 5200. You cant see the spoke nipples after im done, You want it to stick to the side a little to get the good seal. and you want to put it one even for balanceing reasons.
You can probley patch the 5200 that you riped.
And did you scuff up the rim a little to get it to stick better?
They make plastic putty knifes, and you can form it to the middle of your rim, useing a grinder or knife and it works great for getting it even all the way around.
I never knew you could buy it in such small tubes, After you are done and it is cured, it works like a big rubber band that sticks to your rim. You do have to be carefully with the tire spoons when mounting tire. Go slow and take you time when mounting tire, or dismounting.
I will be out of town for the weekend, dont know If im leaveing today or tomorrow, but if you have any more questionss you can PM me.

Good luck

New here -

Learning from you guys. My 1300C has OEM Mag wheels. Must the hub be sealed on this rim to b/4 mounting the 205?

I have been lurking around this site for a few weeks now and just completed the 19 page post.

Looking forward to your response.

Scott