David
Have any members repaired a puncture on the side of the road on a big Indian?
I would like to hear of riders experiences and knowledge / methodology / tips / tools on the subject and thought the subject might be of interest to the many who will be attending the Silverton get together next May.

Thanks in advance to those who will suggest calling road side assistance but this is not always a practical/ possible option especially in the more remote areas.

I would also like to hear from experienced forum members what the best tyre repair kit is to buy and why (I carry a small compressor).
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 2 0
Croc
Can't help, had a few over the years on big bikes, but I was basically stuffed.  Outback tyre replacement is a nightmare, find a convenient hummock to rest the bike on & hope it isn't a rear tyre (which it usually is!).  I opt for keeping notice of my tyres' condition & changing them prior to long trips.
(I did use gaffer/100 mile tape for a few hundred miles once, wrapped it around the tyre through the spokes & replaced every stop!  Wouldn't recommend it as a good practice though! ðŸ˜‚ 😉
I'm Not Completely Useless . .
I Can Be Used As A Bad Example!

Kwinana W.A.

Ulysses   #48275
IMRG      #100932
Quote 2 0
David
Croc wrote:
Can't help, had a few over the years on big bikes, but I was basically stuffed.  Outback tyre replacement is a nightmare, find a convenient hummock to rest the bike on & hope it isn't a rear tyre (which it usually is!).  I opt for keeping notice of my tyres' condition & changing them prior to long trips.
(I did use gaffer/100 mile tape for a few hundred miles once, wrapped it around the tyre through the spokes & replaced every stop!  Wouldn't recommend it as a good practice though! Ã°Å¸Ëœâ€š 😉


Thanks Croc, you don’t have to go far in WA or SA to find yourself in the sticks. I like the gaffer tape method as a last resort - I will chuck a roll in the kit and pray for a handy hummock 😂
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
kmoulds
Get yourself one of those air compressors that work off your cigarette lighter power plug or wire up an SAE plug to your battery and look around for a tyre repair kit.  There are heaps on the market.

Cheers Kym - Sydney - NSW
2016 custom painted red & black Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
David
Thanks Kym, I ended up getting the Stop and Go Pocket Tyre Repair Kit - I already have a small compressor for my bike.
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 1 0
Jollster
Hi David,

I've just bought the kit below. Only $40 from ebay. Its pretty easy to repair tyres using plugs (tubeless of course). The handy thing with this kit is it comes with some CO2 canisters that will pump up the tyre once its plugged, no compressor necessary. It does come with patches for tubes, but I've found I'm hopeless when it comes to bicycle puncture repair, but i'll carry them incase someone i'm riding with needs a patch at some time in the future. Lucky the Scout is tubeless, so i'll be right if a puncture occurs.

Jollster
4D98177E-1BC9-413A-BA28-4BAC1491B6AC.jpeg 
2017 Thunder Black Scout.
Quote 1 0
Fransvdm
Jollster wrote:
Hi David,

Its pretty easy to repair tyres using plugs (tubeless of course). The handy thing with this kit is it comes with some CO2 canisters that will pump up the tyre once its plugged, no compressor necessary. 

Jollster


Jollster, sometimes it could be a pain to plug the tyre, especially a rear tyre on an Indian Roadmaster. It won't be easy to get to the hole and if there's a screw or nail and you have to remove it, it needs a bit of knowledge and experience to do so. It's not always easy. And the canisters doesn't pump up the tyre enough either.

It's a good think to practice on a worn out tyre. When you need to replace the rear tyre, hit a nail or screw in the tyre with a hammer. Do not drill a hole, cause that would be too easy to plug. Once you have created the puncture, then do the same than what you would be expecting to do on the side of the road - do not go into the garage and use tools that you won't have on the side of the road. Remove the nail either by pulling it out with a side cutter or push it inside the tyre with the tool that come with the kit that you need to make the hole bigger before plugging it. Once you have plugged it and used the canisters, then you can ride to the shop to replace the tyre with the new tyre. If you won't be able to do so, or if you would be able to do so, compare this with the real world out there on the Nullarbor, or in the middle of the night between Coober Pedy & Marla, or anywhere else for that matter.

FWIW, I carry a compressor, tyre repair kit, similar than what you show in the file attached, and also a can of sealant which I spray inside the tyre to seal the hole from inside.

In all my travels, which are about 50,000 km per year, all over the country, at night, day, in the rain, snow, heat and everything in between, I only had 2 punctures, both rear tyres. I replace the tyre as soon as I get to the very next motorcycle shop. I only have 1 life and do not gamble with tyres.
Frans
Quote 1 0
Jollster
Agree Frans, once repaired, that tyre needs to be replaced. The repair should only get you to a place where replacement can occur. 
2017 Thunder Black Scout.
Quote 0 0
David
Thanks Jollister - I bought the following kit from for about $40 from ebay

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/331725848388552622?q=plug+and+go+tire+repair+kit&sa=X&rlz=1C9BKJA_enAU651AU651&hl=en-GB&biw=1024&bih=655&tbs=vw:l,ss:44&yprmd=svin&prds=epd:12556997023129361092,paur:ClkAsKraX98HX56ZqPZRgtjLO5ugHKDMM3kj9iQ63DUNfQXAxJwRhqWdG_OC0tOfhuq0HQGQbIFU_zft1dZuDnL4fqEhfdP-_J6dtDZuWCo92f24AjesyKj3IBIZAFPVH72hWUuzY92RNFsMddSqczr_L6svBQ,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1&ved=0ahUKEwiYr5yK1I7kAhVEXSsKHavcA8UQgTYIwQQ
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
David
Thanks for the info Frans - I agree with your comments re the co2 and it’s limitations in inflating tyres sufficiently. I will consider buying a can of sealant.
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
Dr.Shifty
Jollster wrote:
Agree Frans, once repaired, that tyre needs to be replaced. The repair should only get you to a place where replacement can occur. 


Not all punctures require a new tyre. I once got a roofing screw in my rear tyre, courtesy of the roofing guys working at my office, and the bike shop repaired it with a patch inside. I'd imagine that if you had a roadside repair with a gummy worm the bike shop would repair it as long as it wasn't too close to the sidewall.
Cheers, Kim.

From Woodrising (no, nobody else has heard of it either)
Rides a Springfield Dark Horse
Quote 1 0
Damich
David you might find this link of some interest. I use the Stop and Go plugger on my ride-on tubeless tyres and they have never leaked. I also have a kit in my bike tool kit with a small compressor which I plug into my SAE plug directly to the bikes battery. 
Damian
North East Melb
Quote 0 0
Anya
Thanks for that, Damian ðŸ˜„

I know which one I'll be putting in my toolkit.  The Stop and Go may be a little more expensive, but for me was a clear winner in application and result.

Cheers!
Remember, stay shiny side up!! Ã°Å¸ËœÅ½

Perth, WA

2018 Chieftain Dark Horse
Quote 0 0
David
Damich wrote:
David you might find this link of some interest. I use the Stop and Go plugger on my ride-on tubeless tyres and they have never leaked. I also have a kit in my bike tool kit with a small compressor which I plug into my SAE plug directly to the bikes battery. 


Thanks for your recommendation Damian - it is the combination I arrived at! Thanks also for taking the time to post the above video. I watched this video and used the results along with other information I gathered online to come to the decision to buy the Stop and Go plugger a couple of days ago, The video is one of the best reviews of a product I’ve seen online as the presenter did not edit out his stuff ups and issues using each of the repair kits. He also provided a convincing test of the kits by submerging the results.

Apart from the apparent quality of the Stop and Go kit and the supiorior results the greatest positive for the kit in my view is the method of inserting the plug - the ability to mechanically screw the plug into place instead of having to drive it in using physical force.

In almost all the videos I watched of repair kits it was apparent that the 2 most difficult / physically demanding parts of the repair were the reaming out of the puncture hole and the force required to drive the repair plug into the tyre. I noted in the videos the people demonstrating the tyre repair products were either working by standing / sitting over an isolated tyre (not on the bike) or working on a tyre on a sports bike. This gave them plenty of access to the puncture due to having no guards in the way or much smaller guards than we have providing them plenty of room to work and a good angle to apply the substantial force required to ream out the hole and drive the repair plug into place.

Imagine working on the rear tyre of a bigger Indian on the side of the road in hot weather conditions. You’ll be lying on your back or side with very little room to access the tyre given the size of the guards which will limit us to a very difficult angle to apply the force required to ream out the hole and drive the repair plug into place.

While the reaming out of the hole may still be difficult the ability to screw the repair plug into place instead of having to drive the plug in will in my opinion be an easier option on our bikes given the limited and difficult angle of tyre acess.
2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
Damich
Anya wrote:
Thanks for that, Damian ÃƒÂ°Ã…¸Ëœâ€ž

I know which one I'll be putting in my toolkit.  The Stop and Go may be a little more expensive, but for me was a clear winner in application and result.

Cheers!

FYI retails for approximately $50 (small kit)
AA71EA04-E7FE-4A02-B525-C6C20CFF0551.png 
Damian
North East Melb
Quote 0 0
Fransvdm
It's easy to do when you sit on a stool in the garage. Practicing to do this should be done in a "real world" environment. Park the bike outside in the driveway, whether it's raining, cold or hot, and do it while the wheel is on the bike. Don't walk into the garage to get tools which you won't have on the bike on the trip. You'll thank me later 😋😋
Quote 1 0
David
Many comments in this thread refer to carrying a compressor.

I have a Motopressor pocket pump which Is compact and good quality. I also bought the extension with in line pressure guage.

There are plenty of demos on YouTube.

2017 Indian Springfield
Quote 0 0
Dr.Shifty
I carry a couple of the key shaped twist-in plugs and a multi-tool that folds out to a pair of pliers for pulling nails etc. One thing that the guy in the video didn't do is run the bike after the repair. The twist plugs are a solid plastic and they need the heat of a working tyre to soften a little and seal them completely.

I also carry a Michelin mini-pump and an extension hose with pressure gauge that clips more easily to the valve stem, especially on the rear tyre.

I used to have a Slime TopUp mini-pump but would not recommend it. The pump inside is flimsy and the weak casting broke under normal use, separating the motor from the pump portion.

Halfords | Bikes | Sat Nav | Car Audio | Car Seats | Car ...

Rocky Creek Designs | Adventure Moto
Cheers, Kim.

From Woodrising (no, nobody else has heard of it either)
Rides a Springfield Dark Horse
Quote 0 0
JuanPoop
Dr.Shifty wrote:


I also carry a Michelin mini-pump and an extension hose with pressure gauge that clips more easily to the valve stem, especially on the rear tyre.



Hey Doc, what are the rough dimensions of this pump?

I assume it just plugs into the right side bag power outlet?

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
Quote 0 0
JuanPoop
JuanPoop wrote:


Hey Doc, what are the rough dimensions of this pump?

I assume it just plugs into the right side bag power outlet?


Please disregard the question about size - I just watched a review video and all was revealed.  

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
Quote 0 0
JuanPoop
Anyone looked at this one...

DA11BB40-8415-487D-B26F-CCDA38639861.jpeg 

http://www.dynaplug.com/motorcycles.html

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
Quote 0 0
Kellydog2
This is an interesting subject. I ride an 18 Springfield Dark horse, live 2000km from nearest dealer. As a lone female rider I worry about a roadside flat. Have a puncture repair kit with the small canisters for reinflation. But wondering if there is a portable either compact foot pump or other battery operated . I don't want to mess around leveling the seat off to attach a unit to the battery. 
Quote 0 0
Fransvdm
Kellydog2 wrote:
This is an interesting subject. I ride an 18 Springfield Dark horse, live 2000km from nearest dealer. As a lone female rider I worry about a roadside flat. Have a puncture repair kit with the small canisters for reinflation. But wondering if there is a portable either compact foot pump or other battery operated . I don't want to mess around leveling the seat off to attach a unit to the battery. 


i carry this pump wth me.

CD3FF507-B98C-4437-AFFB-257DD9CA22DB.jpeg 

Small and compact. Plug right into not cigarette lighter socket and pump up the tyre when th not too much trouble. There are others available though. If i have to buy today, I'll probably get this one from MXStore

https://www.mxstore.com.au/p/Motopressor-Mini-Digital-Tyre-Pump/HL4406
Quote 0 0
Dr.Shifty
There is a 12v outlet in the right side saddlebag that will take a pump.

I had a Slime Top-Off pump but it broke when the motor separated from the pump part because it was such a cheap casting. I replaced it with one of these.Buy Michelin 12266 High Power Rapid Tyre Inflator (Black ...

And one of these connectors is a good idea as it's difficult getting some pumps onto the valve underneath hard bags etc.

Rocky Creek MotoPressor Tyre Gauge with 45° Spare Chuck ...
Cheers, Kim.

From Woodrising (no, nobody else has heard of it either)
Rides a Springfield Dark Horse
Quote 1 0
JuanPoop
Dr.Shifty wrote:

I replaced it with one of these.

And one of these connectors is a good idea as it's difficult getting some pumps onto the valve underneath hard bags etc.


Hey Doc,

I have been checking these out as I am looking at some long distance trips soon, hopefully including Broken Hill in May.

The Michelin inflator looks a little on the big side to me, so I am just wondering if you looked at any smaller models (for portability sake), or was this simply the best all round pump?  

I see you also mentioned that the connector is a good idea for “some pumps” and my question is: is it necessary for this pump?

I have been building a small emergency kit for travel and if you have a list of “essential” items that you take on your many travels, that would be appreciated as well.  

Many thanks,
John

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
Quote 0 0