Got a flat on my wheeleez...

On Sat I wanted to try out my new sail for my Hobie over at Stevens Creek Reservoir.  While getting my gear together I saw that one of my wheeleez tires was way low, so dropped by a gas station to fill it up.  Soon as I filled it, air was rushing out of it...   find that it has a small hole, possibly from glass or other crap I probably ran over last time I used them. 

Didn't think i could haul the yack down to the water on my back, so I went and looked for a quick fix.  Dropped by RiteAid and got some duct tape, and super glue.  For a 20 min fix, it worked enough to get me down to the water once I got it filled up with some air.  I launched ok, but by the time I was ready to get off the water, it had deflated again. 

Now i'm thinking I should look into the solid tires, since I probably am overloading the balloon ones.  But would like to get my flat fixed, or replaced.

Anyone know if they can be repaired, or a local place to pickup replacement tires?  Going to need some wheels to get to the water for May 1st for sure!

If you're filling them at a gas station, it's a pretty sure bet you're over inflating them.  They only require 2 to 3 psi.  Low pressure gauges and pumps are available at www.wheeleez.com

The site also gives instructions on repairing tears/holes with a hot knife or soldering iron. 


Randy

Also I filled the tires w/ Slime. http://www.slime.com/product_82_Tube_Sealant.html It won't stop anything like glass but it will keep the small punctures away. I've had a few carts fail on me in the past and so far it's been one of the worst headaches. Prepare and be happy!

Z

I probably over filled it when I noticed the leak, but hadn't filled it myself since I got it last year with the yak.  I'll get a manual pump for the future.  Of course I had to pay 75 cents for the quick plumpth of air that shot into it from gas station air pump, and again 75 cents for after i did a quickie repair! 

Yeah, I see the instructions now on their site: http://www.wheeleez.com/repair/index.php  Didn't find it till I just googled wheeleez repair, and it popped up.  They have a couple videos there too.  Looks like it works, but sounds kinda iffy to me.  Will try it out, got nothing to loose  

Slime!!  Used that stuff in my bicycle as a kid, and it worked well!  Not a bad idea to toss in there too!  It gums up like a fiber plugging holes as they happen.  Good stuff!

Are these really designed for only sand?  Should I not be lugging my fully loaded kayak on these tires for long distances?  I figured they would be fine, but some of the south bay launch ramps have crap all over them, glass and wood, etc. 

I popped one a year ago and melted the hole shut as per website instructions. It did seem iffy, but it has not leaked since! Now I keep a butane lighter/torch with me.

The original sand wheels are TOUGH...I have thrashed mine and only had one leak which was entirely my fault. 

The second gen sand wheels (identifyable by the chevron tread pattern) are not nearly as tough.  Rolleez realized this and dumped a bunch of them in group buys like went down here last year.  They will now be selling both, but as different grades, regular and industrial.

Yeah... Well I tried to fix it myself this past Sunday.  I practiced the technique on a couple swimbaits with good success.  They even look pretty cool when you cut and seal them back up, like they have battle scars or something.

However after practicing for a while, I decided to go for it on the wheel.  The hole itself was very small, on the top of the tire, right along side a piece of tread.  I stretched/pinched the tire to expose the hole, and did a quick pass of the soldering iron, and then quickly pressed it back together. 

Looked good, but after an hour or so to let it cool, I re-inflated it half way and it had still leaked, but smaller this time.  So repeated the procedure, tried it again, but this time I actually made the hole a little bigger when I stuck the soldering iron in, and it didn't seem to close up very well.  So I shaved off the '.' in the lettering, and melted it on top of hole, but it kinda turned brownish in color. 

I haven't gotten the hand pump yet, but was gaging the inflation based on the diameter of the other tire.  At half inflation, probably 1-2 psi, it seemed fine.  Continued filling an hour later after I saw it didn't go flat again, and it popped .  Now its a 1 1/2 inch gaping hole, which I tried, and was unable to re-seal.


SO!  I hit the web Sun night and from www.austinkayak.com I ordered a replacement wheel and another whole cart with rubber wheels.  After the order I sent them an email asking for the shipment to be expedited and shipped two day air.  They replied back in the morning saying they would take care of it.  By noon I had a call from the sales guy saying that it will ship, and should be here Wed!

However...Before I got that call, I called the place where I bought my Hobie.  Was looking to see if I can find a local replacement so I wouldn't need to rush the order.  They informed me they could order me one, for 2X the cost of the AK website, and it was not supported under warranty. 

BUT Then...

I tried calling some other places too, like Kayak Connection in SC.  They took my name and number, and said they would call back and see if they have one somewhere in stock.  Around 1PM they called and said they will be getting a replacement from Hobie for me!  I'm like "wtf? my dealer couldn't, but they can?"  I explained to the nice lady on the phone, I didn't buy my kayak from them, and its really nice of her to offer but I don't want to take advantage of them or anything.  She said to not worry about it, and they will still get me the replacement. 

Wow...  I think I will buy some more stuff when I get there, to help patronize their excellent business!  And if I buy another kayak, I will be sure to shop there first!

And, I will have an extra wheel, in case my other wheel pops

Al-

  Lots of people like that shop, I've only been in it a few times and didn't have any problems.  I think I heard here (This site) that she is selling the buisness?
  I'm glad KC was able to help you.

Troy

I had a problem with my inflatable wheels on my "Wheels"....I'd get the wheels out and one or the other would be flat....I'd blow 'em up with a hand-tire-pump and they'd be perfect.   Then I'd store 'em for a week or so and when I'd go to get 'em and use 'em one or the other would be flat.

So I took 'em apart and pulled out the innertubes.....inflated them high and doused them in water.   NO LEAKS.....AT ALL....!!!!!

(And by the way, the innertubes they use are made of HUGE thick rubber....as heavy as you'd find in a car or truck tube)

So then I was  scratching my head trying to figure out how come they'd be allthetime flat...........I found the answer......

The tubes were fitted with "extender caps" ....really tall guys, about 1.25 inches)....and the function of these extender caps is to allow one to put the air-filler-hose DIRECTLY on that cap to fill the tire.    The plastic extender cap is built with an internal spring and plunger (not at all obvious...you have to LOOK to see it) and the idea is that when you place the gas-station air supply on the cap....it will drive down a spring loaded rod that in turn drives down the central valve rod that an internal part of the brass "filler pipe" vulcanized to your tube...and air will flow into the tire.

What was happening betweent trips, was that those plastic filler-extenders were long enough that they would randomly come into contact with other junk stored with my "wheels" ......and get depressed....and actually release the pressure valve and let the air out....    Yeah...really...was...happening...

I took those little fellows off and threw them away and no problems since.

Judd

Wow, thanks for that tip!  I may dissect the broken one I have, take pictures of that and how to remove it for others.  My other wheel has never lost any pressure, in over a year of use.  But I would find that situation really annoying! 

And yeah, they are like 1/4 inch thick tires, but man it blew wide open on me!  In comparing the rubber on this wheel to the good one, it seems like it may have been defective.  The broken one seems a lot more fractured and hardened rubber than the good one.  Could be just from hauling my yack out of the water on it while flat, but doesn't seem right still.

WOW... Katrina? called form KC and said my new wheel is in!  Jeez... I probably could have skipped on the whole order from AK.  But I didn't want to be without my wheels for tomorrow, so I guess its all fine and dandy.  Still waiting on FedEx though, but if they don't come soon, might head to SC and pickup the tire.

I believe you can melt or weld that gash with a soldering iron or a really hot butter knife according to the manual. I would call wheeleez and ask of Otto , he is super nice and supported the fishing derby HMB last year.

gotta pitch in on the shout out for Kayak Connection Santa Cruz service.  Great place to try out new boats, friendly staff will always look to them first for anything they carry.

Thanks for the info about the inner tubes and extender valves, and about the Slime.  I had no idea there was an inner tube in those things.   I did get a low tire once, and it kept leaking - turned out just to be a defective tire valve.  I bought a replacement valve innard from an auto supply store and that fixed it.
    By the way, when I got my cart, the box included a tiny baggie of the tire material all ground up like sawdust - to be used for repairs.   Maybe you could save your old ripped tire for repair material in case you or someone else rips another one.