What the hell is this....

[Incubus]

My petcocks have got to be responsible for this....

So I went to pull the front tire off to replace it. It was flat and I couldn;t even get it to take any air. I tried to pull the stem valve and it would noit come out. It had what looked like mud around it. I didn;t know how mud got in there, but whatever. I could not get the tire to compress. So out of desperation, I got out my cutter and cut into the side of the tire. Oh. My. God.



I don't know what this stuff is, but my petcocks must have done this because no human could perform such as infernal act. Somewhere in hell, Beelzebub is saying right now, "How could anyone do anything so evil?!?!"

This stuff is the texture of styrofoam. It also has literally glued the tire to the side of the rim. Even after I cut a whole chunk out of the tire I cannot peel it from the rim. Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it? At least how I can separate the tire from the rim without destroying the rim?

I take some solace from the fact that, like I said, the tire was flat. I like to believe that the fool who put this stuff in at least screwed up immediately and drove forever on a tire with a flat spot.

Patrick

[DGXSER]

You've been POd!!!

That is what is left when someone uses Fix-a-flat type stuff on your tire.

[Crazcnuk]

That's what happens when you use an entire can of Tire-flate for a truck in a much smaller tire.

I wonder what pressure the tire was at when it was done...

[xs11bobber]

It looks like really old furniture stuffing, lol. That's ugh... one of those new balancing techniques... yeah... that's it

[Incubus]

Is there a known antidote. Prying the crap out with a screw driver gets the foam, but itdoesn't free the rubber. And if I can't free the rubber I can't get rid of all of the foam. One side it solidly attached. The other side3 I got about half free, but the other half is very Zen-like and has become one with the rim.

This is a nice wheel with good bearings. I would really like to save it. I've tried a few types of chemicals - acetone, brake fluid, RuGlyde - but nothing even dents this stuff, much less melts it. I'm nearing a point where I might find out the effect muriatic acid would have. That, however, would strictly be for thrills as I doubt the rim would survive.

Patrick

[Ivan]

Well, if the PO was insane enough to use that much fix a flat, they probably went crazy with bead sealant as well. The stuff glues the bead to the rim, and the only way to get it off is to remove the tire and use a wire brush to clean the rim.

Good luck, and keep your wits about you, you have a long haul ahead.

[Ken Talbot]

Yikes, what a mess!

If you can carve off the rest of the tire, and saw/chisel away most of the foam, you should be able to clean up the rim with a sandblaster.

[furious4]

Thats absolutly insane. looks like someone stuffed an old seat foam in the tire You may want to try heating it up. Good luck you sure have a mess on your hands.

[mxmikie]

it could be worse...........could of been me !!!!

[Larrym]

May Day

Aerosol Flotation foam. May be the PO had a fear of driving near water.

In the event of capsizing, Please remain with the capsized vessel/motorcycle until help arrives.

[Incubus]

I can cut the tire off, Ken, but then I would have nothing to grab to pull the remaining rubber off. Let's assume for a moment that this is a double whammy bead lock and foam from hell. What dissolves bead lock? If I can separate the rubber from the rim I can maybe deal with the foam. Dynamite comes to mind. Tracking down the sorry SOB who did this and introducing him to the joys of reverse digestion also appeals....

Patrick

[Larrym]

Goof Off

There! I said it. Now you get to have a cardiac arrest when you see how much it costs.

If goof off is not lying around, another option is........Wait for it.........

LIGHTER FLUID.

Both of these options have their hazards: Fires and loss of brain cells.

Naptha based goof off is very volatile. Extinguish all flames really means take the time to turn off the pilot light to your water heater.

50/50 on this one, Patrick.

[Incubus]

I'm pretty sure I have some goof off somewhere. A fast talking Home Depot salesperson talked me into buying some when I was laying ceramic tile some time back. I still have no idea what good it was going to do me with ceramic tile, but she was really slick and kinda hot for Home Depot salesperson/linebacker.

I'll give it a try, Larry.

Patrick

[DiverRay]

I was thinking a propane torch myself! Try burning the junk off! Sometimes different things will clean items, such as acetone, paint thinner, or alcohol. One of them should work on it.

[Larrym]

Mosquito repellent?

Right Ray! Heat....One of those heat guns might help as well. Nothing says summer like the stench of melting rubber coming from the neighbors yard.

Patrick, If you've got the mojo for reflective orange clad ladies:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24415