help getting tubeless tire bead to seal

[QueBert]

Replaced the tire on my Ninebot max scooter yesterday and the bead won't seal. I tried what I found online, used a ratch strap, took the Shrader valve out, and took it to a motorcycle shop and had them try with a high pressure compressor. Nothing put any air in the tire. They don't work on scooters so their only guess was the valve might be damaged. There are no scooter places anywhere near me. While I can't know for sure if the tire's the problem, it was brand new. There are no visable holes, and it literally won't take 1psi of air. I believe it just needs the bead to seal, but easier said than done. No stores around me sell bead sealer, and while I'd order it online I don't have high hope it'll work. Taking the tire off and putting the new one on was a super pain, to the level I definitely don't want to buy another tire and do it again, especially if it'll just do the same shit. The only option aside from driving far to a shop somewhere, I can buy the rear wheel assembly, but they come with a motor which I don't need. So I'm trying to not go that route unless I need to. I'm going go to look up a video on how to replace the valve, if I can do it without removing the tire I'll definitely try that.

I know there are some brainiacs here, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had a suggestion here.

 

[NutBucket]

The flame method perhaps?

 

[QueBert]

I haven't tried that, was next on my list. But the tire's super tight to the point I couldn't press it down enough to be able to spray the stuff on the rim. I'm thinking spraying the rubber would not work.

 

[herm0016]

discount tire will fix it. They have done everything from small lawn tractor tires to replacing a tube on a 4 ft. tall agricultural tire for me. I think they find the odd stuff fun sometimes, instead or swaping tires on civics all day. They will not do my liquid filled tires though, haha, I have to go to an industrial equipment place for those.

I find the small tires to be a huge pain to get on the beads. it's worth the 15 bucks or whatever they charge me.

 

[BoomerD]

The flame method perhaps?

When I was a green apprentice, I watched the master mechanic stick a rosebud oxy-acetylene torch into a large scraper tire, crack the valves for a few seconds, then throw a match. KRUMP! I thought the tire was going to explode off the wheel assembly before the bead seated itself.

 

[NutBucket]

Another method would be to do as OP did with the ratchet strap but instead of a compressor use gas under higher pressure. Off-roaders often carry like a 10lb CO2 tank to run air tools, quickly inflate tires (with a regulator of course), etc. Take off the regulator (or set it really high) and carefully burst a thousand psi or so...should do the trick!

 

[mindless1]

When you took the valve out and used a compressor, did that still use a tire stem type inflator tool attached to it?

That causes a restriction and you are better off using ONLY the coupler (most common M-style) on the end of the air line, pushed over the valve stem. IIRC, it fits quite well over the standard Shrader stem. Take the valve out, do that, pop the bead onto the rim, put valve back in, and then use the tire inflator tool.

Another thing you can try and it's difficult to describe, is while trying to pop it on as described above, bounce the tire off the ground, I mean with it vertical. If both of theses methods together don't help enough, then put a ratcheting strap around the perimeter of the tire too and repeat the above... except that's an awfully small tire to put a strap on, so maybe a rope instead.

I am assuming the bead isn't seated, but if it is and it's instead a defect in the tire, examine for that, and for rim corrosion, but these are slower leaks, so if you have that problem, typically you should be getting some pressure inflating with a compressor then it just leaks back out once the compressor is disconnected. This may not be as easy to determine with such a small tire, but the small size makes it much easier to do the bounce technique while trying to get air in.

 

[QueBert]

When you took the valve out and used a compressor, did that still use a tire stem type inflator tool attached to it?

That causes a restriction and you are better off using ONLY the coupler (most common M-style) on the end of the air line, pushed over the valve stem. IIRC, it fits quite well over the standard Shrader stem. Take the valve out, do that, pop the bead onto the rim, put valve back in, and then use the tire inflator tool.

Another thing you can try and it's difficult to describe, is while trying to pop it on as described above, bounce the tire off the ground, I mean with it vertical. If both of theses methods together don't help enough, then put a ratcheting strap around the perimeter of the tire too and repeat the above... except that's an awfully small tire to put a strap on, so maybe a rope instead.

I am assuming the bead isn't seated, but if it is and it's instead a defect in the tire, examine for that, and for rim corrosion, but these are slower leaks, so if you have that problem, typically you should be getting some pressure inflating with a compressor then it just leaks back out once the compressor is disconnected. This may not be as easy to determine with such a small tire, but the small size makes it much easier to do the bounce technique while trying to get air in.

Yes it had the tip, my compressor's crap, and my only neighbor with one it's really small and the ones at the gas stations I can't remove the head. I know what you're talking about though. I called every tire store in town and they all said they wouldn't be able to do it. I think you're right about it probably not being a damage rim or us having messed up the tire while getting it on. If we f'ed something up I'd imagine it should at least start to fill or have slow to medium leak and I can't get any air at all to stay in it. Looks like maybe I need to just go to one of the tire stores and explain to them in person. Weird how they all say no when I'm telling them the tire's mounted and all I need is to get the bead sealed and I'm trying to pay to get it done. Seems like it would be easy money. I guess I should see if any neighbors have a decent sized compressor.

I also called all 3 of the semi local service centers listed on Segway's website and none will do it. And Segway makes the damn scooter. It's insane how hard it is to get these worked on lol.

 

[mindless1]

Maybe just show up at a walmart with a service center, or the local mower/tractor/motorcycle/etc dealer.

Heh, put an ad on craigslist. Somebody is willing to do that for $20 if not less, if you take it to them.

I really think it is more about not having the restriction of the inflator tool on the hose, not the compressor size. I mean it has to have a tank of course, not just a standalone tire inflator, so it can give it a gallon of 120PSI air fast (yes I know air isn't measured in gallons ). That should be enough... I've managed to seat 23x9.5 lawn tractor tires with a little 1 gallon compressor I keep in the garage.

 

[QueBert]

Went to 2 motocycle shops and 3 tire shops, none could do it. So I called every tire/bike/moto related shop within 3 cities, all said nope. I even called the 3 authorized Segway repair centers semi local to me and none will touch my scooter lol. Left it with a mechanic friend who's good, he said "don't worry I'll get it" 2 days later "sorry, come get it I can't do sh*t here" No fewer than 9 people tried to do it. It's absolutely insane how difficult this is. Ironically, AFTER I had screwed up the tire by following what I watched on 3 different YT videos. Somebody pointed me to a video where the guy used zip ties to get the tire on without having to use levels and applying 8,000lbs of force. Got a new tire coming in the mail today.

Ironically, I couldn't buy the tire directly from Segway, because that would make too much sense. The one I got I thought was identical, but it's just the same size. Segway's one of the worst companies I've dealt with CS wise. Also impossible to get a lot of the parts. If I wanted to replace the entire rear wheel, I'd have to order it with the motor in it, which I don't need. AND get it from Aliexpress and wait over a month. I thought buying a scooter from a known company like Segway would be smarter. I learned my lesson lol.

 

[mindless1]

If all else failed, I'd just get an inner tube and inflate that, with a liner if needed to protect the tube from rim... assuming the right size exists.

 

[Baze5150]

Just wondering if you had any luck. I’ve ran into the same issue and for 3 days I’ve been trying to figure it out. What you need is high air pressure. I used a scuba tank which has 2500 psi. Sprayed the tire liberally with soapy water and slammed the pressure in. Make sure you remove the valve stem tho cause you dont want it shooting out from the excessive pressure. Sealed the bead no problem