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MG TD TF 1500 - Slow leak from rivet on a steel wheel

The heading says it all... on my spare tire, I've got a very slow leak that the tire shop has determined is coming from one of the rivets that hold it together. It takes a few weeks, but every time I check the spare, it's flat again.
There is no way to be sure which one of three rivets it is coming from, all they could see was bubbles coming from under the lip where the rivets hold it together. I'm attaching a picture with a yellow mark where the bubbles come out.

So what to do? My choices are I can weld or braze all three rivets on the inside, or take it back to the powdercoater and have him powdercoat it again, or use some "miracle sealant" or epoxy maybe?

Has anyone else had to deal with this? What do you suggest?
Geoffrey M Baker

No picture Geoff.
James Neel

Geoff,
A tube would take care if the leak!!!!
Powder coating will not seal it,, good possibility that it would crack and leak again,,,

SPW
Steve Wincze

There is a product boaters use, a 2 part expoxy, called Gluvit. Very thin, 24 hour set time. I would be careful not to "load up" so as to affect balance, but distribute evenly to cover all the rivits. I have used on my boat. Just one alternative. Larry
Larry Brown

Here's the pic, sorry!

Geoffrey M Baker

I always thought that T Series wheels should only be used with tubed tyres and in fact tubeless ones are dangerous. I think it is something to do with the bead.

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, read the archives, there are plenty who have been driving with tubeless for years...
Interesting point Steve. I guess my question is: any problem adding a tube to the current tire? Which is a Kumho 165 80R 15?
A tube would be a simple solution and I'd only need the one as the other wheels are all fine (and have been). Hmmm...
Geoffrey M Baker

I know this topic is a can of worms Geoff but as it's only your spare why not just use a tube? If this solves the problem then it has to be the cheapest fix. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

That's what I'm leaning towards Peter. Can I just put a tube in the tire I have? Do I need a specific size tube? This is what I don't know....
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoff,
A NEW radial tube is a simple solution. OLD or tubes intended for bias-ply tires are not suitable.

Jim H.
53 TD
J. M. Haskins

OK I've ordered a tube and should probably have it by tomorrow. We'll see how it goes :)
Geoffrey M Baker

You need to buy FIVE tubes, maybe six. You need them in all of the tires, and it is a good idea to carry a spare tube in the car (right Steve?)
The reason the rivet is leaking is, it is a tubeless rim, never designed to hold air. There is no bead on the lip of the rim to assist with holding the tire on the rim, that is the function of the tube.
David
D. Sander

Geoffrey -

I had the same leaking problem on the disk wheels on my TF. A local old-time tire shop removed the tires from all five rims.

I "prettied up" the wheels while the tires were off. I had the rims blasted and epoxy primed. Then I sprayed rattle can sandable primer and wet sanded until smooth. Top coated with rattle can VHT High Temperature Wheel Paint, SP188 Ford Argent Silver. No clear coat.

The tire shop told me to wrap 3-4 layers of duct tape around the inside of the wheels to cover the rivets. I used 2" Gorilla brand black duct-type tape because it is a little thicker than regular duct tape and I hope that it won't harden as fast with age. I would use one-inch wide if I did it again so that it wouldn't extend up the side of the rim.

The shop installed tubes for radial tires and remounted my 165R/80R15 no-name tires. They installed sleeves or protectors to keep the rims from cutting the valve stems.

No more leaks. The wheels look like new. EXCEPT I waited too long to paint them after they were epoxy primed. The epoxy cured. I didn't scuff sand. I'm afraid that the paint will peel. Live and learn.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Here we go again. Does anyone out there think that a tube will hold a tire on? If the tire goes flat, the tube will also be ruined as the rim turns on it till one stops. There may be a few out there that have heard of a tire rolling off the rim but no tube is going to save that anyway.
T Maine

"Does anyone out there think that a tube will hold a tire on?"
Yup. Me. And The MG Car Company. And vintage Racers. And Coker tire. And Universal Tire. And every reputable tire shop I've dealt with.
D. Sander

DAVE,
YUP !! A radial tube was added to my spares list,,along with a small container of talcum powder and two (long)tire irons!!
Attached is a pic of Dave leading the (1st)tube change early Sunday morning at the Auburn GOF,, with only one tire iron,,
Luckily, Rick Smith had two tubes in his car, we used them both, as the first attempt pinched the tube.
Now we know to correct way of doing it to eliminate the possibility of pinching the tube..

Steve

Steve Wincze

Geoff,
From a closer inspection of the yellow mark on your rim, it seems as if the rim is actually cracked...

STEVE
Steve Wincze

I took the new wires for the MGB to Hendrix to balance and "tune"! They also mounted new radial tires on them with new tubes and shaved the tires to true them. They've been on the car since 2006 and never had a problem. They are in perfect balance and the car rides and handles beautifully. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Steve, why do you say that? the air is coming from under the flange where the three rivets hold it to the rim. I see no evidence of cracking? My assumption is the air is just escaping very slowly from one of the rivets.
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoff,
I say that because it seems like the yellow marker is on a black line on the rim that appears to be a crack.
At least that is what I see..



Steve
Steve Wincze

Steve, you had me worried :). I went and checked the rim carefully; whatever you saw was either dirt or a smudge on your screen :). Definitely no cracking on the rim.
Geoffrey M Baker

So I am almost embarrassed to suggest it - because there is bound to be a damn good reason it is a stupid idea but...

Why not just get some high quality mastic/ silcone like sikaflex and bolb some over the inside of the rivits to seal it.

The pressure will be forcing it into the hole not out, it will last 25 years according to the bumbf on the package and I heard that is what they do to seal tubeless wire wheels...

Yes there is the heat issue - but sikaflex or even high temperature silicone designed to dress gaskets is tough stuff.

It is only a small slow leak so no safety issue.



Dave
D Moore

or... fix it safely and correctly by putting a tube in it.
David
D. Sander

How about some Loctite Green 290 wicking sealant? You could put in on from the outside without dismantling anything. It's intended for sealing porous, leaky, castings, as well as as a general thread locker.

Problem with using random silicones and epoxies is that they can make a hell of a mess if they don't work out, and make it hard to get anything else to stick.

Oh, be sure to used the primer/cleaner with it.
kylemorley

I appreciate all the suggestions. Seems like the easiest (and possibly cheapest) is to put a $13 tube into it. Problem solved.
Geoffrey M Baker

I picked up the wheel from the tire store, now with a new tube. My other four tires have never given me any trouble, so I will continue tubeless for now, but at some point, I probably will add tubes all round...
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed between 12/01/2015 and 14/01/2015

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