Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 4:15 am
by Skippydiesel
Hi All,
My flying “bucket list” includes extended trips to the Out Back. In this environment punctures are pretty well inevitable. I have been contemplating the best (least weight, smallest, quickest ) emergency/get me home solutions.
(A) Obviously I can carry a spare tyre/tube, appropriate tools, patches and a pump - all pretty heavy/bulky to carry and time consuming to use.
(B) I am intrigued by the emergency stop leak & inflate aerosol tyre inflators (various manufacturers) - do they actually work? - are they safe to carry to altitude (we are limited to 10,000ft)? etc ?
So I seek the advise of those who have used the traditional (A) and of course those who have experience with (B)
For the (B) advisors please recommend a product.
My thanks, in anticipation of a flood of advice.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:31 am
by GraemeSmith
I carry one of these (with spare CO2 cartridges) to inflate a tire or top one off if it gets soft.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/lezy … ve-co2-25g
A total of two 25g cartridges will get a 5.00 x 5 tire inflated with some gas to spare.
Upside - small and relatively light.
Downside - one shot and you are done - unless you carry spare cartridges.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 9:01 am
by GordonTurner
Peter Anson sells lightweight jacks. I have one, nice and light simple product. Combine that with an inner tube patch kit and small bike pump plus tools to disassemble the wheel, and now you can actually fix it. I would be interested if the fix-a-flat goo in a can stuff works on an inner tube tire. I’m not sure if it’s the same problem as tubeless or not.
Gordon
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 9:53 am
by GraemeSmith
GordonTurner wrote:I would be interested if the fix-a-flat goo in a can stuff works on an inner tube tire. I’m not sure if it’s the same problem as tubeless or not.
Gordon
I suspect it will leak out the seam of the split wheel halves faster than it can “set up”. And it’s a horrendous solution to clean up after.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:03 am
by 13brv3
Good idea on the co2 fill device. Amazon has lots of options on those as well. Ideally, if you can change to tubeless tires and wheels you could just carry a plug kit also, and be in good shape. There would be no tools required.
For tube tires, I’d imagine you’d need spare tubes or patch kits, and all the tools to change them. That’s certainly not something I’d want to be doing out in the wild.
I’ve never looked into the fix a flat type goo for tubes. That might work OK, and might not be a horrendous mess since it’s going inside the tube, hopefully plugging the small hole fairly quickly. Some would get out and to the inside of the wheel, but it might not be so bad as an emergency solution.
Rusty
PS- Seems there are specific sealants for use with tubes, and you can even put the sealant in before you get a puncture. This would be the most convenient for sure, assuming it works. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X3XYYZ5?ta … rsherpa-20
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 5:52 pm
by sonex1566
I’ll second the motion for Peter Anson’s jack. It’s clever and light. I carry a spare tube, tiny push bike pump, valve extension thingy plus a handful of tools necessary to do the job. What I haven’t figured out is how not to get grease on my hands. It takes about the same time to fix a flat on my push bike. Go to http://www.ansoneng.com/ to order one of his jacks.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 6:46 pm
by jaflint
Another vote for carrying Peter’s jack, a spare tube, and all tools needed to make a “permanent” field repair. I’ve done it twice (in over 2100 landings, so not a frequent occurrence), worth every penny in cost and pound in baggage to know your fix will hold for the next landing, and beyond.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 7:04 pm
by Skippydiesel
jaflint wrote:Another vote for carrying Peter’s jack, a spare tube, and all tools needed to make a “permanent” field repair. I’ve done it twice (in over 2100 landings, so not a frequent occurrence), worth every penny in cost and pound in baggage to know your fix will hold for the next landing, and beyond.
Large areas of inland Australia is infested with the Tribulus terrestris plant, the seed pod of which can puncture a tyre.
Landing, taxying on - grass, dirt/gravel or close to the edge of sealed surfaces can result in a puncture.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 7:07 pm
by Skippydiesel
I have viewed peter Anson’s jack/video - my Sonex is fitted with leg fairings, that cover most of the wheel axle, that the jack uses for a lift point. I will contact Peter for his comment.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 9:23 pm
by BRS
If all else fails, pack the tire with grass and other organic material. This is for real emergency gotta get to civilization fixes. One time use.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 9:51 pm
by GordonTurner
Good one!!!
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:52 pm
by sonex1566
When I was building my Sonex, fluffing around with the brakes was when I realised that there was no easy way to jack them up. I took the axles back off and welded a 1 1/2" extension to the inside of the stub axle inline with the head of the 3/4" bolt that forms the axle. The poofteenth of extra drag that makes is made up by the ease of maintenance.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:05 am
by peter anson
I have had punctured mains on three occasions while traveling away from my home airfield. If you are prepared it’s not a big deal. The squirt puncture repair cans work until they don’t. If they don’t work the gook leaking out the hole prevents you fitting a patch so you need a new tube. Bicycle tube repair kits weigh almost nothing and work very well although once you open the tube of adhesive it goes off before you are likely to need it again. If I am traveling I normally carry a spare tube, tube repair kit, jack, pump and any tools that I might possibly need. I recently read a Vans Aircraft Facebook group post where someone asked what tools they should carry on a trip. One of the responses was “I carry a credit card with a good limit”. From that I would conclude that flying in the US must be a lot different from flying in Australia because most of the places I land are totally bereft of people, let alone someone who is capable of doing any sort of repair.
If you carried the bare minimum of gear to change a tube I think the weight would only be 5 or 6 pounds, hardly a huge weight penalty.
Peter
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:39 am
by GraemeSmith
Actually - there is another factor here:
If you are running the stock 4" tires and tubes - it is absolutely on you to carry the spares. Not easy to find.
If like some of us you are on 5.00x5 tires and tubes - there is a much better chance of getting spares at most mechanics / FBO’s - unless you are in Australia - like Peter!! 
And the 5.00 x 5’s are just a lot more robust and harder wearing. I’m looking at 500+ landings on the 5.00x5 and there is probably another 400 left. The 4" tires - it they lasted 100 landings I was lucky. I don’t mind the extra weight in return for the robustness and better “rough field” performance.
–
To the point about a good credit card - I ALSO carry enough cash for a full tank of gas fill up. I’ve been at some airports where the CC terminal was down but the linestaff could still manually dispense the gas - if you had cash to pay them.
–
Jack - Uh - I get on all fours under the wing and use my back to lift it - and slide a box under the main spar to hold her…
YMMV
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 6:54 pm
by Skippydiesel
peter anson wrote:I have had punctured mains on three occasions while traveling away from my home airfield. If you are prepared it’s not a big deal. The squirt puncture repair cans work until they don’t. …From that I would conclude that flying in the US must be a lot different from flying in Australia because most of the places I land are totally bereft of people, let alone someone who is capable of doing any sort of repair.
If you carried the bare minimum of gear to change a tube I think the weight would only be 5 or 6 pounds, hardly a huge weight penalty.Peter
Hi Peter - your entry to this conversation may remove the need to contact you personally - I hope you read my concern over the reduced accessibility, to what would seem (from your excellent video) the only lift point (axle) due to the installation of leg fairings.
One solution may be the welding of a short, suitably sized (diameter) rod, onto your jack that could fit into the hollow axle - the question is; would it be effective & safe ie sufficient bearing surface and stability.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 3:52 am
by peter anson
I can jack my aircraft without removing the leg fairings but only because at some stage I installed Tracy O’Brien axles. They protrude a little more from the leg fairings so now my Sonex looks a bit like a teenager after a growth spurt who has outgrown his trousers. However, it’s easier with the leg fairings removed. The TOB axles also provide a handy jacking point, and incidentally are hollow. What sort of axles do you have that are hollow? My recollection of the Sonex axles is that they are solid and have no suitable lift point.
For the standard Sonex axles I make a clip on hard point which I also demonstrate on that short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Heojvwbljdc
Peter
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:59 pm
by Skippydiesel
peter anson wrote:I can jack my aircraft without removing the leg fairings but only because at some stage I installed Tracy O’Brien axles. They protrude a little more from the leg fairings so now my Sonex looks a bit like a teenager after a growth spurt who has outgrown his trousers. However, it’s easier with the leg fairings removed. The TOB axles also provide a handy jacking point, and incidentally are hollow. What sort of axles do you have that are hollow? My recollection of the Sonex axles is that they are solid and have no suitable lift point.
For the standard Sonex axles I make a clip on hard point which I also demonstrate on that short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeojvwbljdcPeter
Yes my axles are hollow (TO’B axles) - hence my idea for a rod welded to jack. The rod would use the hollow end as a socket. I am sure the jack would lift the leg but as the accessible hollow is short, stability/safety becomes a concern.
I think I should send you some photos - have tried to send phots on this Forum - so far no luck.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 8:20 pm
by peter anson
If you have the TOB axles you can use a jack with no extra parts. Stability isn’t a problem, or at least no more problem than leaving your car jacked up while you remove a wheel.
Peter
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:40 pm
by lakespookie
Its a shame TOB Is no longer producing parts if anyone finds a nice alternative please let me know.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:26 am
by pilotyoung
My man who build my Onex made a simple device to jack it up. I am attaching a picture. It slips over the gear leg and then I use a floor jack to jack it up Very simple and very efficient. I don’t know if something like it will work on a Sonex.
Re: Emergency Tyre Repir
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 7:21 pm
by Skippydiesel
Sent photos, of my Sonex leg arrangement, to Peter Anson. I think he has accepted that there is an accessibility problem.
I have adopted his, off forum, suggestion, that instead of welding a suitably sized/shaped dowel to the jack, I just have it as a plug into hollow end of TO’B axle, so creating a small almost rigid extension for the jack to lift on.