Chapter M-2's Technical Corner

Howard Halasz's June 2009 Technical Article


"T-CLOCK INSPECTION PART 1"

T-Tires and Valve Stems

This is the first of a series of T-CLOCK inspection articles. Next month, we’ll cover C-Cables and Controls.

Before going on a "cross-country" type ride, it's a good idea to check the tread depth of your tires. Check for dry rotting, bulges (also known as tread separation), and imbedded objects. Check for improperly seated beads. Last but not least, check the valve stem for leaks and dry rotting. Have your friendly local Honda Service Tech replace the valve stem if you have any doubts.

When you look at your valve stems, you should see a small plastic clip on the GL 1500 and GL 1800 Gold Wing wheels. The purpose of that little clip is to keep the L-shaped valve stem from bending toward the rim at high speeds.

At speeds of 55+ MPH, the centrifugal force on the valve stem will bend the rubber part of the valve stem and cause premature fatigue on the rubber part. Eventually, a leak at the valve stem will deflate the tire rather rapidly at highway speeds.

On my return trip from the Florida Keys in April 2003, I encountered a flat front tire that I didn't notice until I made a fuel stop in Tallahassee, FL. I got a cup of soapy water from the attendant at the Shell Station, and poured it on the tire to locate a leak. I found no leak, so I aired up the tire with my on-board compressor.

My next fuel stop was at DeFuniak Springs, FL. The tire was flat again. I got another cup of soapy water, and found the leak at the valve stem. I also noticed that the little plastic clip was missing. I couldn't repair the valve stem, so I aired it up again. I opened up my Gold Book and found a GWRRA member in DeFuniak Springs. I called him on my cell phone to find the nearest Honda dealer. The member told me that the nearest Honda dealer is in Ft. Walton Beach, and he gave me the address. I thanked him and rode to Crestview, FL, where I stayed overnight at the Econolodge.

The next morning, I rode to the Honda dealer in Ft. Walton Beach, and it cost me $63.66 to have them replace my valve stem and the little black plastic clip.

NEVER REPAIR A LEAK WITH FIX-A FLAT®. Fix-A-Flat® was designed for automobile tires with steel rims. It contains chemicals that can very badly corrode the inside of the alloy rims on your Gold Wing. Always carry a plugging kit with you such as the Stop & Go® Plugger or the Maruni KwikPlug® kit. From my own experience, I've found that tire plugging kits for automobile and truck tires seldom work with the type of tires used on Honda Gold Wings.

Never inflate your tire with anything except air. A tire with Green Slime® or other anti-puncture chemicals will not be able to hold a plug or an internal patch, even if the tire is repaired by a qualified Honda technician. Keep in mind that external plugs are meant to be temporary, and it's safest to get your tire repaired or replaced if necessary by a qualified Honda technician as soon as possible.

On the Honda Gold Wings, your front tire will wear a little bit differently from the way the rear tire wears.

If your front tire has treads or blocks that are diagonal or perpendicular to the direction of travel, you might have noticed that the leading edge of the tread blocks wears more than the trailing edge. This type of wear is commonly called "tire cupping."

Do not worry about it. Just enjoy your Gold Wing and let your tire cup. Getting your front wheel computer balanced won't stop the cupping and there's nothing wrong with your wheel bearings! If you use the old fashioned straight ribbed tire, your tire won't cup, but rain grooves, steel grating, bridges, and railroad crossings will make your ride uncomfortable.

Your rear tire won't cup because it feels both driving and braking forces. These forces wear both leading and trailing edges of your tread blocks evenly. Your front tire feels only braking forces, resulting in cupping.

Imagine a pencil eraser being held vertically and dragged across a piece of sandpaper. The eraser is flexible, and it will bend back to expose its leading edge to the sandpaper. The same thing happens to the tread blocks on your front tire every time you use your front brakes. It's normal. You don't have a defective tire or a defective motorcycle.

To sum it all up, don't let anyone tell you that you need some repair work because your front tire cups or sings when you corner. Get your money's worth out of the tire. If the tire noise really bothers you, turn your radio, CD player, or tape deck up loud enough so you won't hear the tire noise!

Howard Halasz, Technical Coordinator

GWRRA Spring, Texas Chapter M-2