In this video I bring you along as I patch a tire for a customer. Please refer to the proper tire repair manual to learn how to repair tire the correct way.
im a retired tech , line mechanic, tire store tech , big truck repair tech . long ago. and id like to say i watch your video to pass my time alone. and it's no question technicians as yourself are far and few between you are to be commended for the expertise that use it each and every
You are a man of detail. I would imagine a customer would happily hand over their hard earned to you, cause it's obvious you do quality work. Great vid as always.
Ladies and gentlemen, you just saw the difference between a mechanic who has real experience in an auto repair shop and the pretend mechanics who get their degree from RU-vid University. Eric O. at South Main Auto is one of the best TRUE mechanics I have seen on RU-vid who is willing to show his expertise on RU-vid.
And the difference between a mechanic with scruples and Pepboys in Cincinnati that charged my son for this repair but put a simple plug in that failed.
I work as a Heavy Diesel tech, when we want to fix up a tyre like on a loader that's come from a scrapyard we just take the tyre off and load up a Marathon truck or float. So my experience fixing tyres is with the $30 tyre repair kits you can buy at auto stores, I've used them on cars, 4WDs, offroad equipment, never had a problem. I honestly cannot understand where the money is in buying $5,000 of equipment to repair car tyres.
After watching your video I decided to take my tire to a professional like yourself. In amazement I watched this as if it was the new star wars. It is amazing how I waist so much time on my day off watching stuff like this however; I am so much smarter today than yesterday. Keep up the good work and make more videos.
When I was 17 I worked at Sears installing tears and that's how they taught me to plug a tire so I've been plugging tires at home the same way. I did learn about the Frey Lube, thanks Eric.
I learned at sears too but 35 years ago. We lit the glue on fire to get it hot & sticky and then put the adhesive patch on.. AKA Hot patch. With two of us we could mount and balance four tires in as little as 15 minutes. Simple days...
@@dwej9080 lighting the glue on fire is a bad idea. It removes the solvents that are in the glue to help it seal. Just a hint from a retired pro tire tech.
Great video! I love the fact you have all "dedicated" tools handy & ready for action. Unless that's just for the video "shoot"... I doubt it. You seem the type of tech who always does do it right the 1st time, with the right tools.
I just wanted to compliment you. You have a calm and masterful way of describing your craft that is enjoyable. I don't care abour sushi, but I found the same enjoyment wathcing the doc....Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Wish more people stopped fantisizing about getting lucky and somehow becoming rich with little effort. Just find a craft or job and master it....like this man.
I've been tinkering with cars for many years, but had never seen the process of removing, patching, mounting and balancing a tire. Great video showing all the steps. I don't feel as bad about paying ~$20 to have this done now.
Buddy, you're mistaking quite a bit, places that charge $20 for that job *do not* use the same methods. They don't dismount the tire or wheel at all and only *plug* the tire (as opposed to patch). Quite a bit difference there.
1st video I have watched from you. I can already see you do quality work, very thorough. That has got to be the best patch system I have ever seen. I plug my own tires and they hold. But this method gives longer life and greater confidence.
We do it the exact same way. Growing up around a shop, this was one of the very first things I learned and was “allowed” to do on customer cars. Basic job but it is so important. You should see our tire holding rig. Same principle, except it’s from the 40s. Still works like a charm.
One thing I'd like to mention, if anyone is thinking of doing their own tire repair; even if you find the leak right away, make sure you check the whole tire thoroughly, because there's always the possibility that it's leaking from more than one spot.
Nice to see somebody doing it right. I had nails in two tires, took them to the closest shop, and specifically requested the plug/patch combo. An hour and $50 later, I walk out to see two greasy tampons stuck in my $250 10 ply tires. I went back in and got "this is how we do all of them". Yeah well, I requested otherwise. "It's fine, don't worry about it." I almost crawled over the counter and choked the crap out of them. I refused to pay and walked out. I had to order the patch/plugs and cement. A hi-lift jack, spoons, and a die grinder later, they were fixed the right way.
It's quite allot more strenuous when you don't have the fancy machines!!! My friend's dad taught us to light the glue with a match, real quick like, to speed the drying and heat the rubber a bit! He's gone now, but that was back in the olden days!! Riding motorcycles up in the hills, you have to fix your flats all the time. I could demount, patch the tube and remount in about five minutes!! All while finishing a beer!!
I like using the plugs myself. You don't even need to remove the wheel and they work just as well, they don't pull out when you use the proper adhesive. Nothing but luck with those over the years and I've never had one pull out or leak, EVER.
The tricky thing with plugs is that they can't be used on steel belted radials. The belts can and sometimes do cut through the plugs. The inside patch is the way to go. Keep plugs for the side of the road or 4x4 trail side fixes. In many places they aren't road legal.
Abigail Junky that’s why you use the reamer the plugs come with and clean the hole out first . Both my back tires have plugs in them as we speak lol no issues
“Cause of death” give me break. The only reason tires blow out and cause accidents is cause they are SEVERELY damaged or are completely bald. Ignorant comment.
Murph Kilter you know how long it takes for a flat tire to become severely damaged while cruising down the highway? Hint: not long at all. While I agree that the mere presence of a plug has never killed anyway, it’s a fact that people have been killed when driving on a flat that was caused by a slow leak past a plug. Moral of story, don’t drive on flat tires and don’t be so oblivious to your vehicle to not be able to recognize when your tire is flat... Unless you have garbage runflats of course. Lol
Very informative and well crafted video. I really appreciate seeing how a tire is repaired properly and the opportunity to watch a real craftsman at work. Thank you very much.
well, we're a 58 year family business. I have been working full time 36 years myself. for as long as I can remember ( more than 30 years ) we have used the Safety Seal brand external plug. I've never seen or heard of one of these plugs coming out, or failing. as opposed to camel brand, which are bought in dime stores, as I call them.. as far as I know they are only illegal when installed in side walls. but we're in Nj. thanks. Dan H. Art's Auto Service.
Haven't you heard they will explode and kill ya! Like most things, it probably depends on application. As you say a tyre with a damaged sidewall is toast - throw it away. I'm sure plenty of people take short cuts and either do it wrong or try and patch a hole that is too big for the plug. The method in the video would be good for larger holes, but otherwise just seems like a lot of effort. I've never heard of plugs coming out and killing anyone. Of course the method in the video requires expensive equipment which average drivers don't have access to, so by default there should be less failures since the repair would be done by people who are in business and have liability if it goes wrong.
I worked as a trained certified tire tech in a tire shop many years ago (since retired). I'd cleaned up the messes left behind by other shops countless times. Plugs are a gamble at best. They may outlast the tire OR they may catastrophically fail 2 miles after the repair! That last one will end your business! Plugging a tire from the outside is the definition of lazy! They're can be a stop gap measure, for emergency roadside use; if it gets the vehicle off the road to a shop where it can be repaired properly. Tire plugs can also endanger someone's life! Learn how to properly repair a tire, from the inside ONLY. Once you have done so, teach and preach the proper way. The life you save may be that of someone you know and love.
When I was a young guy I turned wrenches for this Standard station for about a year in a small town. Great owner, we liked each other. I never had or wanted anything to do with the tire part of the operation. One Saturday the owner is gone. I see this kid who "did" tires walking a tire he had just mounted away from the machine. He had every huge wheel weight he could find all piled up in one spot on both sides of the rim with the ends lapping over each other and sticking out at crazy angles. I said to this kid, what's this? He says this is what the machine said it needed to balance up. I said no, something here is wrong. I took it back to the machine and disassembled it. Inside this tube type tire, which he had mounted tubeless, was the new tube that came with the tire all bundled up in there.
Electone_Guy Never an issue until a tire explodes and kills someone. They are illegal in some countries now because they have been the direct cause of death.
Same here, but I recently tried to plug a 17" tire and it wouldn't seal - even with 2 plugs. The kit was pretty old and I think this may have something to do with it. I'm going to try patching from the inside cuz the hole is like dime size when you spread it out. And yes I know, I need new tires.
Explodes? How is a worm style plug going to make a tire explode? I call bullshit. I've done it 100s of times with no problem and on top of that I've never once in my life heard of those causing a tire explosion. After a long time they might start having a slow leak but even if it shot out it wouldn't cause a tire to explode.
I worked at an old tire shop many moons ago with old machines. Nothing like what you got there. That's why I always tip the technician since I know how much it's involved to properly patch a tire. Thanks for sharing your videos.
Second the cool t shirt comment! If you get some to sell get some for us full figured fellers. Nice video by the way. Never knew fixing a flat was so involved.
Finally correct way to repair puncture. So many youtube mechanic uses wrong patch type, you are only smart mechanic IMO. In here Finland "worms" are illegal to use patches. Your method is still legal here. Greetings from Finland, Eric!
"hugefoamyclumpofphoam" Not quite 37 syllables, but getting there. Did you see my use of ph next to the f? I thought that was a nice touch. ; D Just found a nail in my brand new Avon rear tire on the white bike. I've done a lot of tires, but I'm not up to date. For that, and the latest vocabulary I had to stop in and see ya! That security seal, and rust inhibitor are new to me. Thanks Eric!
I kinda doubt that anyone would have any advice on how you could improve your tire repair procedure. That is the most thorough tire repair I have ever seen.
1969 to 1972 I used to do the same thing. Coats machine changed a lot, and we had a bubble balancer. We used rubber cement to seal the patch, and set it a fire to rubber cement for a few seconds; then mounted and checked balance. The new machines and supplies are so much better. Have fun, and do not forget to share your experience when you are 69yo.
You said to say something if you misses something. I always check the valve core for a leak before I cap it off. You probably did, just didn't show it. I've been fixing tires for 35 years, you're more thorough than I am.
How does the tyre pressure monitor tell the car what pressure the tyre is ? Does it have a small button battery in it ? (Tyre is correct spelling for Australia). We were quoted $250 for a tyre pressure monitor for 1 wheel OEM.
@@wonniewarrior That is correct. They just come with small batteries but I think they are sealed so that's what you can't change just the batteries. My girl friends car has both front ones not working and they didn't bother to check that when we got new tires on the car. We went back and it was like 35 bucks each at Walmart. Dealerships are a rip-off. In Los Angeles I still can find a couple of shops that will patch a tire for free. I got a freaking nail on a new tire and had a shop check it for me. They did it for free so that was pretty nice.
That’s a proper tire repair liked the way you did not overbuff and used security coat and patch plugs taking off off the tire you can be accurate reaming you can make an extra hole by reaming from the outside then it will never seal you did it right good work
it's what I used to confirm a leak that takes almost a week to drain a tire. Even though it's a very slow leak, it'll foam real bad in less than a minute.
Dakota Bishop The Tech product is more suited for the very hard to find small leaks. I use the soapy water first then if I can't find it because it's small and slow. The Tech product works better at that point on finding small leaks.
this shows that it takes a few dollars worth of equipment to do a simple flat tire repair. another good video, always nice to watch a true Professional, thanks Eric
you are the best, can i bring my car up there from australia, i keep coming back to bob jane tmart for bad bad tyre repairs ha ha ha, thank you VERY MUCH
When I was about 6 years old, I used to go up to the big service station on Hwy 90 and watch the mechanics at work fixing flats. Back then, 1948, they were using hot-vulcanizing patches on inner tubes. Set the patch on the cleared up hole, clamp it down, squirt on the lighter fluid, and set it on fire. Come back a few minutes later and check the patch. Just one of the many things going on in a large garage our on the edge of town. The folks there were always friendly, willing to answer questions as long as I kept out of the way.
That is a great repair, nice job! I swear, I have watched videos where they have a very complicated procedure for repairing a tire.......step after step after step. apply this adhesive and this vulcanizer......seemed like total overkill for fixing one small hole.
@@robertbell525 weird that I've NEVER had to repair a patch plug. The plugs even say on the box that they are a temp repair. Oh well. Always lore than one way to do things.
Glad to see someone using the plug patch method. The proper order is to use the cleaner before buffing so you don’t buff the spray that is appraised to the tires liner into the buffed area. Once buffed use a brass brush to remove the debris to leave a clean area for the patch to adhere to.
For forty fore years I have used good quality plugs pushed in as hard as pos. and never lost one. Did many right on the car. Even with steel belted tires.
Same here been using plugs for years, lifetime repair, only had one that leaked because I didn't get it in right. Can't use them for heavy loads though they can shoot out. As for "exploding tires" either they did not leak test the repair or there was another leak.
michael koncal the reason some states try to pass laws saying you have to do internal patches is because the problem with external push in style plugs is if the tire has sidewalk damage from being driven flat and you just stick a plug in it and never dismount the tire then you won’t know if it has sidewalk damage and then that can be a dangerous situation, it’s not that the plug will fall out but it’s that you need to see inside the tire to know the tire is ok
DAWN dish washing liquid and H2O in a spray bottle works a charm for locating itty bitty leaks as well as larger ones. Even porous sidewalls are exposed. : ) Thanks for another great video, Eric !
Yeah, I think I'll stick to plain old soap and water... Why pollute our drinking water with some other chemical concoction that can't even be identified by water testing / research scientists? I may not be able to prevent my drinking water from being filled full of these chemicals, but I don't have to add to them either (especially for something this simple)!
One suggestion that I would make is to run the drill in reverse until you're certain that the bit is headed the right way, then start drilling after the bit is through.
I was very interested in this video when I saw the title. Way back when there were service stations with guys who use to run out to your car and fill it up? I was that guy. We also use to fix and repair hundreds of tires when I was in high school. But we used a burn patch. So we'd clean up the leak by using a drill with an attached wire brush, apply the patch glue just like how you did but then we would use a patch that was held in place with a clamp and we'd set fire to the patch and it would melt the rubber patch right into the injury. I don't see that anymore and I was hoping that I could use that method for all of my little lawn equipment tire repairs. I also miss the smell of that burn patch use to give off as it was burning and melting the rubber patch into the wound. Thanks for putting this up as always.
Oh yeah... I was on the edge of my seat as he patched that hole...now I'm going through the playlist seeing if there's one where he puts in a new valve!
After watching this video I stumbled across the video "How to repair a tire with sidewall damage using the sectioning technic". It makes me fell very fortunate to live in America!
Sounds like a backyard in Albania? That repair is in a nonrepairable section and he does everything wrong. And finishes with a small tube patch!? To keep it airtight? At least it should have been a reinforced patch.
+Bob McAleese Eric is using a torque stick between the impact gun and the socket. The torque stick limits the torque applied to the nut based on its' rotational elasticity per degrees of rotation of the impact gun per impact hit.
I'm not saying it's like that at all Wal-Marts, but when I worked there years ago that procedure was the exact same as we did. Except we did a one size fits all for the patches, just drilled the tire out for the patch like you did. Glad I got a good learning on that, even if it was from Wallyworld.
What's the deal with tyre plugs ? Do they leak air ?First time seeing the magic mushrooms being used.Seems a far trustworthy repair.Great video and a good lesson on how to do the job properly.What's the charge for a puncture? should I ever end up in NY county in my Chevvy truck with a deflated tyre.lol
Tom OConnor Well it's pretty cheap Tom only $18.50 here check out this sit for a good explanation on patching - vs- plugging www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77
Most major tire stores in my state (NC)will not allow just plugging due to liability reasons I presume. They will only use the inside patch or patch/plug method.
Not at all, this product is a long chain hydrocarbon attached to an alcohol while soap is a fatty acid. They work the same in this case but Eric said that it is excellent with pinhole leaks. Not having any done any experiments between the two mixtures, I can't say which is better.
A great repair on this tire done the way it is supposed to be. I like your touch of starting from scratch to balance the tire/wheel after the repair. Good job.
It's funny watching the tire repair how I am reminded how much I hated doing tires- Period ! As a young guy I worked for "Rex the tire King" in MN/ Twin Cites area and all I did was tires - all day - every day & when winter hit I'd also be putting in "Studs" . Boss would tell me to say I put in a couple extra so they would have better traction...……...memories. Good repair Eric, like the drill the hole & stem system w/the sealer.... It's almost like the 70's again.
I don’t think most people understand how much equipment it takes to patch a tire. I always am happy to pay the 25 dollar bill to my local tire shop because it feels like a good deal considering the amount of work it takes. It would be very tempting to take short cuts when you have a lobby full of customers waiting on you. Nice video and I learn a lot from your vids. Rusty snapped off bolt removals are my favorites.
This is a good method. Great video. I prefer a separate patch and rubber plug. It's what we do where I work, and also when you put the tire up on the changer, clamp from the outside as much as possible. Especially when changing, it's very dangerous when you clan from the inside. I've about had one come up and hit me in the face because I clamped it from the inside. Just a tip. Great video
We had a mushroom patch pistol in a shop I worked in years ago. It installed a similar patch to yours that even had stem in the hole but we didn't even have to break the bead. It worked pretty darn neat but I guess it wouldn't be illlegal in NY. Chris
shadowdog500 I had one of those mushroom guns that NAPA sold but kept finding the plugs fallen out, went back to the rope plugs. I just look for signs that the tire was driven too far while flat like scuffed sidewalls or a line around it.
shadowdog500 I had one of those mushroom guns that NAPA sold but kept finding the plugs fallen out, went back to the rope plugs. I just look for signs that the tire was driven too far while flat like scuffed sidewalls or a line around it.
South Main Auto Repair not the rubber dust, I'm talking about when you rubbed your hand over the tire a bunch of dust came off of it. Actually none of it is probably good for you. If you are blowing out black snot and boogers from your nose you need to start using a dust mask. We need to keep good techs like you around. :)
Thinking back to bias ply days , buff, glue , light, Stick on patch ,roll , and all done. I do not do tires , but do have a bubble balance thingy. And I think ya done a fine job.
Just had one at work today. Someone did a very poor job of plugging a large hole in a rear tire on a 2017 Dodge Charger. It was sticking out of the tire several millimeters and audibly leaking air anytime pressure was put on it.
Great video. In my part of Arizona, most tire shops will NOT patch anything that close to the edge, will claim it's not safe and a great way to sell more tires (and won't even add air to a tire over 6 years old). Plug kits were used as "right way" to fix a tire for decades, so no less safe than they were "in those days"; and plug kits are sold in every parts store, Walmart, etc. here so obviously not prohibited. I do agree that Eric's way is likely the best way with today's technology, and with the way he does this. Kids' bubble solution from dollar store is also great at helping find leaks.