Stop and Go Plugs

[Dan Filetti]

I was disappointed with my recent experience with Stop and Go plugs, and thought I'd see how others faired. I know that can be made to work, and indeed, work well.  David R. has a 4 year old plug still in his Hardley tire, but I was not so fortunate. 

So, a group of us were out riding in VA last week, staying at a cabin near Luray for a couple of days.  We had done some sweet riding all day and as we pulled back into our cabin for the night, the little Ninja, piloted by my buddy Daniel, emanated that most distinctive hiss and smell that can only come from a tire going flat.  Good timing, anyway.  We quickly found the hole, right in the middle of the tread, perfect setup for me and my newly acquired stop-n-go kit.

Thing is, I had difficulty getting a good seal.  First attempt failed miserably, leaked.  Despite following the instructions carefully.  It seems as if getting the mushroom to thread through though it's channel and into the tire properly is key.  To make that work as intended, placing the plug in the 'reamer' (for lack of a better tool description) in a reverse mushroom orientation seems to be key as well.

I wasted a couple of plugs experimenting and then, sure of my technique, tried again.  All looked good.  With patch #2 installed, the tire inflated fine, held pressure, was still inflated in the morning when we set off for more adventures.  10 miles down the road the tire was flat again!

Perhaps there are just some holes that can not be patched with this kit, and I had such a hole?  It sure did not seem like a particularly big hole. I did use the reemer, and followed the instructions to the 'T'

Anyone else have a similar or different experience?

Dan

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Dan, no, I have not had a bad experience with the Stop and Go 'schrooms. I used them only once, but I used 5 of them.
Exiting the freeway at night some dip shit contractor spilled a box of lath nails on the off ramp. In my well worn Mich. Pilot Power 2CT's I picked up 2 nails in my front tire and 3 in my rear tire. The nails were everywhere, I could not avoid them.
Stopping at a well lit strip mall parking lot I pulled the nails and reamed the holes with the rotary file and put the plugs in. I remember with the small holes, I had to work the insertion nozzle back and forth into the tire to get the proper depth so the caps inserted correctly.... I filled the tires with the 16oz CO2 cartridges, 3 front 4 rear. Trimmed off the plug tails and then cautiously rode 120+ miles home. No leaks. I did throw away the worn tires the next day.

Getting the nozzle tip past the tire tread and into the caucus was the key. Reaming the hole a bunch, made it easier. Some spit helped. I fully expect Klavdy to comment on this post in....3.....2.....
One thing I did notice, the mushroom plugs are soft. If you have a broken wire belt in the tire, or something sharp in the tire carcass, this could cut the soft stem of the 'schroom.

...

Cheers!

[SlowOldGuy]

I'm still riding on that plugged Harley tire.  Did some pretty aggresive riding on it this last weekend.  Completely forgot that there is a plug in that tire.

I've used my Stop&Go kit about 6 times on my tires and others.  The only time I had a problem was with a friend's tire that was almost completely worn out.  He picked up a nail in it and when I plugged it, I pulled on the plug a little too much such that when I cut off the excess, it popped back into the tire.  I didn't pull as hard on the second plug and it stayed put.  He replaced the tire right after that, I was just helping him get home.

I've run at least 3 of my tires to replacement with S&G plugs in them and suffered no ill effects.

The Harley tire is approaching replacement.  If I can ever get down to the shiney aluminum on the rim of my YZF replacement wheel, I'll get to try the Pilot Road 2 that I bought about a year ago.  I hear they're up to the PR 3s now.  I may never get caught up on fresh rubber.  Last year I put a Metzeler MEZ-2 on the rear of my '93.  I think the manufactuer date for that tire was in '02

DavidR.

[Pat Conlon]

Yea, that's right David, once inserted, before you cut the tail off, you gotta wiggle and pull on the stem to get the cap snug against the inside wall of the tire.....But not too hard.