[xj-s] Wire Wheels and leaks!

XJ-S
1

I have a set of Dayton wires on my 87 XJS and one of them leaks
down very slowly over several days. Tires are new (P4000). and
the other three are fine. Dealer thinks wheel may be leaking.
Common problem with wire wheels?? I have had several sets over the
years and this is first problem! Any ideas on fixes, other than
sending back to Dayton for a 450.00 rebuild? Please don’t tell me
to shoot that ''Flat Fix Goop ‘’ into the tire. Ever seen the mess
that makes on the inside. If it does have to go back to Factory
for repair they charge more to clean that junk out and new liner,
at a minimum is necessary. Thanks, Jim–
Jim xjs
Sierra Vista, AZ., United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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2

Hi Jim,

You’ve identified the two alternatives: (1) $3 can of “Fix-A-Flat”, or
(2) $500 new/rebuilt wheel.

If you examine the leaking wheel carefully, you will probably find at
least one broken spoke. When the spoke breaks, usually at the “bent”
end at the hub, the adjuster nipple end at the rim can push through the
sealing gel on the tire side of the rim, causing an air leak that is
usually slow. Be aware that sometimes the spoke can push away a large
enough flap of the gel that the wheel will leak nearly all of its air
in ~ 5 miles of use. I once had a wheel that would hold air with the
car parked, but would leak very fast when driven.

Just curious as to the cause: was that wheel on the Right Rear (where
hitting curbs is most likely)? My theory is that spoke breakage doesn’t
occur unless there is some unusual impact to the rim, either from a bad
pothole or more likely, striking a curb.

I have 22-year-old 60-spoke Daytons on my 85, and 12-year-old 70-spoke
Daytons on my 89. I have had one leaking wheel on each (both from a
broken spoke), and have fixed both with a can of “Fix-A-Flat”. The key
is to roll the car ~ 5 - 10 mph, no faster, for a minute or two after
injecting the sealant (with tire pressure @ about 15 PSIG before
injecting) so that the sealant covers the spoke inside surface of the
rim as smoothly as possible and seals without collecting in one area.
Remember, you are trying to coat the inner part of the rim, NOT the
tire casing, so higher speed centrifugal force defeats your purpose.
Worst case scenario is that you will have to have the tire/wheel
rebalanced, as you may notice a slight change.

If you have/develop more than one broken spoke, then you should
probably have the wheel rebuilt/replaced for the sake of safety.

George Balthrop, Clifton, VA USA
85 & 89 XJ-S Coupes; 89 XJ40 VDP-----Original Message-----
From: jchambers39@hotmail.com

I have a set of Dayton wires on my 87 XJS and one of them leaks
down very slowly over several days. Tires are new (P4000). and
the other three are fine. Dealer thinks wheel may be leaking.
Common problem with wire wheels?? I have had several sets over the
years and this is first problem! Any ideas on fixes, other than
sending back to Dayton for a 450.00 rebuild? Please don’t tell me
to shoot that ''Flat Fix Goop ‘’ into the tire.

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

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3

Jim,

Get the tire store to pump it up as high as they care to risk
(at least 60 psi) and put it in a tank while you watch. That’s
the bets way to see what’s happening. After that, if you see
the leak your choice is clear: tube it, have it repaired,
or sell them and get the OE wheels. I would do the latter,
but that’s just my opinion.

Ed Sowell
1976 XJ-S
http://www.efsowell.us/ed/myJag.html

I have a set of Dayton wires on my 87 XJS and one of them leaks
down very slowly over several days. Tires are new (P4000). and
the other three are fine. Dealer thinks wheel may be leaking.
Common problem with wire wheels?? I have had several sets over the
years and this is first problem! Any ideas on fixes, other than
sending back to Dayton for a 450.00 rebuild? Please don’t tell me
to shoot that ''Flat Fix Goop ‘’ into the tire. Ever seen the mess
that makes on the inside. If it does have to go back to Factory
for repair they charge more to clean that junk out and new liner,
at a minimum is necessary. Thanks, Jim

Jim xjs

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4

Hi Jim,

One suggestion/theory of a more elegant “fix” than the can of sealant.
I have NOT done this myself, so I don’t know how it might work.

I don’t believe Dayton or anyone else will sell you individual spokes
for the wheels, and if that is the case, you would need a donor wheel
or other source for replacment spokes. If that source can be found,
simply replacing the broken spoke(s) and then finding a suitable
sealant to apply on the inside of the rim at the replaced spoke nipple
would be a DIY fix.

I would check the wheel for runout/true in both the vertical &
horizontal planes before and after the repair. Trying to “tune” a wire
wheel, adjusting spoke tension, is an art and/or requires special
knowledge/equipment, so my concept is just to replace one or two broken
spokes without touching the others. Obviously, if the wheel is not
true, you will have balance/performance issues. I once had a wire wheel
on an E-type that was so bad you could feel it move the car up/down at
10 mph, with the bad wheel on the LR, just behind the driver. That
vertical runout was quite apparent as you observed the rim during
rotation.

George Balthrop, Clifton, VA USA
85 & 89 XJ-S Coupes; 89 XJ40 VDP-----Original Message-----
From: jchambers39@hotmail.com
To: xj-s@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 9:58 AM
Subject: [xj-s] Wire Wheels and leaks!!

I have a set of Dayton wires on my 87 XJS and one of them leaks
down very slowly over several days. Tires are new (P4000). and
the other three are fine. Dealer thinks wheel may be leaking.
Common problem with wire wheels?

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

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5

In reply to a message from Jim xjs sent Sun 7 Jan 2007:

Hi, common problem. Dismount tire, strip silicone, reseal. Or
replace wheel(s). Want a set of LeMans edition 16’'?–
The original message included these comments:

Common problem with wire wheels?? I have had several sets over the
years and this is first problem! Any ideas on fixes, other than
sending back to Dayton for a 450.00 rebuild? Please don’t tell me

–
JagtechOhio
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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6

In reply to a message from Jim xjs sent Sun 7 Jan 2007:

Tube them and forgeddaboudit.–
Joe Bialy, ’ 87 XJ-S & '94 XJ-40
Grosse Ile, Michigan, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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7

What product do you use to reseal (apply where original sealant was
removed inside rim)? Have you found a source for replacement spokes?

If the break in the original sealant was caused by a broken spoke
(which is forced harder into the rim and sealant the faster the wheel
spins), it would seem to be advisable to replace/remove the broken
spoke or the new sealant will also fail at the broken spoke nipple.-----Original Message-----
From: drewblank@hotmail.com

Hi, common problem. Dismount tire, strip silicone, reseal. Or
replace wheel(s).

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

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8

In reply to a message from JaguarJoe sent Sun 7 Jan 2007:

My '68 XKE had rubber flaps and tubes. Never had a problem. Lotsa
spokes is an leak waiting to happen.

Use tubes. Unless you race or whatever?
Noel–
The original message included these comments:

Tube them and forgeddaboudit.

–
'92 XJS Conv, '88 XJS Coupe, 1914 &1915 Ford T’s (Forguars)
Edmond, OK, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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9

In reply to a message from Jim xjs sent Sun 7 Jan 2007:

Forget Fix a Flat, use Slime, it’s available in most auto parts
stores and is much better. Of course you will need a compressor or
some way to blow up the tire as you put it in through the valve
stem. The other alternative as has been mentioned, put in a tube,
but if you do be sure to use a liner over the spokes.
Dayton quoted me 165. to fix a broken spoke last year on 16x7 70
spoke wheels.

Lee Murray–
The original message included these comments:

I have a set of Dayton wires on my 87 XJS and one of them leaks
down very slowly over several days. Tires are new (P4000). and
the other three are fine. Dealer thinks wheel may be leaking.
Common problem with wire wheels?? I have had several sets over the
years and this is first problem! Any ideas on fixes, other than
sending back to Dayton for a 450.00 rebuild? Please don’t tell me
to shoot that ''Flat Fix Goop ‘’ into the tire. Ever seen the mess
that makes on the inside. If it does have to go back to Factory
for repair they charge more to clean that junk out and new liner,
at a minimum is necessary. Thanks, Jim

–
Lee Murray '95 XJS 4.0 Convertible '96 XJ6
Sherburne, NY, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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