Flat tire but tube shows no leak...

[lazerguy]

Hi fellas,

Two months ago I had a rear tire go flat on my MF180. The tires are 18.4-34 with tubes. The tire went flat overnight.
Knowing I wouldn't have time to change the tire before a while, I re-inflated it and jacked the tractor to prevent damage to the tire from being squished a long time.
The tire went flat again over a day.

Today I dismounted the tire and took out the tube. I inflated the tube and covered it with soapy water, expecting to find the leak. I like to know what went wrong before I put a new tube in...

To my total disbelief, I haven't found a single leak, no bubbles anywhere including the valve. I've tried overinflating, swinging the valve in all directions, etc but I can't see any leaking at all.

Now I don't want to put the old tube back in, nor put a new one, not knowing what went wrong. ????

 

[JerryK]

Maybe you have a thorn or something in the tire that is pressing on the tube inside the tire. You would think that it would still show up when you soaped the tube. Plus they are usually real slow leaks. Or maybe you have a wife/grandkid/neighbor that is messing with you....

 

[MasseyWV]

If the tire went flat, there's a leak. You simply have to find it.

 

[yelbike]

Leaking schredder valve???:confused3:

 

[Depmandog]

Well, it's either a leaker or someone is pranking you! Inflate the tube, leave it inflated all night. I bet when you check in the morning it's deflated.

Oh and make a lot of noise coming into the barn, case I am still in there letting the air out....

 

[DenisM]

I have several old trucks that have tube tires. Over the years I have had 2 flat tires that I could find when the tube leaked. I have been told by people who work at tire places that sometimes you can not find leaks went a tube is out of the tire because you can't put much pressure in the tube. When a tube is mounted in a tires and on the wheel the pressure is 30 or 40 pounds and leaks show up.

 

[lazerguy]

Found it!
It's simply leaking where I put a patch last fall. It was not apparent at all yesterday, but this morning it made a faint whistling noise.
At least I know there's no thorn/nail in the tire waiting to spoil the new tube.
I guess like DenisM said, it's about not being able to put much pressure when the tube is out.
Thanks! New tube going in today!