Searider tube leak

Scousedeli · 22 May 2009, 15:05

Hi All

I have an oldish 5.4 searider with a small tube leak, the rear stbd tude slowly deflates, i've changed the valve to no avail, there are no other obvious signs of the leak.

Has anyone got any good ideas on how to find the leak, or usual places the leak maybe located etc

Cheers

Lee

JSP · 22 May 2009, 15:10

You can use soapy water and look for bubbles. Be worth checking all the seems too.

JSP · 22 May 2009, 15:11

BTW, do you drive a black 4X4? One past me a month or two ago pulling a searider.

Scousedeli · 22 May 2009, 15:17

That was probably me I have a jeep cherokee, the rib is an ex Coastguard rib now with a 75 mariner. Still sorting out all the kit for coastal trips and safetyboat work for the cadets.

Tried the soapy water trick, no luck

Lee

chewy · 22 May 2009, 15:40

Is the valve itself seating properly, even a bit of sand will let air out.

JSP · 22 May 2009, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scousedeli

That was probably me I have a jeep cherokee, the rib is an ex Coastguard rib now with a 75 mariner. Still sorting out all the kit for coastal trips and safetyboat work for the cadets.

Tried the soapy water trick, no luck

Lee

Does it go down over a week or so? I've read how old tubes can become porous and slowly leak out air through the fibre? Not sure how true that is.

Scousedeli · 23 May 2009, 12:35

towards the end of the day they become soft and requires re inflating a bit!

JSP · 23 May 2009, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scousedeli

towards the end of the day they become soft and requires re inflating a bit!

Could just be the Air temp then? I know mine can go really soft when the sun goes down. Next day they are back to normal.

If not that someone more experienced than me maybe able to help.

Rigaud · 23 May 2009, 13:06

Mine had that problem at the end of the season last year and turned out to be one of the rear cones on the bottom side. From what I found out the seem coming down on the underside of one of my cones was de-laminating. It also happened to be in an area where theirs constant contact at high speed. Oh, and my rib was 10 years old last summer. I repaired it and also added a fair size patch of hypalon on both sides in this particular area. Appears to be holding like new and only time will tell.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Scousedeli · 23 May 2009, 17:48

If it was air temp I would of thought they would all go down by the same amount! I'll check the seam for the cone tomorrow when I get a chance.

Cheers

Lee

JSP · 23 May 2009, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scousedeli

If it was air temp I would of thought they would all go down by the same amount! I'll check the seam for the cone tomorrow when I get a chance.

Cheers

Lee

You'd think so but I've found different. All depends where it's stored and what it's near too.

Hope the seams on the cones are ok.

ribraff · 23 May 2009, 18:24

There is every chance that there is a leak from the seam which unfortunately is under the flange rather than behind the strake.

JSP · 23 May 2009, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribraff

There is every chance that there is a leak from the seam which unfortunately is under the flange rather than behind the strake.

Possible to put a large patch over the whole lot like Nos had done?
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26695

Rigaud · 23 May 2009, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

Possible to put a large patch over the whole lot like Nos had done?
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26695

Mine is a third of that but I think what they did for Nos is much better. Been told that's the area on the tubes that gets the most abuse from water pressure at speed. When you think about it with speeds over 50mph that water will have some effect long term on older tubes.

Cheers

JSP · 23 May 2009, 20:36

Had a look at mine close up before. Doesn't look to bad but I could see where water could lift and course damage.

ribraff · 23 May 2009, 20:43

Really you need to get to the heart of the matter, firstly you need to be absolutely sure that the leak is coming from the seam, I may be wrong but if the leak can't be found with the traditional soapy water method then it could be the seam. It might be worth overpressurising the chamber and trying again with the soapy water paying particular attention to the understrip area where the seam is close to.

Rogue Wave · 27 May 2009, 00:27

soapy water should find the leak but if not try snoop

Rigaud · 27 May 2009, 23:10

I didn't require soapy water, I heard the air coming out while in the water very early one morning. The water was calm like a mirror and everything was still, I could hear something but wasn't sure at first what it was. After a few minutes of putting my ear to the tubes I finally realized what it was and saw very small bubbles coming up the side of the rear cone. Once back at home on the trailer I found the exact area.

jyasaki · 28 May 2009, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribraff

I may be wrong but if the leak can't be found with the traditional soapy water method then it could be the seam.

Only if you can't get the soap and water on the seam. Otherwise, you'll get bubbles wherever there's air coming out.

Quote:

It might be worth overpressurising the chamber and trying again with the soapy water paying particular attention to the understrip area where the seam is close to.

Don't get too carried away with the "over" part of overpressure, lest you end up with new problems.

jky