Tip¡-Top Repairs

**IanC** · #1 6 Feb 2007

I´ve repaired my TKC80 today after suffering a sharp stone right through a knobbly. Seems to be holding pressure OK after 100 miles or so. I know the advice is to get a permanent repair ASAP or even a new tyre, but this isn´t possible where I am in southern Chile (Puerto Natales).

How long/far can I expect it to hold, and if it fails is it likely to go all of a sudden or slowly deflate? I could go to a bigger town (Punto Aranas) 150 miles away where I should be able to get a permanent repair but this is going involve missing places I want to go (Torres Del Paine NP). Or should I be OK for 300-400 miles or more? The wound was fairly large (first repair was unsuccesful) and in the centre of the tyre.

**MikeS** · #2 7 Feb 2007

Hi Ian, hows tricks?

We´re in northern Peru now where the cops are all bastards.

I repaired my Tourance rear back in Valdez but got a new tire in Puerto Madryn though my repair still seemed fine. I used one of those mushroom shaped plugs which did the trick. My only tire choice there seemed to revolve around the Pirelli MT60 though. They should be about 35quid but in PM, I got charged around 80quid if my memory serves.

Cheers

**IanC** · #3 7 Feb 2007

Hi Mike,

Did you get the mushroom plugs from an auto-spares shop? I had thought they were only for "professional" use. Mine seems to be holding fine at present, but I last night I noticed a far more serious problem - oil leaking from final drive, and also for last few hundred miles has been making a little noise. Not sure how imminent a failure now is - frustrating as I'm only about 500 miles from Ushuaia!

I had heard bad reports of the cops in N Peru, but had no problems myself. They seem to lurk at the outskirts of every town, but are easily spotted - always parked very visibly and sideways. I take it you've not been so lucky!

Ian

**MikeS** · #4 7 Feb 2007

Hi Ian

I think it was one of the plugs in the bmw puncture kit, but it was with the bike when i bought it. Not great about the final drive, maybe you´ll get some info on UKGSers site. Maybe you can get a replacement bearing sent to you if thats what is required. I had tires sent to Rio Gallegos as Javier said it was a bit of a pain to sent anything to Ushuaia.

Yep, got caught out by one cop who wanted cash, the rest as you say are pretty visible but even if you are doing something like 35kph, they will still pull you over and that happens several times a day unfortunately. Oh well, Equador beckons!

Cheers