Ribber Plugs VS Rope Plugs

Yeah that's it. I've used rope plugs for emergency repairs for years. Never used a rubber mushroom plug before. I used to have a plug gun that appeared from somewhere, but I never used it.

So... rubber mushroom plugs vs rope plugs?

I've got a lot of rope plugs in my front tractor ties, but I still have to air them up every time I use it. Thinking about going to town with a reamer in a drill (bust the handle off), and trying mushroom plugs.

Bob La Londe

----------------------- It's funny that we have the same problems at the same time. My neighbor's riding mower got two flats, the first time I've used a rope patch kit. O'Reilly's had them on sale for $0.77 and the cute, knowledgeable chica at the counter explained how to use them, a "My Cousin Vinny" moment.

Depends on the size hole... but I've been using small rivets and screws to plug holes in my mower tires. Most of the time those "rope patches" are much, much too big for the hole and I don't want to enlarge the hole to fit the patch🙄

One small "rivet" plug has been doing the job for ~15 years now. Just pushed it in, no prep or glue. Happened to be a brass rivet, maybe 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch in diameter. Most of my holes are made by thorn trees...

Mesquite trimmings mostly here. Some of the "spurs" on these trees would make a rooster jealous. An illegal fighting rooster.

Okaaaaay.

I pulled rope plugs out of three holes that were leaking and installed five (two new punctures) rubber mushroom plugs. None of them "appear" to be leaking at the moment. Heck if I can use the tractor two days in a row without airing up the tires it will be an improvement.

All three of the rope plugged holes were larger and had originally required multiple rope plugs. Some rope plug instructions say you can use multiple plugs in a large hole, and some do not.

That being said, when I was young and poor I rode on a rope plug everyday for months on my motorcycle a couple times. Even when I had an extra few bucks to have them patched, the shade tree tire shop I went to wouldn't mount or dismount motorcycle tires. I got pretty good with a pair of large screw drivers. Thank goodness I always either had two motorcycles, or a motorcycle and a truck so I could break it down at home and then have it patched.

Rope plugs got me home a few times. I did have a rope plug blow out on the way home once. It was no big deal. It got a little squirrely, but I did what I was taught. Kept light pressure on the bars to prevent a tank slapper and let it slow down on its own, and then braked onto the shoulder.

I have to top the mowers front tires maybe twice a season. Pretty sure there's a thorn hole but after several searches... easier to add some air😆

I was looking for an old plugging tool I'd seen many years ago...

These are new to me. Still think they'd be too big for what I want but they work much the same as the rivets and screws I've been using. Might even seal a tad better. A zillion listings but they all appear to be the same two sizes. There needs to be one more smaller and another larger size.

I found a 11/16" wrench in a customer's tire one day. Not a plug made that would fix THAT one!!!! - not to mention it went through the sidewall.

Well, I got what I said. I can use it two days in a row without airing up. One side dropped 2 lbs over night and the other side dropped about

Half a 45 gallon drum works good for most tires - half an old fuel oil tank for truck tires - - -

Would a 55 gallon drum be okay? I only have 55 gallon drums. ;^)

A 205 litre drum might do in a pinch.

A gallon milk jug half full of water and a couple tablespoons of liquid dish detergent makes GALLONS of bubbles . I use a hot 16d nail to put 2 or 3 holes in the cap . Shake and squeeze a/n . Works well on gas (nat/LP) piping too .

Half a 45 gallon drum works good for most tires - half an old fuel oil tank for truck tires - - -

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I use a concrete mixing tub for the tread and a squirt/spray bottle of ~10% Dawn for bead leaks (and general outdoor cleanup). I found the most recent rake tine puncture by its cooling breeze. It was too large and fast to make bubbles, the soapy water came off as a visible spray plume when squirted on the puncture.

Bubble soap is claimed to be better. I'd rather have the inevitable froth from applying it disappear quickly.

...I found the most recent rake tine puncture by its cooling breeze. It was too large and fast to make bubbles, the soapy water came off as a visible spray plume when squirted on the puncture. ...

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Then I noticed that the regulator on his compressor was still set to 100 PSI for nail guns.