tire plug repair tool.

[mikevango]

i am in need of a nice reamer and plug install tool. i surfed around a bit and could not find one on the snap on site. matco had one listed but looked soso. there was not a picture on the mac site.
i seem to remember my tire guy had a t handled one that was real beefy. i think it may have been a snap on but ain't sure. i was at the tire shop for a plug i was having a hard time with because my tool sucked.
any suggestions. thanks

 

[t100]

ARB is THE best as far as I know:

http://www.expeditionexchange.com/arb/

 

[Mickey O]

I just bought a plug kit today at an estate sale, I forgot the whole name it was Monkey something, made in Des Plaines, Il.

 

[mikevango]

i'd like to see it!

 

[ImportTuner]

I have the Blackjack tire repair kit; works great, heavy duty tools, and highly recommended .. also, go to youtube and do a search on the blackjack tire repair kit .. great video

 

[mikevango]

I have the Blackjack tire repair kit; works great, heavy duty tools, and highly recommended .. also, go to youtube and do a search on the blackjack tire repair kit .. great video

are the tools USA? where did you buy it? thanks

 

[mrshaun]

i sell a lot of the same Blackjack sets. no one ever complains and orders the whole kit again to have extra tools. and they make a ton of money off of one kit. must have for most shops.

 

[ImportTuner]

are the tools USA? where did you buy it? thanks

They are available from http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/ or from ebay and other dealers .. pretty sure they are US made, but not positive.

 

[Red Green]

I have the Tech Tire kit. I bought it at an estate sale. I have no idea where it was made. http://www.techtirerepairs.com/catalog/ItemDetail.aspx?itemnum=215&salessubgroup=MR140

 

[Mickey O]

 

[mikevango]

ok thanks. i got the super econo monkey kit that doesn't have t-handles.
i think i like this one so far=
http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/detailed.asp?pchild=3&code=513

 

[crewchief888]

go with the blackjack kit. you'll be a lot happier, especially if you do any repairs on heavier truck tires. ive even beaten on mine with a hammer to get the reamer through, and havent broken a tool yet

 

[daveblank]

ok thanks. i got the super econo monkey kit that doesn't have t-handles.
i think i like this one so far=
http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/detailed.asp?pchild=3&code=513

The t handle is 1000x easier to use.

 

[mikevango]

Thanks guys. I usually do around 4 plugs a year on my 1 ton work van. The last plug I could not get in with my cheap tool was a puny ford focus tire. I currently have a screw stuck in my van tire. It's holding fine right now and I'm going to work with it in there.
Anyway I am going to get the blackjack kit with the big t handles.

 

[nate379]

The Monkey one is what I have to. Bought it probably 10 years ago at KMart.

 

[Joe Mamma]

One thing that I found that really helps is to have the tire inflated, if possible, right before you try to insert the plug.

I know if you inflate the tire, it might be hissing from the leaking air. But, having the tire hold its shape makes inserting the plug MUCH easier. If it's completely deflated, the tire often just caves in while trying to insert the plug.

Joe Mamma

 

[bushhawg73]

I have a set made by Safety Seal. Nice large aluminum t handles and plenty on tire plugs. I bought this set after seeing one at my local repair shop. The owner of the shop said his t handles were at least 10 years old.

http://www.safetyseal.com/

 

[peter_x]

I have a set made by Safety Seal. Nice large aluminum t handles and plenty on tire plugs. I bought this set after seeing one at my local repair shop. The owner of the shop said his t handles were at least 10 years old.

http://www.safetyseal.com/

I remember using a set marked "North Shore Labs" at my old job. I searched for it and realized it was Safety Seal.

Remember, this brand has the "plunger" on the plug tool. The Monkey Grip set posted above does not. The plunger is there for holding against the tire as you pull out the tool, so your plug doesn't come out as well.

 

[BeansBaxter]

The MonkeyGrip kit is great. It's inexpensive and readily available just about everywhere. I know the other kits mentioned are better quality and perhaps easier to use but sometimes the tool you can get on short notice is the best tool for the job.

Fortunately, I've only had to use mine 3 times in the past 15 years but it performed flawlessly and the plugs were truly a permanent fix. If you expect to do more than a plug every year or two then by all means, spend the extra dough on the better tools. Otherwise, save the cash and go with the MonkeyGrip.

 

[BeansBaxter]

BTW, I know the OP said he does 4 plugs a year. I was posting my info for the other folks that might happen across this thread.

 

[35mastr]

Is there any reason that no one fixes tires the proper way. Like break it down and patch it.

You guys actually put you familys in these cars and let them drive on public streets.

 

[toolfreak]

I like tire tech repair kits, I've plugged alot of tires with one of those kits and never had a problem. 35master, I have no problem driving on a plugged tire, it's probably better than most patch jobs people will get from a high school kid that doesn't want to be working. I mainly use them on construction jobs where there is alot of flats and the bosses don't have time to take them to get repaired.

 

[Sokoloff]

I've put probably 50K miles on various plugged tires of my own and done at least 8 for others over the past decade and never had an issue. I'll only plug one well inside the "shoulder" of the tire, but I've never had one leak once it set and frankly don't see it as a safety issue. If I did, I could certainly afford to get it broken down and patched, but I don't have a problem putting my family in any of my cars.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Is there any reason that no one fixes tires the proper way. Like break it down and patch it.

You guys actually put you familys in these cars and let them drive on public streets.

That was my thought. I've only ever considered it an emergency repair, and replaced them immediately upon getting back to civilization.

I don't think it's a safety issue so much, but I have never, ever, seen one last. I've had shop after shop claim they will, but it's never happened. Come back 2-5 years later, and dunk that tire in a tank, 95% chance it's leaking.

I just sold 4 tires, three of which had plugs in them. All three leaked from the plug.

I always install good rubber plug/patch combos.

 

[BlindViper]

One thing that I found that really helps is to have the tire inflated, if possible, right before you try to insert the plug.

I know if you inflate the tire, it might be hissing from the leaking air. But, having the tire hold its shape makes inserting the plug MUCH easier. If it's completely deflated, the tire often just caves in while trying to insert the plug.

Joe Mamma

What I do is ream the hole very good leave the reamer in the tire then fill the tire up. Get your plug ready, pull the reamer out, install the plug.

Does anyone else use rubber cement on your plugs? Looks like the smaller kits just include the lube now.

 

[Mickey O]

I remember using a set marked "North Shore Labs" at my old job. I searched for it and realized it was Safety Seal.

Remember, this brand has the "plunger" on the plug tool. The Monkey Grip set posted above does not. The plunger is there for holding against the tire as you pull out the tool, so your plug doesn't come out as well.

 

[Mickey O]

Is there any reason that no one fixes tires the proper way. Like break it down and patch it.

You guys actually put you familys in these cars and let them drive on public streets.

I only use them for emergency repairs, but when I was young (15 - 17) I worked at various gas stations and we plugged tires all the time and never had a problem, at one place we did only patches.

 

[Red Green]

Is there any reason that no one fixes tires the proper way. Like break it down and patch it.

You guys actually put you familys in these cars and let them drive on public streets.

Not only do I use them on the public street I also use them on the race track. I have never had an issue if the hole is in the center of the tread. I use rubber cement on mine.

 

[nate379]

You can have fun breaking down a tire when it's -20* outside and your 20 miles from the nearest gas station, but I sure ain't doing it! A huge FAWK that right there for sure!

Is there any reason that no one fixes tires the proper way. Like break it down and patch it.

You guys actually put you familys in these cars and let them drive on public streets.

 

[bowtie3]

Cornwell sells the Safety Seal kit, reamer, plug tool, lube, plugs and some extra parts for the plug tool for around 50.00. Really nice and heavy duty.

 

[vssjim]

Dynaplug kits work well

 

[Dale B]

+1 on the black jack kit...works great

 

[xroad]

30 years of gummy string tire plugs, always used the tire till it worn out. Never leaked. From the inside, the plug looks like someone stuck a blob of bubble gum there. Try to pull it out, I used a plier. I think the glue fuses the gummy string to the reamed out surface of the hole.

I notice that many kits do not come with glue. Someone mentioned lube included instead. Any reason why? Works better? Cheaper?

I do notice that the small "tooth paste" type tube of glue, once opened, will evaporate after a few months. Open it, all I got was air (or fume). The jumbo metal can I got 10 years ago is still good.

 

[MadMark]

i sell a lot of the same Blackjack sets. no one ever complains and orders the whole kit again to have extra tools. and they make a ton of money off of one kit. must have for most shops.

Whats the difference between the truck and the passenger car sets?
Are the tools or patches bigger?
I always try to by the heavier duty stuf.

 

[tatra]

prefer patches as i have my own tire machine, but have used plugs in the past..........whenever i dismount a tire i always check for plugs and patch em as i have seen a lot of plugs fail during the years i busted rubber for a fulltime gig.......on off road equipment [loaders,etc.] i used plugs a lot as time is money and gettin it back to work was paramount..........when removal was necessary, all previous plugs got a patch applied and i think the record for me was 12............another issue with plugs is sometime the offending object that caused the puncture doesn't get removed and the plug is pushed in beside it and sometimes will seal for awhile but inevitably fails..........prefer the molded plastic handles myself and use some glue on the probe to prelube the hole and always use glue on the plugs, rope or rubber............never had issues arise thru this procedure...........i have seen plugs last the life of a tire but quite a few repairs brought in were old plugs leaking and need to be patched so i view them as a tmporary repair myself..............

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

2 excellent sources of low, medium, and high tech tire tools: Gemplers and patchboy.

http://www.gemplers.com/tires-supplies

http://www.patchboy.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

 

[benjamming]

nissan & 35mastr,

From Bruce's patchboy link, #12-210 Combo Kit would be what y'all are talking about correct?

 

[nissan_crawler]

nope, I'm talking about these:

 

[35mastr]

^^^^^^^^^^^ Me to^^^^^^^^

 

[Danglerb]

I bought 3x kits at HF for a total less than $5, and put one in each car inside a ziplock bag. I only plug in the belt, and prefer the goopy string, of which I ONCE cut one in half so I could plug twice as many holes with the kit.

A plug is much less of an issue than a screw or a nail, which can occur at any time, so I am not seeing any real increase in risk, and I have had no issues with a plug or patch.

I think its a good idea to keep in the mind frame that cars are inherently unsafe, and should be operated with caution at all times. Plugs in the tires can help.