Those with A3 rims that don't leak... Clamp ring tightness

[HDN]

I'm assuming that you deflated the tire before removing the nut and retorqued the nut with the tire deflated?

Correct - not taking my chances doing that stuff with an inflated tire!

 

[HDN]

I think I found the leak. Bubbles are coming from one of the fittings I used to install the Schrader valve. I'm going to tighten it up and see if that stops it.

I soaped this several times and now it's making bubbles!

 

[Mullaney]

I think I found the leak. Bubbles are coming from one of the fittings I used to install the Schrader valve. I'm going to tighten it up and see if that stops it.

I soaped this several times and now it's making bubbles!

.
Would really like to know exactly what it was that was leaking.
HAPPY for you that the dang thing isn't leaking anymore!

 

[tobyS]

I think we are using too tight of a bead-lock.

 

[HDN]

Would really like to know exactly what it was that was leaking.
HAPPY for you that the dang thing isn't leaking anymore!

I don't think it's leaking anymore because the tire pressure I just read isn't lower than it was 16 hours ago. I'll know for sure when I air it back up to 50 psi.

This is my current setup:


I'm using the existing air pipe and elbow, and installed a 3/8" x 1/4" bushing with a 1/4" x 1/8" bushing installed in that, with the original 1/8" Schrader threaded into that. Everything has Permatex thread sealer applied. Despite that, the leak was at the 1/4" male threads. Fortunately just turning that fitting a quarter-turn seemed to solve that - we'll see!

I did it this way because my closest hardware stores don't have 3/8" x 1/8" bushings in stock. So I created an additional leak point because that's what was available at the time I found that Lowe's actually has them in stock a half-hour away, so I'll be making a trip out for them soon. Moving forward I'll be cutting out a leak point with the new bushings.

 

[HDN]

I think we are using too tight of a bead-lock.

I'd really like to know the engineering thoughts of this rim design. The 5-ton bolt-together wheels don't seem as daunting to work on, yet they are for a truck with half the cargo weight capacity? Whomever approved this design for the A3 was on the crazy train IMO.

 

[sue]

We got rid of the Cits? System, installed the
53” tires, cut down the headlock so they were
1 1/4”?
and used sealer on the o rings and valve stem mount
No leaks in 4 years.

 

[sue]

We got rid of the Cits? System, installed the
53” tires, cut down the headlock so they were
1 1/4”?
and used sealer on the o rings and valve stem mount
No leaks in 4 years.

Sorry didn’t make it clear, 1 1/4” narrower?

 

[HDN]

So far, all of my leaks have been related to brass fittings either failing or not being tight enough. My o-rings and grommets aren't leaking as installed per the TM