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Posted for "Denis Conkey" <dconkey@yahoo.com>:

I've recently had a tube go flat twice on landing in my nose gear tire.
Have any other two-seat flyers had this problem?  The first time it
happended, I was landing at West Yellowstone Airport (Elevation 6806 ft)
and no other damage was done.  The tire was not too bad for wear and the
tube reusable, fortunately since I would have had to have these delivered
which might have taken some time.  I had the tube repaired at a bike shop
for $5 - not a bad deal and he did a great job.  I left the next day after
installing the repaired nose gear tire and flew direct to Pearson Airpark
in Washington.  I then headed south for Camarillo for a night landing.
Unfortunately the Landing Light did not come on to help with the landing,
but I put it down reasonably well, but did get some bounce on the first
touch down, which was a 3 point touch down.  Held it off a little longer
and then the aircraft settled to the runway for good, but I could tell
again that the nose tire had gone flat again and this time it seemed that
there was a bit more shimmy getting the aircraft to a stop again.  Again,
there was no apparent damage to the anything other than the tire and tube.
Have not taken the tire apart yet to inspect the tube.
 
The tube had two small holes in the West Yellowstone repair.  Will report
later what I find on this next tear down of the tire.  I'm suspecting that
the tube is just not very well made and is not holding up when the tire
first touches the pavement at speed.  Other speculations?
 
...Denis
N235WC

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