Yesterday I noticed on my Forty Eight the rear tire was flat, I checked the tire for any problems and none were found, so I refilled the tire, about 10 to 15 minutes later it was flat again. So I refilled the tire and sprayed soapy water on it and found that the air was escaping from the valve stem outer nut (tubeless) and about 5 to 10 spokes in the same general area of the valve stem. The rim looks normal (no scratches, dings or dents).

So do I just tighten the spokes and nut until they stop leaking air and if I do that will it unbalance the wheel?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Its not tubeless. Chances are a spoke nut made its way through the rim strip and into the tube. You need to take it all apart and put a new tube in it.

 

The bike is at my work so I will need to look again at it when I get to work but I could swear it said Tubeless on the side of the tire???

 

The tires do read tubeless but those are used on both tube/ tubeless rims. All spoke rims need tubes

 

OK well that makes sense then, so I guess I need to remove the rear tire, wasn't really looking forward to that but it is what it is.

 

FYI - All stock Harley spoke wheels need tubes, but you can buy aftermarket spoke wheels that are tubeless for $$$$.

 

Take a close look at the tyre tread, to check if there is a nail or other sharp object in it. While pumping up a flat tyre the air will take the easy way out, but if you put a new tube in you want to be sure there isn't another puncture waiting to spring a surprise!

 

Some stock H-D wire spoke wheels are tubeless.
They're optional on tour bikes, Softail Deluxe & Heritage.
They say "TUBELESS" on the aluminum smooth Profile rim.