Recently bought myself a set of crest hopehoops and a no tubes kit from wicked cycles as my first forray into the world of tubeless. This morning, after fitting tyres last night, I've discovered they've gone flat. Your advice on what things I should look into would be appreciated.
Any experts in the reigate are welcome to pop over and discuss ideas over a beer tonight!
ta
Nigel
So what have i done:
1. watched the videos on notubes.com around fitting the rim tape and how to approach fitting the tyres
2. followed the printed advice that came with my stans tubeless kit: fit and inflate an inner tube, etc
3. fitted Bonty XR4 (front) and XR3 (rear) tyres.
4. inflated the tyres for a while and then deflated them
5. put in the latex solution
6. inflated the tyres (~30 psi). Note I did see some latex solution escaping from the rear. That stopped after the tyre became seated with a big pop sound while inflating. No such problems with the front which inflated with ease.
7. shook em/spun em. left them overnight in my up-turned bike
i want to try tubeless on my crossmax wheels but my patience quota will run low very quickly and i fear the wheels will become expensive frisbees!
🙂
Pump them up again and go around the bead/rim with soapy water and a brush
When you find a leak, do the shaking thing with the leak on the bottom and underneath as you do it
Continue until al leaks have been dealt with
Reinflate the tyres and dunk them in the bath to see where the air is escaping. Are you using UST tyres or standard ones? The wheel needs to be left lying horizontal for a time (10 mins I think but that's a guess) to allow the latex solution to seal the tyre sidewalls and any gaps in the bead.
Also when you dunk the wheel check the seal around the valve isn't leaking, I've heard that can happen if you overtighten them (ie any more than finger tight).
Edit: Also, what uplink said.
jedi - Member
i want to try tubeless on my crossmax wheels but my patience quota will run low very quickly and i fear the wheels will become expensive frisbees
jedi - crossmax's are UST rims from what i remember - i highly highly doubt you will have any issues with the ease of use on these - most ust tyres will go up with a track pump....seriously be able to run your pressures lower too, which im guessing will help traction alot in your game (not that you probably need it)...
Did you soap the rim and bead of the tyre? Also check you have got the valve screwed in tight.
i'll need that latex stuff though??
nxb1 - I built up some Crests at Easter and fitted XR4s - they wen up with a track pump but lost pressure overnight, but then I pumped them up and went out for a ride and they've been fine since. Persistence!
Tony - yep you'll need a splash of goo in them to deal with any punctures, but a full UST tyre on UST rim shouldn't need any to get them inflated (it'd be heavy tho). Tubeless ready stuff like Bonty, Spesh & some Schwalbe only need a wee bit to get them to seal and then some to deal with punctures - not tried non TLR stuff so can't comment on that. FWIW I'm gradually converting all of my bikes & MrsP's to tubeless as it seems to be a good move.
jedi - Member
i'll need that latex stuff though??
honestly jedi- its no faff, at worst seat the tyre first check you can do it, then release the air once you know it can seat easily (ust tyres maxxis especially seat first time from new with track pump for me)....put a lids worth of stans sealant in, pump tyre back up, give it a shake, and bobs your uncle...its that simple...things seem to go wrong when people decide to use stans rims, non-tubeless tyres etc etc..
ust tyres and ust rims - i have never ever had an issue with in 3 years...
FWIW i still have the same sealant in from around april time 😆 probably best to change soon before winter...
nxb1,
I'd second uplink's diagnosis. It sounds like you managed to get them inflated fairly painlessly but didn't deal with all the little leaks thoroughly enough. More soapy leak detection and more shaking required.
Jedi,
If they're full UST, both rims and tyres, then you don't stricktly NEED the latex BUT you might as well put it in anyway to give you the puncture protection. If you're using standard (edit.. inc tubeless ready) tyres though, then you will NEED the latex to address the slight porousity of their thinner sidewalls.
cheers for the advice guys. Will have another go this evening, and keep you posted on progress!
cheers (sorry for hijack)
🙂
I watched my dad trying to do the tubless thing a few weeks back. I'll stick to innertubes I think 😀
You did everything correct, except go for a ride, this continues the sloshing and will seal up any leaks.
@jedi: no probs. you're welcome after the my [url= http://ukbikeskills.blogspot.com/2011/01/steffen-and-nigels-2-to-1-session.html ]training session[/url] back in Jan 🙂
You did everything correct, except go for a ride, this continues the sloshing and will seal up any leaks.
I'm a tubeless newbie, but having used it for a month there is nothing that makes me want to go back to tubes.
As people have said, use lots of soapy water and run it around the bead/rim when you have the tyre inflated. Any leaks will show up and you'll then know where to work the sealant.
The hardest part for me was getting the tyre inflated. That did involve a *lot* for cursing and swearing.
nxb1 - Member@jedi: no probs. you're welcome after the my training session back in Jan
high5
I've been faffing about with tubeless for the past two years, can't be bothered anymore going back to tubes, all the guys in the bike shops I use run tubes too. For me it was expensive and messy, and inflation pretty much impossible with a track pump, if it aint broke and all that.