[Closed] Tubeless questions

Are the tyres not ready for replacing yet? I'd be reluctant to mix sealants but it might be alright. I wouldn't be topping them up without popping a bead off the rim and taking a look inside to see what's going on. Injecting via the core seems like more faff to me!

Pop bead off
Remove any conjealed old sealant if needed
Pour in new sealant
Pop bead back on and inflate
Job done

I think the bottle of whatever sealant you're using will say how much to use on it.

Injecting via the core seems like more faff to me!

I use the small Stan's dosing bottles (refilled from a larger bottle) which are, coincidentally, about the perfect volume for one wheel *and* just the thing for squeezing the fluid through the valve. Let the tyre down, unscrew the valve core, squirt a bit in (full bottle if unsure/new, half a bottle for a top-up), replace the core and re-inflate. Definitely the quickest way to do a top-up, and the only real downside is that you can't extract any "Stanimals" that might be floating around inside. If the tyres are well sealed already, I'd be tempted to leave well alone and not "break the seal", so to speak.

Personally, I reckon on doing one fluid top-up during the life of the tyres and by the time a second is due, the tyres will probably be shot anyway and I can strip it all down and give everything a good clean.

In contrast I think unseating a tyre just to squirt in some more sealant seems like a faff.
Deflate tyre, unscrew valve core, squirt in sealant, replace core and pump up.  Certainly no more faff than delfating tyre, unseat bead and pull off rim, pour in selant, carefully reseat tyre, inflate tyre with floor pump or tubeless inflator to get tyre bead to seat properly.  Check that bead is still sealed properly.

YMMV of course.

Si

Thank you all for your input and guidance it's good to hear from those in the know with experience.  Now to put it into practice 🙂

I carry a valve core tool and small bottle of Stan's.

The length sealant lasts for for me kind of depends on how many small punctures I've had, which I tend not to notice.

For this reason, I just fill it up if I need to if I get a puncture and no sealant pisses out.

When I've got procore on I have to remove a section of bead to inject sealant instead, I'd say removing the valve core is far easier.

I've never had it go off in a tyre that's fitted, but I run tubes on any bikes that might sit for ages.

As with @daern and @scc999, I'll add extra sealant through the valve.

How long does the sealant last? The length of a piece of string! Depends on ambient temperature and the tyre. Some tyres seem to lose sealant quicker than others - you can often see clear beads "weeping" out of the side walls. During hotter weather you'll need to be more regular, the Americans reckon two to three months max in desert conditions.

Leave the tyre standing for an hour or two then carefully lift and shake. If you can hear fluid sloshing around then you should be OK but sometimes the particulates drop out of the solution so it's not a guaranteed method. If in doubt just add another 25-50ml of sealant.

Take the valve core out, spin wheel so valve is at bottom, stick cable tie or similar in though valve and use as a dipstick to see how much sealant is in there.

Thanks again folks, even more advice to educate my stone age brain .I think I will be taking your advice using a cable tie but my suspicion is that they are dry as I don't hear either fluid or partials in either tyre .if nothing I guess it won't hurt to add 50ml into each wheel . I have just ordered a syringe for the job and will probably leave the tyre as it is on the rim and go via the valve core. They are maxxis front and rear and feel sure they will get me to the depths of winter so refreshing sealant will give me the confidence. Taking a small amount with me on a ride is something I wouldn't have thought about so I will now be on the lookout for a suitable bottle 🙂