Bicycle Mechanics - If you get self-sealing tubes, be sure to use a rolling pin first!

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trmcgeehan
12-27-02, 03:48 AM
I've recently had a lot of flats due to goathead thorns. So I bought two self-sealing tubes from Bike Nashbar. The first time out with them, I got another flat. So I called the tech guy at BikeNashbar and told him what happened. He said, when you first get these tubes, take a rolling pin used for leveling cookie dough and thoroughly roll the pin over the extended tube before you put the tube on the bike. Evidently, the sealing stuff inside the tube is rather thick, and is not evenly transmitted throughout the tube. The rolling pin evens out the coverage throughout the tube. I wish BikeNashbar had included a little instruction sheet with the tubes saying this, but they didn't. I haven't taken the tire off and performed this procedure yet, but I plan to.

Mzungu
12-28-02, 03:07 AM
Hmmmm, doesn't seem right to me. I assume the tubes came with the sealant brand "Slime" . If it were the case you need to use a roller refore installing then what do you do after the bike has been sitting overnight or longer. The slime collects at the bottom unless the tyre is spinning.

I use sealant on all off road biikes and THEY DON'T PREVENT FLATS, they seal most punctures and usually before the tyre deflates but not always. (It is still worthwhile as pumping up a tyre is pretty easy compared to removing tyre and patching, especially if it happens alot)

If the tyre goes down completely:
-remove any thorns you can see
-pump up the tyre and immediately spin the tyre to spread the sealant
-if the tyre goes slowly down repeat again, sometimes it takes several inflations and spinning before it suceeds to seal.
-if it goes down quickly you probably need to see if the hole is really big or the thorn is still poking the tube.
-if you have a big hole and need to patch get that slime far away from the hole as contact with cement seems to neutralize the glue.

I had similar first experience and thought it was worthless stuff when the tyre deflated. Then I noticed others happily pumping and spinning. From then on I expected flats occasionally and appreciated mostly not having to put patches on anymore.

Erik