patch 10-year-old tube?
08-26-12, 09:13 PM
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patch 10-year-old tube?
Got a flat on a old tube that has never flatted before. Tube has a small slit. I could not find what caused the failure. Put in a new tube.
Should I patch and reuse the old one? It's original to the bike. The bike was purchased in 2002, I put around 1500 miles on it from 2002 to 2004. The bike sat until this year and I've put about 500 more miles on it. So it's 10 years old, but doesn't have many miles on it. The tube is thinner and more lightweight than its replacement. Since I couldn't find the cause (and the new tube hasn't flatted yet from a missed thorn or whatnot), is it possible the tube is just too old and failed on its own?
Should I patch and reuse the old one? It's original to the bike. The bike was purchased in 2002, I put around 1500 miles on it from 2002 to 2004. The bike sat until this year and I've put about 500 more miles on it. So it's 10 years old, but doesn't have many miles on it. The tube is thinner and more lightweight than its replacement. Since I couldn't find the cause (and the new tube hasn't flatted yet from a missed thorn or whatnot), is it possible the tube is just too old and failed on its own?
08-26-12, 09:57 PM
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Actually, I'm not very frugal (in fact, I immediately bought a new spare tube after I replaced it). I was going to just toss it, but then thought that doing so might be wasteful if tubes don't really degrade. If a few minutes of time and a few cents can give it more life, might as well keep it out of the landfill a bit longer. If it's likely to bust again soon, I'm not cheap or green enough to care. But, I've no idea if these tubes do degrade over time and figured I'd ask here. Glad the question was good for a laugh, but maybe the answer is: "nobody knows".
08-26-12, 10:34 PM
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Meh... Rubber just dries out over time. Not worth fixing. If you don't want to throw it out check with your LBS... Most will collect and recycle old tubes for you.
08-26-12, 11:22 PM
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08-27-12, 08:05 AM
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08-27-12, 12:43 PM
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Hey - You need a new tire and wheel trueing to go with that tube.
Just replaced a worn out (7 yr old) tire. Didn't want to spend the money on a new tube. Three days later the tube failed and was replaced. And it was only a three mile walk to the tube shop.
Just replaced a worn out (7 yr old) tire. Didn't want to spend the money on a new tube. Three days later the tube failed and was replaced. And it was only a three mile walk to the tube shop.
08-27-12, 01:57 PM
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08-27-12, 02:20 PM
#13
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I currently have at least 3 tubes in service that I know have passed the 20 year mark.
08-27-12, 02:25 PM
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Personally, I'd patch it and keep it with me for use as a spare, and only for temporary use to get me to where I need to go. Certainly not on a commuter, touring bike, etc. But that's just me.
08-27-12, 02:53 PM
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If I get a hole in my tube I'll patch it, if it's more of a slit, I'll cut up the tube and use the rubber for other things.
08-27-12, 03:02 PM
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I think you got your money out of it.
08-28-12, 01:51 AM
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Worry not: the bike was tuned up and wheels and spokes checked before I began riding this summer (it had also had a tune up before being put away years ago). Tires initially looked good, but after just 100 miles they started cracking and were replaced pronto. So all good, but that's good advice.
I am thinking about getting better wheels --these have a lowish spoke count for my weight and rack loads. Oddly, this flat happened when I had my much lighter friend take the bike out for a spin with nothing on the rack. He only made it a block and a half before he came walking back with the flatted bike.
I think I'll skip patching it, but hang on to the rubber for future projects as suggested.
I am thinking about getting better wheels --these have a lowish spoke count for my weight and rack loads. Oddly, this flat happened when I had my much lighter friend take the bike out for a spin with nothing on the rack. He only made it a block and a half before he came walking back with the flatted bike.
I think I'll skip patching it, but hang on to the rubber for future projects as suggested.
08-28-12, 02:27 AM
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If a tube is getting to be worn I'll patch it after the last puncture, then buy a new one and religate it to spare tube status in the emergency bag. Old or not its sure to be plenty good enough to get me home and act as a backup to the backup (I usually carry 2 spare tubes on a long ride). If its hit 10 years old I think I'd inflate it, leave it a few days to see if it leaks and if not put into puncture kit service.
08-28-12, 03:01 AM
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patch 10-year-old tube?
Heck there are some guys here on he forums, myself included, that have tubes on bikes from the 1950s that are still in service. Patch it and use it. If it holds air, it can remain in service.
08-28-12, 09:28 AM
#20
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I do this whenever I patch at home. The patched and tested tube becomes the spare. I only patch on the road if number of flats exceeds number of spare tubes being carried.
