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Tube patching hints for the Great Recession of 2009

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Tube patching hints for the Great Recession of 2009

Old 05-18-09, 08:14 AM
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I've been using the Park patches and they work great. Two of the tubes I've patched developed slow leaks that I ended up tossing, but the leak didn't seem to come from the patch itself. Another tube I ran with two or three patches on it no problem for a few months; still has air in it.

I never use patches on the road (although I carry them just in case I run out of tubes!); I always carry two tubes to use to fix flats, then patch the punctured tubes when I get home and swap them back in the tire, that way I always have fresh and brand new tubes in my bag.
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Old 05-18-09, 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
They're not calling it the Great Recession of 2009 for nothing.
I can't believe you've had to let Smithers go.

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Old 05-18-09, 08:49 AM
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I have deleloped a very slow leak in a tire. I can't find the hole even under water (no bubbles show up within 30 minutes). Any other ideas on how to find the hole??
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Old 05-18-09, 08:56 AM
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How slow is the leak? Tubes lose air no matter what. Rubber is actually porous. A good tube will drop from 120psi to 100 over the course of a weekend. Sometimes the valve seal isn't perfect.
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Old 05-18-09, 08:58 AM
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A few more tips: I peel off the plastic after I've installed the patch and it's completely dried. I peel it from the middle, not the edges.

I don't use or inflate a patched tube until it's set overnight.
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Old 05-18-09, 08:59 AM
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I never repaired tubes on the road. I always replaced the tube, and took the old one home with me to be repaired at my leisure.

This past Friday, I flatted outside a library with an outside sitting area. The sun was out, it was warm, and I had a comfortable place to sit, so I patched the tube. Not a bad experience at all.

I did use the Park glueless patches because I wanted to see if these do in fact suck. I did sand the area to be patched really well and so far so good. We'll see how it goes.
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Old 05-18-09, 09:00 AM
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RE: How slow is the leak.

I can get about a one hour ride in before it gets to the point where I start bottoming out.
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Old 05-18-09, 10:36 AM
  #58  
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most of it has been covered pretty well

my tips:
carry two tubes + patch kit + tire boot, only patch on the road as a last resort. pcad knows, every once in a while you'll have one of those days where you won't feel stupid for carry all that stuff. i also throw a razor blade in the patch kit in case i need to make a boot from found objects or cut my boot in half. that happened a little while ago to me, i hit a rock and cut both sidewalls and flatted both tires. i didn't have to walk or call anyone.

patch a bunch at home.
wait for the glue to dry. i sand and glue 3 or 4 tubes. by the time i'm done with the last (~5 minutes), i can put the patch on the first.
i use a pen to mark small holes, i draw a long line radially and another in the direction of the tube past where the glue will go do i can find the hole so i can center the patch.
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Old 05-18-09, 10:52 AM
  #59  
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I just pre patch all my tubes. I just put 2 or 3 patches on the places that most likely will get a flat (you all know there those are right), and Viola no flats.
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Old 05-18-09, 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by crashsyr
RE: How slow is the leak.

I can get about a one hour ride in before it gets to the point where I start bottoming out.
Pump the tube up so that it's about twice the size of normal. This stretches the rubber and makes the leak bigger. It's easier to find that way. Go slower in your water tank and watch more closely too.

If you only get an hour's riding after pumping it up, it's slow but not that slow. It should be easy to find.
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Old 05-18-09, 11:22 AM
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The glueless ones come off when they get hot. I've had one come off on a steep descent when the rim got hot and I had another one come off with the bike in a hot car.
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Old 05-18-09, 11:25 AM
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Re: Slow leak

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try.
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Old 05-18-09, 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by ElJamoquio
Another hint - I use brake cleaner instead of 'sanding' my tubes flat. Used to work great; with the new enviro-friendly brake cleaner, still works OK, but not great.
Brake clean is the trick. I sand first, then brake clean. I also stick the patched tube in a tire right away and inflate to some pressure, maybe 50 psi. I figure that the pressure will make the patch adhere a little better to the tube. Seems to work.

Park stick-ons are OK in my experience, but others are not.
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Old 05-18-09, 12:05 PM
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I have a question about stick ons. Can they be removed later and replaced with a proper glued patch?

Also, if one wishes to use a patch on the road, and uses a CO2 pump, how do you inflate the tire to find the hole?
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Old 05-18-09, 12:07 PM
  #65  
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Old 05-18-09, 12:10 PM
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With regard to "Glueless patches" :

I flatted the other day, had a spare tube and some glueless patches. I had a little time, so I decided to try the glueless patch. It was a warm day and the patch seemed to bond nicely to the tube. I completed my ride (about 20 mi and made it home). Once home I showered, eat, blah, blah, blah, went outside about 2 hr. after I got home and tire was completly flat.

Moral of the story is it got me home (good)! It was super easy to fix on the road.

Later in the day, I peeled the glueless patch off and put a "glued" patch on.

My new packing protocol is to add 4-5 glueless patches to my seatbags. I figure worse case scenario with flatting 3 tubes (1 on bike and 2 spares), I will at least be able to get home.
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Old 05-18-09, 12:29 PM
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I throw more tubes due to holes at the base of the stem than I do from punctures.
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Old 05-18-09, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Doggus
I throw more tubes due to holes at the base of the stem than I do from punctures.
Do you own a floor pump?
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Old 05-18-09, 01:12 PM
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OK, I'll throw my $0.02 in:
+1 on:
1. letting the glue cure overnight; this is key in my book
2. replacing tubes on the road, patching at home
3. patching multiple tubes at once

After I have peeled & applied the patch, I use the backside of a soup spoon to work it back & forth pressing on the patch from edge to edge. When the plastic wrap on the topside of the patch comes loose, I know it's 'done'. But no harm in leaving that wrap on either.

I always put a newly patched tube in an old wheel/tire, pump to max & let sit overnight to fully bond the patch under pressure. If still inflated in the AM, I know it's good to go. Then powder it, put into a baggy with the others & into the saddle bag.
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Old 05-18-09, 01:27 PM
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amazing. tube patching generating such a huge response. he sure has the pcad touch.

hey pcad

why don't you start a chain lubing thread and see how long that runs for. if it gets over 100 responses i'll give you a cervelo branded pony
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Old 05-18-09, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
That should tell you how lame the patch kits are, because if they were effective, or came with intelligent instructions, I wouldn't be here.

There's a market for a new product in there someplace. For F's sake, I'm on my third patch kit, I've been F-ing around with this crap for months now, and only half my patched tubes work. Should be simple. I'm sure it is. Once you know the secret. Sounds like everything else in bike wrenching.
DON'T BUY PATCH KITS.

Get a couple 20 packs of Rema Patches, and a tube of real tire repair rubber cement from a truck stop.

I usually patch a tube once or twice, then pitch it. And I dont patch cuts or snake bites from pinch flats.
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Old 05-18-09, 02:05 PM
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Properly applied, the Park Tools patches bond to the tube and don't fail.

I've got tubes patched with the quick patches 5 years old that don't leak.

DG
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Old 05-18-09, 02:12 PM
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F bike repair and maintenance.
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Old 05-18-09, 02:49 PM
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I throw away tubes with holes. I figure that 1 out of 10 or 20 patches fails. And patching tubes on the road is a big pain and there is a good chance that the glue is dried up anyways. If I don't have to call my wife to get me or walk home it is worth much more than what I would have saved with the patches.
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Old 05-18-09, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by kyakdiver
Do you own a floor pump?
https://www.rhlschool.com/read10n1.html

5.
Originally Posted by Doggus
I throw more tubes due to holes at the base of the stem than I do from punctures.
What does base mean?
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