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Mounting the Schwalbe Marathon

Old 10-05-07, 08:25 PM
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Mounting the Schwalbe Marathon

Hi there,

I'm fairly new to these forums. I've been reading them for quite some time, and decided to seek help with this issue.

I recently bought a new touring bike and decided the schwalbe marathon tyres would be a good choice of tyre. However I'm having some serious issues mounting these tyres, in other words I can't do it ! I've only ever really mounted road bike tyres in the past which I have found to be far eaiser to do, but these schwalbe tyres are so tough and rigid I just don't know how I'm going to mount them

Does anybody have any tips that could help me out? I've scoured the net and only heard people mentioning these are particularly nasty to mount, but little or no advice. I've tried dishwashing detergent to lube up the beads but it makes little difference.

The main problem I'm having is mounting the last 10-15cm of bead over the rim. I can't even get one side of the tyre on the rim at this point. It is impossible to do this with just my hands, I would have to be superman. So I tried using plastic tyre levers, the problem is as soon as I put the lever under the tyre and try to lever it over, both ends of the remaining piece just pop off themselves. If I try to go left to right or right to left, the other side just keeps popping off, and I end up going around in circles!

Please, I'm desperate, I really want to be able to mount these tyres in case I ever need to in future (which is possible), so I don't want to admit defeat and take it to my LBS
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Old 10-05-07, 08:35 PM
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Hmm... mounting my Marathons was a snap. I guess some rims are different than others. Are you positive that you got the right size?

Anyway, rubber actually contracts with heat so maybe finding a cooler place or even a pre-mounting cool off in the fridge would give you that last few centimeters. I think some combination of lubrication, using more tire levers and locking them to the spokes, and some brute force should get you there. Mount them as far as you can and lock it down with the levers and let it site a while to stretch and save up your strength for a good all-out effort.
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Old 10-05-07, 09:23 PM
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Try "rolling" the tire on. Like this:

Link:
https://www.bicyclesouth.com/change_flat.htm
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Old 10-05-07, 10:21 PM
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Tried both those methods, no luck. The bike is a standard 07 Trek520 and the tires originally on there were 700x32c , so I bought marathons in that size also, assuming that would be fine.

I cannot do that "rolling" motion for the last little bit because it seems impossible to get the bead over the rim at all, its so rigid. It basically wont even get above the lower part of the rim without help of a tyre lever.

Duckfat, you mentioned a good tip might be to lock the tyre down with the levers for the very last bit, what do you mean by this? How do I do this? I've tried jamming the tyre levers between the tyre & rim on both ends of the "last bit", but when I use the 3rd lever in the centre to try and pop it over the rim, its no good, both levers just pop out and back to square 1
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Old 10-05-07, 10:26 PM
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Some levers have hooks to attach them to the spokes so they don't pop off.

If you think Marathons are hard to mount (I have some) you have to try mounting an English 26 by 1 & 3/8 tyre on a steel rim... let me just say that ypu mioght as well not bother with those flimsy plastic tire tools since you'll just snap them in two.
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Old 10-05-07, 10:41 PM
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I have tyre levers that hook onto the spokes , and thats useful when removing the tyre for sure. But how do they work the other way, I mean the only way I can see them hooking onto the spokes and the tyre is when you are removing the tyre, not the other way round, for them to hook onto the spoke the tyre has to be off the rim right?
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Old 10-05-07, 10:56 PM
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Argh... it's been too long a day.

Try working the last bit of the tire onto the rim is really small increments with the tire levers... also make sure that there's no air in the tube and that that the rest of the tire is seated properly on the rim.
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Old 10-05-07, 11:11 PM
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Try the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack (you may have to scroll down a ways to find it). There are still some tires that I struggle with with this tool, but they would be impossible without it. Park also makes some steel tire levers that might give a little more leverage with stubborn tires.

I've noticed that thick rim tape (like Velox cotton) can make it harder to get a tire on, although the extra durable rim tape is nice to have once the tire and tube are in place.
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Old 10-06-07, 06:23 AM
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they can be very difficult to mount on some rims- In desperation I used some brown sticky tape at various point round the rim to hold the tyre in place while I slipped the last bit over the rim.
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Old 10-06-07, 12:08 PM
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I wonder what will you do if you will have a puncture I recommend after you put the tires on, just take them out and put them again as a drill I'm cruel I know I'm
One thing nobody asked you, is the one side of the tire sits on the rim, and you try to just add the other side?
If one side is in the rim, then the tire is good size. If you didn't insert one side on the rim, and you try to pull both sides the last 15cm, just give your self a slap... or I will give my self a slap, for asking stupid questions
From my motorcycle days I remember you need to use force. Now, the tiny plastic tire leavers will not work.
You need something stronger and longer. This will give you the leverage you need to tackle this tires.
Try to get help of a friend, I understand it is hard to control two levers together. When you will have 4 hands, try to work with 3 levers, maybe this will help get it in.
And for my first statement, really, what will you do if you will have puncture? This tires seems stubborn!
Keep us update.
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Old 10-06-07, 12:42 PM
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A while ago while cycling through Eugene, Oregon I stopped at a bike shop and saw that they had two Schwalbe Marathons. When I asked the shop owner the price he said, "Ugg, those things are a bear to mount on a rim. You can have 'em for $20 a piece."

So, don't feel bad. They are a real chore to get on. If all else fails, use four hands and grease the last bit to get it over the edge.

Fortunately, once on the tires rarely flat... but be prepared for a few angry words if they do.
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Old 10-06-07, 04:13 PM
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I assure you, they can't be worse to mount than the Michelin Pro Race tires I just had to mount on my rims
I thought I was going to kill myself, just as you I had a problem with the last 15 cm or so
I left them in that position for a few hours, then I came back armed with tire levers and a vengeance
What worked for me was sticking one tire lever onto the rim where I couldn't get it on and literally just prying it on
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Old 10-06-07, 04:45 PM
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Putting in some tire goo (leak sealant) is always a good idea and an even better idea when you have tyres that are a ***** to mount.
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Old 10-06-07, 06:22 PM
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I've always used my "quick stick" for mounting tires, works great on my Schwalbes too. If it gets tough, a little bit of spit on the tool & away it goes! Don't see them on Nashbar or Performance websites though.
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Old 10-06-07, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by markf
Try the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack (you may have to scroll down a ways to find it).
Seconded -- I couldn't get Conti Top Touring 2000's onto my Trek 520 until I got one, and then it was easy.
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Old 10-06-07, 07:47 PM
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Well, after much physical and verbal abuse I managed to the tyre on without a tube in there, basically I got it to the last 15cm or so, then got out some industrial tape, taped both ends of the remaining part to the rim so they wouldnt pop off, then with 3 tyre levers I managed to pry it over the rim. once on, it was totally outta shape though, like parts of the bead looked bent, some werent sitting in the groove properly, and just wouldn't.

Anyways, took the tyre off, decided to try with a tube this time, got it back to the same position with 15cm remaining, however trying to put the tyre on with the tube inside the tyre was almost impossible because the tube kept wanting to pop out and everytime I tried it would get between the rim and the tyre.

So eventually I tried with the tube sitting in the rim to begin with, got to the last 15cm, taped up the ends, and almost popped a blood vessel getting the tyre over the rim, but SUCCESS ! The tyre went on, I quickly pumped it up and prayed to god I hadnt punctured...

..... but I had punctured ! two tiiiiiiiny little snake bites on the tube #$! So off came the tyre, repaired the patch, then decided I had 4 spare tubes I had recently bought from the states (I'm in NZ) when I bought the tyres, so got them out and realised the person had given me Schraeder valves when I requested Presta #$%!#

So tried again with the patched tube, got to that same point again, only this time I totally ripped the tube with the tyre lever. It was at this point I got really mad and gave up, so now I'm front-tyreless and walking to work tomorrow (I cant even put the old tyre back on #$%!#)

I think I'm going to have to admit defeat and take it to the LBS to have them do it, then *hopefully* after a few months they'll stretch enough to the point where I can take them off & try it again.
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Old 10-06-07, 07:52 PM
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... but I might try a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack first actually. managed to find a distributor here in New Zealand who is right in my home city.

Exactly how do these work? From the picture I can't figure it out.
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Old 10-06-07, 08:57 PM
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What kind of rim tape do you have in there? If it is the rubber strip type, pull it out, and then try mounting the tire, often that frees up a huge amount of space, and you can use some filament tape for your rim tape. Of course these days it is rare to have those heavy liners on better bikes.

I just want to warn you that you can have a tire change as many as 4 times a day, in my worst sad sack experience. One of my criterion for any tire/wheel combo is that it changes easily. I can pretty much strip my 700Cs by hand, with minimal effort, though I use a quick stick because it is easier still. My current combo is Schwalbe marathon slicks on Alex DH22 rims.
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Old 10-06-07, 09:48 PM
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The rims had velox tape on them, it wasn't terribly thick, but in my desperation I ripped it out and put down some thin industrial type tape instead, made no difference at all, so I ended up putting velox back in.
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Old 10-06-07, 10:36 PM
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one trick for next time, is to make sure the tire ISN'T seated on the rim as you go for that last squeeze. Keeping the tire unseated, off the rim seat, in the middle of the rim, adds a few crucial mm's of difference.

I change a LOT of tires at the bike shop. the 'tire unseated' trick helps enormously. you should be able to roll just about any tire (except downhill) on without irons.

using a tire lever like a spatula works great. the quickstick is a great aid, and requires the 'spatula' method.
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Old 10-07-07, 02:52 AM
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I had exactly the same problem as you. I bought a 2007 Trek 520, same Schwalbe Marathons, and the same thing happend. Just could not get the last bit of tire over the rim. I couldn't roll it over the rim, and the tire levers kept popping off. Get the tire over one end of the rim, then it would pop off the other end of the rim.

After a week of struggling with it, my hands had no strength left, and I took it to the bike shop. They told me its easy, just roll it over the rim. Then they tried and couldn't get it on. They used some soap or something, and it took 3 guys an hour to wrestle both tires on. Thier hands were hurting so bad after they got the tires on, and I knew if I get a flat in the middle of nowhere, I'm in trouble.
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Old 10-07-07, 06:55 AM
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I just got my first set of Marathons and they mounted with little effort. They were a little harder than the set of Panaracers that went on my 27" road bike, but were a breese compared to the effort of mounting a set of 26 x 1/4 1/8 tires on an old Schwinn.
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Old 10-07-07, 07:33 AM
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Use 3 or 4 good tire levers, work in small amounts, and forget about trying to roll them on with your hands. Also, as Bekologist suggests, keep the tire off the seat to the extent that you can. That can give you just enough room to get another tire iron in place.
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Old 10-07-07, 08:44 AM
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I have had other tires that I have broken tire levers trying to get them on. I have found that talcum powder or plain cornstarch works well as a lubricant for the bead and does not gum things up later.
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Old 10-07-07, 12:29 PM
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Try the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack (you may have to scroll down a ways to find it.

I'll third that. I could not mount my 26" Schwalbe Marathons. I struggled doing it with tire irons, and ruined two tubes in the process. I bought the Tire Jack, and had no problems. It is light enough to go in my tool kit.

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