Originally Posted by
Genaro
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is testing the tube after you've repaired it. I like to do the old "water dunk" after it dries to make sure its good to go. Just inflate the tube and dunk it in sections into a bucket of water and watch closely. Quality control at its finest.
I used to test my patched tubes, but I do not believe in the practice any more. I think the over-expansion of the tube during testing results in a shear stress to the "cement" before the patch has had time to fully bond. If you do a good job, and if you cover the hole, you can be confident that the patch will hold, no testing required.
On the other hand, if you immediately install the tube in the tire, that should (IMO) help squeeze the patch onto the tube and bond it better.
I don't generally patch at the roadside, but I save my tubes and patch them at home. It's a useful skill to learn, and I think it's enjoyable...