Removing solid-tube tires
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I picked up a nice vintage Nishiki for four bucks at a garage sale. Problem: it has solid inner tubes. My biker friend told me I had to hacksaw them off and replace with regular tubes and tires. Well, 'tain't so easy! I have hacksawed through them down to the rim in four places, pulled them with vice-grips and pried them with screwdrivers, and they are still good as new! I think they are still quite ridable, even after being completely sawn in quarters.
Are they glued in place?
Any tips for removing them?
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!
Are they glued in place?
Any tips for removing them?
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!
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Solid inner tubes??? What the heck is that... you're saying that instead of a normal inflatable inner tube, there is some solid object that retains its shape even when cut into pieces???
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Yes. They appear to made of solid rubber. They are black and stretchy, and impervious to screwdrivers.
I had never heard of them either, until I went to check the tire pressure, and discovered, "Whoa! No valves!"
My friend tells me they are bad because being solid, all the shock absorption of a regular tube is lost, and all shock is transmitted to the spokes, rims, and headset, all of which will eventually be ruined.
I had never heard of them either, until I went to check the tire pressure, and discovered, "Whoa! No valves!"
My friend tells me they are bad because being solid, all the shock absorption of a regular tube is lost, and all shock is transmitted to the spokes, rims, and headset, all of which will eventually be ruined.
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Wow... I thought those went obsolete sometime in the mid-19th century Your friend is right, a bike with airless tires is a whole lot less comfortable and it puts a lot more stress on the load bearings components.
Sheldon Brown sez that people keep trying to bring back airless tires from time to time, but that they inevitably fail. This glossary entry may shed a little light on what you're dealing with... https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless
Sheldon Brown sez that people keep trying to bring back airless tires from time to time, but that they inevitably fail. This glossary entry may shed a little light on what you're dealing with... https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless
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Originally Posted by moxfyre
Wow... I thought those went obsolete sometime in the mid-19th century [/url]
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Originally Posted by lil ol lady
I picked up a nice vintage Nishiki for four bucks at a garage sale. Problem: it has solid inner tubes. My biker friend told me I had to hacksaw them off and replace with regular tubes and tires. Well, 'tain't so easy! I have hacksawed through them down to the rim in four places, pulled them with vice-grips and pried them with screwdrivers, and they are still good as new! I think they are still quite ridable, even after being completely sawn in quarters.
Are they glued in place?
Any tips for removing them?
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!
Are they glued in place?
Any tips for removing them?
Thanks for any suggestions you can offer!
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Try slitting the tires around their circumference with a REALLY good utility knife. It will be tough going, but is the only way to not damage the rims. Then you can pull the two halves of the tire and the rubber donut off of the rim. Replace with good tires and real tubes.
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I've seen those tires---not someting I'd want to ride.I forgot the name but they make a line for wheelchairs too.And No they are not the old single tube tires made for wood rims they were made for regular rims just solid or something???And YES walmart does sell an air-less inertube for kids bikes.
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Originally Posted by sydney
Have you actually got the tire off?? IF not, you probably need to get at the wire bead and cut it with wire cutters.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next question: Is it essential to have the liner that keeps the spokes from poking into the tube? The one that was on there was pretty rotten and just disintegrated.
womble:
Wow- what's it ride like? Is it incredibly harsh?
demoncyclist and Rev.Chuck: Thanks for your tips too! I would've tried those next, but Sydney figured out the problem first.
Thanks to all who responded, and ride happy!
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Originally Posted by lil ol lady
Next question: Is it essential to have the liner that keeps the spokes from poking into the tube? The one that was on there was pretty rotten and just disintegrated.
A new rim tape costs about $2-5, and will hopefully keep you from getting some flat tires down the road!