Patch tube, Yes/No?
07-03-19, 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
As I recall we lit the patch on fire briefly on the theory that it helped the seal.
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07-03-19, 07:37 AM
#27
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Always leave the cellophane on patch repairs at the time of installation. It won't hurt/abrade anything inside your tire. You can mess up your patch job trying to remove it, however.
You can remove it the next time you pull your tube/tire.
You can remove it the next time you pull your tube/tire.
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07-03-19, 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Hellz yeah, although we lit the glue, not the patch. Legitimate reason for playing with matches.
07-03-19, 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by GuitarBob
For me, yes. Some of my tubes have 4 or 5 patches and they still work perfectly.
I live and ride in the land of thorns, so I flat all too regularly. I collect the tubes and patch them in a batch when I have about 10. After patching, I fill them up with air, and if they are still holding air in the morning, they get stashed for later use -- the ones that fail (maybe 5-10%) get binned. I've never had a good patch fail -- and it's pretty easy to tell if you got a good bond.
Plus it's pretty satisfying work.
I live and ride in the land of thorns, so I flat all too regularly. I collect the tubes and patch them in a batch when I have about 10. After patching, I fill them up with air, and if they are still holding air in the morning, they get stashed for later use -- the ones that fail (maybe 5-10%) get binned. I've never had a good patch fail -- and it's pretty easy to tell if you got a good bond.
Plus it's pretty satisfying work.
Originally Posted by TakingMyTime
Do you guys leave the cellophane on the outside of the patch or remove it before installation?
07-03-19, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by TakingMyTime
Do you guys leave the cellophane on the outside of the patch or remove it before installation?
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07-03-19, 08:28 AM
#31
Kit doesn't match
Originally Posted by TakingMyTime
Do you guys leave the cellophane on the outside of the patch or remove it before installation?
I too buy boxs of 100 Rema patches as that's the only way I've found to get the smaller 16 mm patches that work well on the typical tubes for road bikes. The 15 mm jobs are too big.
07-03-19, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
We always patched them as kids. As I recall we lit the patch on fire briefly on the theory that it helped the seal. I have no idea if it helped.
07-03-19, 11:30 AM
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I stopped using tubes ... and getting flats.
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07-03-19, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
I stopped using tubes ... and getting flats.
Was on a group ride and a guy put a 1" gash in his tire. Sealant flew everywhere and was a mess. I offered my spare tube and tire boot so he could ride home, but it was such a mess that he decided to call his wife.
If it was a tube, he would of rode the last 20 miles home.
BTW, I just purchased REMA TT 02 kit to give them a try.
07-03-19, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
We always patched them as kids. As I recall we lit the patch on fire briefly on the theory that it helped the seal. I have no idea if it helped.
Now I'm too lazy and I just replace the tube.
Now I'm too lazy and I just replace the tube.
BIDT, my dad had patches you'd clamp down with the tool above, then light the orange part of the back of the patch with a match. It would flame away like a road flare for a minute or so, and produced some really toxic-smelling smoke. After it cooled off, you peeled the metal part off, leaving a really durable patch.
I used to patch all my tubes like that, didn't know there was any other way. I can't remember one of those patches ever failing, they were pretty much permanently bonded to the tube.
07-03-19, 12:33 PM
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Buying the Rema patches in bulk is a good idea. An even better idea is to buy a large container of rubber cement. The Rema cement in those tiny tubes doesn't seem to last long, and I usually end up with more patches than cement from the little kit. Also, I use Slime brand cement, it's much cheaper than the Rema stuff, and works just as well. The applicator brush is much easier than squeezing the tube and rubbing it in with the tube itself...
Regarding the cellophane, I used to try and peel it up, but the edges of the patch are so fragile, I end up sometimes messing up the edge. So now I just leave it, it's no bother to me or the tube/tire, so I just leave it alone. As someone else stated, some of them have a slit in the middle, but sometimes I find that the cellophane just ends up tearing anyway. I just don't bother with it anymore.
Regarding the cellophane, I used to try and peel it up, but the edges of the patch are so fragile, I end up sometimes messing up the edge. So now I just leave it, it's no bother to me or the tube/tire, so I just leave it alone. As someone else stated, some of them have a slit in the middle, but sometimes I find that the cellophane just ends up tearing anyway. I just don't bother with it anymore.
07-03-19, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by TakingMyTime
Do you guys leave the cellophane on the outside of the patch or remove it before installation?
07-03-19, 04:17 PM
#38
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Originally Posted by GuitarBob
I remove it. If you look closely, the cellophane is cut or sliced in the center, so if you flex the tube there you can get a fingernail under the cellophane and remove it from center to edge with little to no risk of pulling off the patch.
I too buy boxs of 100 Rema patches as that's the only way I've found to get the smaller 16 mm patches that work well on the typical tubes for road bikes. The 15 mm jobs are too big.
I too buy boxs of 100 Rema patches as that's the only way I've found to get the smaller 16 mm patches that work well on the typical tubes for road bikes. The 15 mm jobs are too big.
07-03-19, 04:20 PM
#39
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Originally Posted by Lemond1985
BIDT, my dad had patches you'd clamp down with the tool above, then light the orange part of the back of the patch with a match. It would flame away like a road flare for a minute or so, and produced some really toxic-smelling smoke. After it cooled off, you peeled the metal part off, leaving a really durable patch.
I used to patch all my tubes like that, didn't know there was any other way. I can't remember one of those patches ever failing, they were pretty much permanently bonded to the tube.
The heat really vulcanized them well.
Wouldn't it be fun if someone made tiny bicycle patches you could light up to vulcanize?
07-03-19, 04:30 PM
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Patch them. How else are you going to earn $10 (the price of a new tube) for two minutes' time?
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07-03-19, 04:45 PM
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When my kids were younger I'd throw patch parties in the garage. But I don't have good luck with patches. Maybe about 50%.
So I just go with new tubes.
So I just go with new tubes.
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07-03-19, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
I stopped using tubes ... and getting flats.
07-03-19, 09:57 PM
#43
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Your ability to patch a tube is unknown.. I can do it ,( & have for decades,) can you?
Like a good paint job, the surface prep is the most important part , of a good job ..
..
Like a good paint job, the surface prep is the most important part , of a good job ..
..
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-04-19 at 09:31 AM.
07-04-19, 01:56 AM
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I always put in a new tube, after finding/fixing the cause first, of course.
If I've got a long way to go, I'll patch the hole on the spot, and stow it. My rationale for patching immediately but not using immediately is that n+1 flats are always possible, and patches adhere better over time. A simple way to observe the latter is to apply a patch then immediately rip it off. Now apply a patch, wait a day, then try to rip it off. Much harder.
A key to patches staying on, even if you have to use them before fully cured, is to use tubes on the bigger size for you tires. Smaller tubes have to stretch to fill the void, and patches are more likely to separate from the stretching tube.
If I've got a long way to go, I'll patch the hole on the spot, and stow it. My rationale for patching immediately but not using immediately is that n+1 flats are always possible, and patches adhere better over time. A simple way to observe the latter is to apply a patch then immediately rip it off. Now apply a patch, wait a day, then try to rip it off. Much harder.
A key to patches staying on, even if you have to use them before fully cured, is to use tubes on the bigger size for you tires. Smaller tubes have to stretch to fill the void, and patches are more likely to separate from the stretching tube.
07-04-19, 02:35 AM
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Yup, I patch tubes. Usually Lezyne or similar glueless patches on the road bikes (the Lezyne kits are so small they'll fit any saddle bag, or even in a jersey pocket or sock), regular glued patches on the hybrids. I'll usually patch 3 or so times on the road bike tubes before replacing 'em. I think my record for the hybrid was 6 patches.
The glueless Lezyne and similar patches are so thin they don't interfere with the snug fit on my road bike wheels. And they work fine long term. I've had only one fail, which was operator error -- at night I didn't notice I'd left a bit of a seam or bubble in the patch and it developed a slow leak a week or so later. But I've done the same thing with glued patches.
When I've retired tubes I repurpose them, either as big rubber bands, or bar wrap for extra padding. Really tames vibration under cosmetic bar wrap.
The glueless Lezyne and similar patches are so thin they don't interfere with the snug fit on my road bike wheels. And they work fine long term. I've had only one fail, which was operator error -- at night I didn't notice I'd left a bit of a seam or bubble in the patch and it developed a slow leak a week or so later. But I've done the same thing with glued patches.
When I've retired tubes I repurpose them, either as big rubber bands, or bar wrap for extra padding. Really tames vibration under cosmetic bar wrap.
07-04-19, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by GlennR
No thanks...
Was on a group ride and a guy put a 1" gash in his tire. Sealant flew everywhere and was a mess. I offered my spare tube and tire boot so he could ride home, but it was such a mess that he decided to call his wife.
If it was a tube, he would of rode the last 20 miles home.
Was on a group ride and a guy put a 1" gash in his tire. Sealant flew everywhere and was a mess. I offered my spare tube and tire boot so he could ride home, but it was such a mess that he decided to call his wife.
If it was a tube, he would of rode the last 20 miles home.
Booting a 1" gash, and riding home. Nope
07-04-19, 07:21 AM
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Reading this thread I realize I need to be more of a conservationist and repair punctured tubes.
From a safety standpoint, I never felt secure knowing I am riding on a patched tube. I only kept a patch kit for the rare occurrence I used my two spare tubes on any one ride. I have only double flatted once in the past five years.
From a safety standpoint, I never felt secure knowing I am riding on a patched tube. I only kept a patch kit for the rare occurrence I used my two spare tubes on any one ride. I have only double flatted once in the past five years.
07-04-19, 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by CAT7RDR
Reading this thread I realize I need to be more of a conservationist and repair punctured tubes.
From a safety standpoint, I never felt secure knowing I am riding on a patched tube. I only kept a patch kit for the rare occurrence I used my two spare tubes on any one ride. I have only double flatted once in the past five years.
From a safety standpoint, I never felt secure knowing I am riding on a patched tube. I only kept a patch kit for the rare occurrence I used my two spare tubes on any one ride. I have only double flatted once in the past five years.
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