Need tire change advice. HELP PLEASE

[leeinmemphis]

Hey everyone,

I have a klr that I have been outside changing a rear tire on. I pinched a hole in the tube and have so far today removed the tire/tube 5 times but can't seem to get the patch to hold. I am using a slime tire patch kit and taking the abrasive tool to roughen up the surface around it, put cement on the area and apply the patch. I then air up the tube and it shows no leaks in the bathtub but when I put it on the rim and try to air it up the patch leaks(assuming it is the patch and not another hole somewhere because I can't find on. I can blow the tube up way more than it should be outside of the tire and it shows no signs of leaks but once it goes in the tire and on the rim that's when things go to shit. I have literally been out there for the last five hours trying to get this stupid tire swapped out. The mount/dismount isn't the problem. The tire is a 130 series rear tire and the local cycle gear only has a 150 size tube. I am going to try it one more time then I guess throw in the towel.

I have a no mar cycle hill tire changer and have used it several times now for tubeless tires without incident but man these tubes SUCK!!!! Any suggestions for how to apply the patch? I have it sitting out in the sun drying now. I sure hope it works this time.

[Grinnin]

If there's any oil or crap on the tube, clean it off with alchohol. I don't rough up the tube much, just break the surface of the rubber.

I don't know Slime brand patches, if those are glue plus patch-with-adhesive, I sometimes let the glue dry a good bit (but not totally) on the tube before putting the patch onto the partially-dried glue.

Waiting a while after patching -- for it all to cure -- may also help.

EDIT: I have had bicycle tubes that were some hard slippery compound that just wouldn't take a patch. I've never seen it in a MC tube.

[Jamie Z]

Hey Lee,

I'm not familiar with the Slime patch kit, but I've used patch kits in the past on bicycle tubes and once on a tubeless tire. Are you letting the rubber cement dry before putting the patch on?

Other than that, I might check the inside of the tire to make sure you still don't have something in there that's puncturing the tube.

I guess Sunday is a bad day to buy a tube locally, but that would be my next solution.

Jamie

[leeinmemphis]

well after taking the tire on and off 6 times I finally got it mounted and holding air. I had a hard time getting the bead to seat. It took a couple of tries to get it seated. The front tire I had removed from bike tire changed and back on bike is probably less than 10 minutes. I've now changed enough tires to have paid for the machine so that makes me happy. Ok now I'm in love with my klr again.

Now I get to try a scooter tire. Going to dig in now.Thankfully it is a TUBELESS tire. Thanks again guys.

[leeinmemphis]

scooter probably didn't take 10 minutes. It's been a long day. Time for a beer.

[Unstable Rider]

just a couple thoughts, you insuring the tube is partially inflated a little before you stuff it into the rim?

You shake the tube in a sack of baby powder first?

Some quiet time with Religious anomalies does not hurt either..... hum the KLR chant...

Just a couple tricks, all I got.

[KeithinSC]

Good to hear. I saw your post this afternoon, but had nothing useful to add.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that they are holding in the morning

[Attico]

Hi,

A stitching tool does a great job of ensuring the patch is in good contact

the look like this:

no, I didn't know what they were for either until someone told me about it. Works great. You just have to run it over the patch all over.

[Kommando]

Originally Posted by leeinmemphis

Hey everyone,

I have a klr that I have been outside changing a rear tire on. I pinched a hole in the tube and have so far today removed the tire/tube 5 times but can't seem to get the patch to hold. I am using a slime tire patch kit and taking the abrasive tool to roughen up the surface around it, put cement on the area and apply the patch. I then air up the tube and it shows no leaks in the bathtub but when I put it on the rim and try to air it up the patch leaks(assuming it is the patch and not another hole somewhere because I can't find on. I can blow the tube up way more than it should be outside of the tire and it shows no signs of leaks but once it goes in the tire and on the rim that's when things go to shit. I have literally been out there for the last five hours trying to get this stupid tire swapped out. The mount/dismount isn't the problem. The tire is a 130 series rear tire and the local cycle gear only has a 150 size tube. I am going to try it one more time then I guess throw in the towel.

I have a no mar cycle hill tire changer and have used it several times now for tubeless tires without incident but man these tubes SUCK!!!! Any suggestions for how to apply the patch? I have it sitting out in the sun drying now. I sure hope it works this time.

I'm guessing that's a butyl-rubber tube. That was the only kind I found at Cyclegear. To patch these, you have to vulcanize the patch onto the tube.

Look for natural-rubber tubes if you want to be able to patch them. I use Metzler natural-rubber tubes. 'Usually get them from www.motorcyclesuperstore.com. They carry a few other brands that are natural-rubber too.

[Bigger Al]

Originally Posted by Kommando

I'm guessing that's a butyl-rubber tube. That was the only kind I found at Cyclegear. To patch these, you have to vulcanize the patch onto the tube.

Look for natural-rubber tubes if you want to be able to patch them. I use Metzler natural-rubber tubes. 'Usually get them from www.motorcyclesuperstore.com. They carry a few other brands that are natural-rubber too.

A good patch kit will work on any kind of rubber. I still patch 20-30 truck and tractor tubes a week with simple chemical vulcanizing cement and patches, which is the same stuff you get in a bicycle kit.

The natural rubber tubes are nice, but not necessary.