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Ok to patch a tube?

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#6 ·
I've patched tubes multiple times, I keep patching tubes tell the valve stem rips. I've had tubes with over 5 patches in them and they kept on ticking! Thats $50 saved on tubes right there.. Plus overall I've probably done at LEAST 30-40 patches in my riding time over the last 5 years..



I don't even use patch kits anymore.. Now I just use a old tube and cut out parts of it for patches.. Then I use a tiny piece of 80grit sand paper, rough up the 'patch' and rough up the tube, cover in rubber cement, then put the patch on and let it dry a couple hours.



I've only ever had one patch fail and start leaking again!



I have 5 or 6 patches on my current 150f tube, and I ran it all summer so far lol.. Plus my 50 tubes I'm always patching.



I say go for it. Nothing pisses me off more then when I mount a tube an accidently put a hole in it.. So I just patch it and rock it!

I only accidently put holes in my tubes about every 7th or 8th tire change.



Also I got experience with patching tubes when I used to change from dirt tires to street tires sometimes 2-3 times in a single week on my 50 and 150!... It was either start patching, or start buying 10-20 tubes a year!
 
#7 ·
50minikid said:
Given that 50 tires are a pain to put on and off I would just replace in the first place so you don't end up doing it twice.
Click to expand...


If you use the proper technique they are extremely easy to change. But if you are using a lot of force, then you aren't doing it right!



When you're spooing the the last portion of the bead on the rim, you gotta make sure the opposite side of the beat, is pressed into the CENTER of the rim.. That makes it so the tire slides right on.

You aren't supposed to use a lot of force to physically stretch the tire, you are just supposed to have the tire positioned right so it slides right on :D



I spoon tires regularly on my 50, 150, and my sport bike. I've even spooned two low profile tires on my car once 205/40-17's.

I can do quad tires, and well, basically any tire I've tried to spoon with my two 8" motion pro tire irons, I've had no problem with. (well except my car, that WAS a pain in the ass lol)



edit: I actually can get tires changed FREE on all my bikes anytime I want (except sundays or after 2pm saturdays when the shop is closed), but the time it takes me to drive 10 minutes to the shop, I could just have it spooned already at home.
 
#9 ·
kamikaze99 said:
mhm, Im thinkinu should show us a video of how to do it right, id really like to know:), I had to take mine to honda, and those nice guys did it for me for 60$, what a steal!
Click to expand...


damn $60 that's crazy! I think our dealer charges like $20-$25, which imo is the right price for a dealer to charge. I usually charge $10 for one or $15 for two tire changes for people! lol



Whenever I get my bike done in a month or so (gotta wait for it to warm up to paint it) I'm going to have to spoon dirt tires onto my rims and take my street tires off, I'll make a video then.



In the meantime I might make a video of me doing my sport bike wheels, although sport bike tires are a lot easier, it seems the bigger the tire, the easier. 50 tires are a little more tricky then the big soft sport bike tires.



It definitely takes practice, it took me a while to get good. But now I've done soo many tires, it isn't an issue. I've done my 50 tires and friends 50's dozens and dozens of times, plus my sport bike I'll easily go through 1-2 fronts a year, and anywhere from 5-20 rears in a season lol.
 
#10 ·
btw I use two motion pro 8 1/2" tire spoons that I bought from my local dealer. I got them for like $12 a piece or something, I've had them for about 5 years now and they've paid themselves off!



Amazon.com: Motion Pro 8-1/2" Tire Iron - Single/--: Automotive



That's the one I use, here is a better picture also so you can see exactly what I personally use. Most dealers/dirt bike shops should carry them, actually I think ALL our dealers in town have these specific ones in stock.

Image




Don't try using screw drivers.. Sure they'll work, but that just makes it a lot easier to pinch a tube. Not to mention the "hook" on the end, so you can grab the edge of the rim, without slipping off.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
So i got a new tube today, so i mounted it and the tire leaked air and was punctured by a spoke. So im pissed, and patch the hole. My friend puts the tire back on and pinched it, causing another hole. So i patched it yet again, and now it seems fine. Me and my brother got some tire changing practice today, so i guess thats ok. 2 patches covering 4 holes on a new tube! And the holes werent really my fault.

Im using 3 the same tire irons as the ones above.
 
#15 ·
I had a really hard time getting my street tires on my rims, so I had to take them to a shop and have them done. When I got them back they had baby powder on them, so next time I had to take a tire on or off I tried it out and didn't even have to use spoons to get the tire back on. I just had to push it into place.
 
#16 ·
HuntinNStuntin said:
I had a really hard time getting my street tires on my rims, so I had to take them to a shop and have them done. When I got them back they had baby powder on them, so next time I had to take a tire on or off I tried it out and didn't even have to use spoons to get the tire back on. I just had to push it into place.
Click to expand...


I use windex, or a spray bottle with a few drops of soap and filled with water to lube my tire and rim to help it go on



Also after I get one side the rim on, I put the tube in, then put a little air in the tube. Enough to make the tube take its shape, but not too much that it makes it really stiff and hard to get the tire on. That helps to make sure the tube doesn't get pinched (I used to pinch tubes a lot more often when I didn't put air in them)



Your problem was likely that you weren't compression the opposite side of the tire into the center of the rim. Since the center of the rim is smaller, when you push the tire together into the middle of the time, it makes the side your spooning on go on easy. However if you leave the opposite side your spooning on the bead, then you have to STRETCH the tire which is almost impossible, and could damage the tire. With it in the center of the rim there is no stretching :D



sr20hardbody said:
has anyone tried sliming a tube?
Click to expand...


I've tried but just had it leak right back out. One problem with slime also, when you check the air pressure of your tire, you could easily ruin a pressure guage cause the slime comes back out into the pressure gauge.. Also I've had to replace multiple valve stems for friends that used slime, the the slime would come back out through the valve stem hole and clog it up. USually I'd juts have to pull the core out of the stem though and clean it nad replace it and it was fine however.



I don't like slime cause it's a huge mess.. I guess it's not that big of a deal, I just hate when I pull a tire off and it's just a huge mess inside, makes it a pain in the ass. End up having to take it outside and use the hose and a scrub brush to remove it all



Slime can work great though sometimes on small holes, but with tubes flexing, it often times messes back up. But sometimes it'll get you riding no problem.
 
#17 ·
I made this picture a while back to explain what I'm talking about, but when I make a video of me changing a tire (wont be for another 2-6 weeks) I'll explain it in detail as I change it.



Basically as you are spooning the tire, and you are almost done, and you have like the last 20% of the tire to get on at the top, the yellow line represents where your tire would be running on the outside of the rim, not yet mounted. The green area of the tire, you want to compress, into the middle of the rim, that way the green section of the tire is NO on the bead of the rim, but in the center portion, which is smaller then the bead. Then you can spoon the yellow portion onto the rim a lot easier

Image
 
#18 ·
Also tire changing WONT be easy your first few tires. Hell my first 10-20 tires were hard as hell. It took me a long time to get it down and learn how to do it. Even worse, these tiny little tires are harder then bigger tires to change. There isn't as much rubber to stretch, so you don't have much room to stretch, you have to rely fully on technique.



Once you change a few dozen, it becomes very easy, like extremely easy. It's no problem now for me to change a tire, on anything. Sport bikes, full sized dirt bikes, mini bikes, and ATV's are no problem. Hell to pop the beat on sport bike tires, I just lay a towel on the ground, and run the tire over with my car lol..
 
#19 ·
Towlieee said:
I made this picture a while back to explain what I'm talking about, but when I make a video of me changing a tire (wont be for another 2-6 weeks) I'll explain it in detail as I change it.



Basically as you are spooning the tire, and you are almost done, and you have like the last 20% of the tire to get on at the top, the yellow line represents where your tire would be running on the outside of the rim, not yet mounted. The green area of the tire, you want to compress, into the middle of the rim, that way the green section of the tire is NO on the bead of the rim, but in the center portion, which is smaller then the bead. Then you can spoon the yellow portion onto the rim a lot easier

Image
Click to expand...


Thanks for the explanation and picture

I need to change a tire soon and anything to make it easier is nice
 
#20 ·
Figured Id throw my .02 in here as I have been changing tires for years as well. Get you a big thick heavy trash bag and throw a bottle or two of baby powder in it. Keep it with you in your tool box. Throw your ready to mount tube in it, and give it a good shake. Also sprinkle some around the bead. Makes life easy....er ;)



Heres a good link...

Works for me everytime. Well, at least 8 or 9 out of 10 times like Towlie said.



"When changing tires its always best to get a little high first" hahahaha
 
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