want to go tubeless

[Mike]

So iv bought some valves, got tape n stans. Tried to put my small block eights on my 717 rims. I can't get any seal to start them off with my track pump. Do the tyres need to be steel bead or will kevlar work? Or do I need tubeless rims.... If its this hard to get a seal at home iv got no chance on the trail!!

Where am I going wrong?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Check the interweb. I think some Maxxis tyres had problems with sidewalls and compatibility with Stans or other sealants. Not 100%, vague recollection. Actually, it might have been another brand

Check out the YouTube and stuff on Stan's site about installing the system for tips.

Personally I lovingly lubed up the beads of kevlar tyres with washing up diluted liquid, put the tyre on with a tube (and tape installed) and pumped it up to get bead to seat. Deflated, popped one bead off, removed tube, added sealant, popped the one bead back on and then pumped like buggery. The odd jiggle of the wheel to get sealant to points where it was leaking and it was all fine.

Watch out for "exploding" tyres (where they pop off the rim). The pressure to seat bids and sealant can make a mess / lead to temporary deafness - ask Stu

Also, what rims and are they old / dinged. Tubeless compatible ones which are nice and true will, unsurprisingly, work better.

Good luck

[johnnystorm]

It used to be schwalbe that weren't recommended by Stans but they're ok now. If your tyres are slack trying packing out the central trough so they are held tight. Push the bead to the centre. Helps if the beads can slide to the edge of the rim and stay airtight. Some soap or similar can help here.

[Charliecres]

This is a great little tool http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic ... al-cost-9p

[frogatthefarriers]

I wonder if this old trick would work with a bike tyre.

I have in the past inflated tubeless car tyres using a foot pump. This is how :-

Fit the tyre to the rim. Wrap a strap around the circumference of the tyre and find some way to tighten it up. As the tension is applied to the strap, the sides of the tyre are forced into contact with the rim. If the rim has been well lubed (washing up liquid in my case) there will be enough seal to allow pressure to build when you start pumping. Once there is pressure in the tyre you should be home and dry.

With a bike tyre it should be much easier to get it started, given the relative air displacement of a track pump to the volume of the tyre. I've never tried it, but it should work.

Lu

[Ray Young]

I have fitted four tubeless tyres (two tubeless and two non tubeless) on tubeless rims and have so far not managed to inflate them with a floor pump. I used co2 cartridges which worked fine but cost money so am planning on making a ghetto pump as shown on the stw post above.

[Wotsits]

One of these & an air compressor (or take it round the garage) is the best way-

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/stan ... -prod38828

I've got proper LUST tyres to seat with a track pump, but anything else needs a bit more tlc.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Take the valve core out when doing the first inflation to seat the tyre. Helps put more volume into it.

I haven't done lots and most have been Stans rims but they've all been fine with a track pump.

[FLV]

I once spent ages getting a small block 8 to seat, it was hard work. Then it blew off the rim a mile down the road.

Swap to a tubeless ready tyre and you'll be sorted with h much less hassle

[Dave Barter]

If its this hard to get a seal at home iv got no chance on the trail

So far I have never had to reseat on the trail, I have managed to fix nearly every puncture with a weldtite kit and get the tyre back up with a normal pump. I cannot recommend these kits highly enough once you get the hang of them, I've managed to fix everything from sidewall tears to large screws through the tyre.

http://nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/ ... taodt2aaza

As for seating at home, two things are important, firstly properly lube the tyre beads so that they can easily travel up the rim to be seated. Second make sure the tyre is nicely centred before you start pumping, otherwise you'll get a large gap in places that will make the whole exercise pointless.

[Langy]

I have 717s and found no drama to get the tyre beaded... loads of soapy water. Then a bit more again.

I also used CO2 as its the volume of air quickly that is important to get the bead to seat. Haven't needed to use the strap method, but have heard of it working.

Have you put tyre on with a tube in first? pump it up to full, then deflate and take it out, so you are only seating one bead, rather than both?

Also, I have learnt to try to do them early in the morning, on a day I'll be around home; then I can keep an eye on them to top them up and keep giving them a shake or spin to work the Stan's into all the nooks and crannies. First set were at night, then flat by the morning and had to go again, and missed a ride! :(

I also chuck some glitter in with the Stan's... supposedly helps any bigger holes to seal quicker. dunno, but gives unicorn rainbow vibes for sure.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I also chuck some glitter in with the Stan's... supposedly helps any bigger holes to seal quicker. dunno, but gives unicorn rainbow vibes for sure.

Yay, not just me then ... I like a nice mix of roughly 30% purple, 30% gold and 40% silver. That gives me a real glitzy shimmer when the thing blows off the rim and covers me

[Langy]

Yay, not just me then ... I like a nice mix of roughly 30% purple, 30% gold and 40% silver. That gives me a real glitzy shimmer when the thing blows off the rim and covers me

You choose the colours?? I just add a good shake of whatever the kids have in the craft box... green at the moment, I think. (probably 'cos princesses and fairies like pink and purple, apparently...)

I did end up getting to work with glitter and mud splatters over my face one day after a pre-work bit of trail riding called for some tyre wrangling. No-one batted an eyelid. Not sure if that is a good or worrying...

[Ray Young]

I have fitted four tubeless tyres (two tubeless and two non tubeless) on tubeless rims and have so far not managed to inflate them with a floor pump. I used co2 cartridges which worked fine but cost money so am planning on making a ghetto pump as shown on the stw post above.

Fitted my winter tyres today using the ghetto pump I made. Both went up fine if a little slowly. I think I should have removed the valve cores first, they are stans which I am sure have removable cores but I couldn't get them to unscrew. Do you need a special tool? I remember on old bikes the valve cap had the tool on one end, take off the valve cap and turn it over to unscrew the core.

[Cheeky Monkey]

just used a spanner or pliers on my Stans ones.

[Dyffers]

A spoke key fits a removable valve core perfectly

[scrumfled]

tips that worked for me:

1. fit the tyre with a tube for 24 hours, its beds the bead into the rim.
2. use shitloads of soapy water sprayed onto the tyre wall
3. make sure the rim tape is pushed properly under the rim.

Tips I've heard work well, but not tried:

A. invert the tyre overnight
B. use a packing strap around the circumference of the tyre, this pushed the bead into the rim

My tip for everyone;

if theres a loud bang, you can hear a high pitched noise and you look like an extra in a polar bear porn movie.... deny everything. "did you hear that bang?"... "what bang?"