tire change frustrations---tubes.

[greg78gs750]

well, guys, i've been trying to put my shiny new avons on the gs.

tried the 'lash strap technique' pictured on bikecliffs site and detailed at the advriders forum....i call BULL**** on that technique. there is just no way it is that easy, unless the tire is, in fact, an inch larger than the rim.

so i got some tire spoons and some ru-glyde. and....

promptly pinched the tube, putting a lovely hole in the brand new butyl rubber.

so. now, i either

patch the tube and try it again, being more careful,

buy a new tube and try it again,

or just give up and bring my wheels to the shop, and hang my head in shame at the defeat of the first job on my gs i have been unable to do myself.

oh, did i mention it was almost 70 degrees here today?!?

any suggestions on how to proceed, guys?

[KiwiGS]

Hey mate I feel your pain!
Normally I do my own tyres, but the last one I TRIED to do was a PITA Just could not get the fecking thing on. In the end I said bugger it! and took it to the local tyre shop.
Told the guy no rush you can have it all day if ya want.
Picked it up and he fitted it for free
Cheers

[bwringer]

Shoot, just buy a new tube and go for it again. $15 is far from the most expensive mistake you'll ever make. Live and learn.

Do you have any experience with bicycle tubes, or do you know someone who does? I found this very valuable knowledge when I encountered my first tubed motorcycle tires.

Haven't pinched one yet!

[first timer]

practice a few times on the ruined tube then go get a new tube and do it right.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Their not that hard, I usually put the tube in and inflate it before spooning the other side on. Remove the valve core, to deflate it and then spoon the other side on. It helps to have three spoons sometimes. 16" is the worst to mount

[greg78gs750]

ok. i have taken a deep breath and decided to give her another shot. i do have some questions....

if i practice a few times, is there a chance i could wreck my brand new avon? i mean, i know there is always a chance, but, can i, i dunno, stretch it out or bend the bead or anything?

second, can i patch my tube? ok, i know, a new one, only 15 bucks, peace of mind, etc. but....can i? 15 bucks will buy, like, 30 beers. and (since i have already patched it....) if i get it on WITHOUT pinching it this time, i find it highly unlikely that i will want to dismount it ...

thanks guys!

[Suzuki_Don]

Do as Lynn says, get one side of the tire on, then slip the tube in under the tire, keep the tube straight, no twists, etc. put a little air in the tube so it will not get pinched or trapped by the tire lever. Then soap up rim and work with levers and large rubber mallet to get the other bead/side of tire on. Start from valve and work around the tire to finish opposite the valve. Fill with air and you are away.

Buy new tube. It's bad enough to be dead, but being a quadraplegic is not a good situation to be in.

You will not damage the tire. It is tougher than you.

[ned37]

i wouldn't recommend patching it. butyl tubes, especially when the hole is a pinch, tend to continue to tear.
the best advice i can give is to make sure you don't put the tire spoon in any farther that it takes to hook over the rim, use liberal amounts of soapy water (or lube of your choice) where you are working, and when you get to the last part, make sure you are kneeling on the opposite side to get the tire as close to the center of the rim as possible (god knows the zook rims don't have a very deep dish...making them tougher than others).

[Sandy]

I always have mounted my own also. You will get used to it with practice. Do as Lynn and Don say, it's the little air in the tube that makes the difference. After I get the tube in I put either the valve cap or the nut on just bit to keep from losing it back in hole. Out of habit I mount the second bead starting opposite the valve stem thinking the bead has more room to bottom out in the rim making the last bit go on easier. They do it the other way so I guess it really didn't matter. I guess I'm a sucker for punishment because I've always used 2 irons, 3 would definitely make it easier.

[NICK!]

When you take a new tube out of the box you'll notice its sort of
"cone" shaped. I'd always install the tube with the inner edge pointing down so it would naturally want to stay away from the bead I was working on. Next, if you use Armor All for lube you can get almost all of the bead on by hand and then just a flip or two of the irons (sometimes you can get them so close you can just hit it with a hammer and pop it the rest of the way on).

If you want a real challange try an open class motocross racer rear tire with two bead locks and a 6 ply tire. One of those was always good for a trip to the bar after work.

[lurch12_2000]

.....Next, if you use Armor All for lube you can get almost all of the bead on by hand and then just a flip or two of the irons ...

IMO, I don't think using ArmorAll anywhere around bike tires is a good idea.

[Steve]

...15 bucks will buy, like, 30 beers...

I don't know, there's just something about the desire to measure value in terms of beer that scares me.

Why not use a FUN liquid, like GAS. 15 bucks is about two tanks of gas ... more riding!!!

(You just can't convince me that consuming 30 beers is fun.)

.

[waterman]

I don't know, there's just something about the desire to measure value in terms of beer that scares me.

Why not use a FUN liquid, like GAS. 15 bucks is about two tanks of gas ... more riding!!!

(You just can't convince me that consuming 30 beers is fun.)

.

How about a compromise, 1 tank of gas and just 15 beers!

[Sandy]

One of those was always good for a trip to the bar after work.

Or a trip to the hospital to get your fingers put back on.

[NICK!]

IMO, I don't think using ArmorAll anywhere around bike tires is a good idea.

Your only using it on the bead, not the entire tire. We normally used silicone spray but sometimes that wouldn't cut it. For a tough job where the bead wouldn't seat or if we wanted to try and get away without using tire irons Armor All was the word.

I wouldn't want to tell you what we used on impossible beads that didn't want to seat. >XO