Spoked rim sealing for running tubeless

[chuck hahn]

Asked the question in another thread . Have seen a few tutorials about sealing the spokes with different industrial sealer and even tank liner kits so you can do away with tubes.

Wondering if anyone here has done it or personally knows someone that has done this. Interested in some feedback.

[chuck hahn]

So 30 looks and no replies..so I take it noone here has anyone thats done it???

[SVSooke]

Here a thread from the BC Classics site http://www.bcclassicmotorcycleclub.c...p?topic=5070.0

[Nessism]

I haven't tried it, nor would I. Too risky.

[tkent02]

Some guys with dirt bikes have been doing it forever, I have heard about it but haven't tried it.

[Agemax]

Dont see the point, wouldn't even risk it. I cant see how you can guarantee a good reliable seal, plus glooping up the nipples in the rim with "whatever" would be a nightmare when it comes to tightening spokes or retruing the rim.

[tkent02]

If RTV is good enough for jet engines it's good enough for dirt bike wheels.

[storm 64]

Arr Tee Vee.... A little dab will do ya.

I used it on my Woody's Wheel Works Super lite front wheel on my race bike with no problems. Also on my Kosman spoked WM6 rear wheel.

[Agemax]

If RTV is good enough for jet engines it's good enough for dirt bike wheels.

Hmm, I've never seen a jet fighter with spoked wheels!

[tatu]

I don't think you can buy inner tubes for cars in UK anymore and I believe the classic/vintage car people have a way of sealing their spoked wheels, but only heard this.

[tkent02]

Engines, they use RTV for keeping screws and bolts from coming loose.

[Nessism]

Pretty sure engines don't use RTV as thread lock Tom. RTV is quite common in aerospace to seal out water though.

I suspect some sort of sealing material, like RTV, could be used to seal the spoke nipples and run tubeless. Tubeless rims typically have the extra bead to help keep the tire on the rim in case of deflation, which you won't have by converting tube type wheels. Guess I just don't recognize a whole lot of value in going tubeless on some old wheels.

[tkent02]

You are mistaken Ed. Not as thread locker, they just put a blob over the head of the screw or bolt.

[Joe H]

Check out this thread, don't know enough about spoked rims to say anything but this is what this guy did. Its about 6 posts down the list;

http://www.kawi2strokes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=10755&p=106091&hilit=sealing+tape#p106091

[Nessism]

You are mistaken Ed. Not as thread locker, they just put a blob over the head of the screw or bolt.

What am I mistaken about Tom? RTV as threadlock?

Here is a MIL-SPEC about thread locking agents...http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-S...-46163A_16063/
Don't see any references to RTV in this document.

A blob of RTV over a screw head is to eliminate corrosion. Standard practice in the aerospace industry where corrosion is critical and/or on all the electrical bonding (grounding) points.

Where I work we use this stuff we generically denote "proseal". It's a two part polysulfide material that's used to seal water tanks and electrical bonding points. This stuff is ungodly expensive and comes in prepackaged 2-pack containers; there is a mixing plunger that you have to stroke back and forth something like 50 times to mix the stuff up. Something like this would be ideal to seal those spoke nipples. Don't think you guys will like the price though.