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schwalbe double defense - mission impossible
okay, admitting defeat on this one. been trying to set up a tubeless wheel with a brand new racing ralph, the double defense version, and it just won't pop the bead.
i've been through two RRs before, one tubeless version and one evolution line. both of them i could just pump up with my track pump as if they had a tube in them. love the tyre, so this time i thought i'd go for the thicker sidewalls of the double defense line.
big mistake as it turns out.
think i've been through all the tricks in the book and the tyre just sits there not showing any reaction at all. this is on a DT XR 4.2d rim, with stan's tape and valve, on which i've had the previous two RR's and even a Conti supersonic. all tubeless, so the rim is not the problem.
so far i've tried it with and without valve core, had a tube in for a couple days (the beads pop straight off the minute you deflate), borrowed a (small) compressor, hair wax on the beads, a piece of string around the perimeter, scrubbed the inside of the tyre with soapy water....
was thinking of taking it to the servo, but they all have these automated inflation thingys now, does it work with those? (especially if you have the valve core out)
any ideas? offering a case of beer for who or whatever gets this f##%^*er mounted....
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I had a similar prob but with a non-tubeless rim ,it ended up being the rubber seal that seals the valve to the rim was stuffed (but looked fine).Good luck ! it enoyed the shit outa me too !
Try a gas bomb with the valve core removed. Even when my compressor hasnt worked, the gas bomb has.
Bit of soapy water around the endge of the rim / tyre sidewall, and compress the tyre where the valve is (to ensure the air doesnt get straight out).
If that doesnt work, then just concede - some things just arent meant to be.
Intrigued as to the piece of string and the hairwax tricks!!
I know exactly what you are talking about, I struggled a lot before trying with a compressor. It takes a while but the important thing is to keep the air pumping for as long as you can and slowly help the bead to sit on the right spot. It was a matter of grabbing the sidewall and push it outwards (just small sections and keep working on the same side until sealed). I'm sure soap will help as well! It may take a while but after I did it the first time, it was extremely easy with my other wheelset.
Good luck mate.
If you use the air blower on the compressor and put it in your valve tube with the valve removed. Get it super hard then place you're finger over the tube then do a real quick maneuver by replacing the valve without letting too much air out. Sometimes it may deflate too much so just start again.
Once you have it sealed, just use a track pump or tyre gauge to get it to the correct pressure.
sounds like i just need to try again with a real compressor. the one i've got here has no more grunt than my track pump. and yes, there's about 3 co2 cartridges in there already. Forgot to add that to the list.
riding the tyre with a tube at the moment, but the whole point of getting the heavier stronger tyre was to run it tubeless.
will keep trying then. i'll let you know how it goes.
oh - has anyone tried the servo automated air system for this?
cheers
S
I've had the odd tyre that just wouldn't play tubeless but a servo compressor isn't the best answer as they don't tend to have a reservoir to hold air, it's more on demand in short bursts.
I now have a large tanked compressor which I crank up to 70psi. This delivers a steady blast of air for a couple of minutes.
A bit of Stans in the tyre distributed around the bead and soap around the rim and away I go manipulating the tyre to get it to seal as air goes in.
Btw I also use 4.2s with tape & valve. They don't inflate as well as proper tubeless ready rims like Stans Crests as the profile is different and there's not such a good seal.
You can get it from a hardware store - has adhesive on one side and foam on the other and is used for windows and door frames.
Take the Stan's rubber rim strip out on the rim and stick the foam weather strip onto the cloth rim tape underneath. Then put the Stan's rim strip back on and try to mount the tyre with soapy water and a track pump. Also make sure that the nut holding the valve into the rim is very tight. This works for me whenever I have tyres that are difficult to mount tubeless as it makes a tighter fit between the tyre bead and rim strip and stops air getting out.
I've had the same experience trying to get a Larsen TT to seal up with the Stan's kit on a non-ust rim. I spent a whole day struggling with the f#$!* thing. I even spent about half an hour at the local servo which has the old style compressor that you just press the trigger to get a constant blast of air. Still no luck.
My policy is that if I can't seat the bead using a track pump with the valve core removed & plenty of soapy water then its not worth wasting any more time, just use the tyre with a tube until it wears out & buy something different next time. At least it gives me an excuse to experiment with different tyres....
If you are feeling brave and lucky you could try the WD40 technique. It works well on big tyres, it might scale down to bike tyres. It you try it then be sure to post a YouTube video.
Beading a 4wd tyre with WD40.
http://youtu.be/bx8ezESUofo
let me know how you go with that lol
I heard about this but never actually seen it done. seems simple enough. at least the guys in the clip didn't exactly look like rocket scientists in a high tech lab. now, where did i put that old spare rim and the used tyre?? might give it a go
As per the above -- clean everything up, stick some Stans in, take out the valve core, and use a servo pump (the automated inflation thingy generally works if you press the "flat" button). Also, check the face of the bead to make sure there aren't too many nobbly bits which could break a seal -- if so, fine sandpaper helps that a lot.
If you do get the tyres to inflate, do the Stans dance for a while to get the sealant all round the bead, and repeat every few days. The sealant will then stick your bead down and keep everything nicely in place.
Finally, if you still don't have any luck -- try "ghetto tubeless" -- a 20" Schwalbe BMX tube split down the middle as your combined valve and rim tape. The tube provides an extremely compliant face for the bead, and seals very well.
Good luck!
Managed to get all mine to seal with a standard mtb floor pump. I use one of those ratchet tie downs used for tying mo'cycles down on trailer. wrap strap (which is 25mm wide) around the mtb tyre on rim, tighten ratchet till tyre bulges evenly each side (check before pumping) and is pressing onto (and sealing) the rim - pump away - when tyre gets pressure release ratchet a little and keep pumping. Once got pressure in seems to just hold and pop onto rim. worked every time for me on various rims and tyres. HTH.