You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / Tubeless conversion
Tubeless conversion
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Ghetto conversion with
Alex DP20 rim on rear with Kenda Small block 8 folding 2.35. - the bead set as soon as I put it on at the servo.
Kmart $4 20" tube - was cut down the middle for a rim strip.
Nitto electrical tape 18mm - spoke tape. wrapped nice and tight.
Brushing Latex $40 mixed with Windex and water.
Running 35psi on the back with tube, so wondering how low I could go for a 95kg rider + gear.
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
Shano, 2 questions if I may?
Why are you running a small block 8?
Do you need to run both the nitto electrical tape AND the split tube, I was of the impression you used one or the other? Am more than happy to be told otherwise.
@kit: You need the tape to stop the tube getting cut on the spoke holes. Most folks normally use fibreglass reinforced tape for this job.
@shano: As far as pressure goes, I normally run 28-32 psi on the back of my Rize with a RaRa 2.1, but on the hardtail where I'm running Michelin XCR Dry 2.1s UST (which seem to be a slightly bigger bag) I run as low as 25 to take the sting out of the rough stuff and settle the bike a bit ore.
On the front of the Rize with a Nobby Nic 2.25 I run 24-25psi.
used a 24 in tube to form the bed and then tipped the required amount of stans in when I got to the petrol station to pump it up. Trim the inner tube to make it look all nice and neat and your done. Didnt need all that other stuff and I had long time success.
I guess that's why Stan's kits come with yellow tape and rubber strip.
Best tubeless conversion rim strips in my opinion are thr Bontrager ones. They mimic the profile of UST rims and seal up brilliantly. I was just mucking about one day with some UST Igintors and they beaded up first time and stayed inflated for weeks ... with no sealant!
And it was only $10-$20 more than ghetto without all the hassle.
Ghetto tubeless setup failed because of a nick/tear bead on the Kenda tyre. Perhaps some proper real sealant might have fixed this...?
I have had success with a Conti X-king Protection (2.4") using a duct tape rim strip with a presta valve cut out of an old tube (non removable valve.)
This tyre mounted on a Mavic 117 rim with the greatest of ease. The sidewalls do have alot of large pinholes but these quickly sealed.
I tried to do the same with a Mavic 717 rim on the rear with a Hans Rey signature Maxxis Advantage 2.35" wire bead.
I finally got this one to seal but it was painful and very messy. Using a cut tube liner and a bit extra sealnt, the bead was still not going to bed.
I tried a trick with some PVA glue around the bead. This was the last resort before putting a tube in.....it took several attempts with the air compressor at the local servo...but it finally stuck and held pressure at 60psi.
Tested out on a decent ride today and no problems!