How to patch a bicycle tube


How to Patch A Bicycle Tube in 4 Easy Steps – Slime Products

Anyone who has been riding bikes for a while can tell you that sooner or later, you’re going to get a flat. Even with tube sealant that prevents flat tires for up to two years, it’s just an unavoidable occurrence. When flats occur, the best thing you can do is be educated and prepared to patch the tube so that you can quickly get back on the road. Let's get started:

Materials Needed

Consider these different flat tire scenarios: The at-home repair scenario where you're walking your bike into the garage and notice that the back wheel is sagging a little bit—you have a flat. Or, the on-the-trail repair scenario where 20 miles into a 50 mile ride, you go down hard on a rock and get a nasty pinch flat.

We’re going to walk you through some of the materials you’ll need for either situation, and then how to use them for both. Here’s a list of some things you will need to repair your tube.

  1. Bike Pump (or CO2 inflator head and cartridge): Whether it’s a handheld bike pump or a standing pump, you’re going to need to re-inflate the new tire or your patched tire.
  2. Spare Tube or Patch Kit: Having a spare tube on hand is a smart move, and we’ll discuss how to install that in another blog. In this case, a patch kit is going to be an essential tool to have whether you’re at home or on the road.
  3. Tire Levers: A tire lever is going to be a critical tool to help you get your tire off the rim.
  4. Chalk (optional): Chalk can help when you have a small puncture and just need to mark your tire to remember where the hole is.
  5. Talcum Powder (at home): Talcum powder would be more of an at home method, and is usually powdered over the tube so that the adhesive patch doesn’t stick to the tire once you put your wheel back together.
  6. Bucket of Water (at home): The bucket is another at home remedy that we’ll discuss the applications of later.

Procedure

Follow these 4 easy steps to patch your bicycle tube and repair your flat.

Step 1. Remove Your Tire


Take your tire lever and hook it around the outer edge of the tire (the bead) to get it off of the rim. Once you have the tire lever under the tire rubber, hook the other end of your tire lever around one of your spokes to keep the tire elevated. With a second tire lever, work your way around the rim, taking the tire out of the bead until one side has been completely removed from the rim.


Step 2. Find the Leak

If the puncture or gash in your tube is not easily apparent, you’re going to need to fill the tube back up to locate where the air is escaping from. There are a couple of different ways to find the leak. The layman’s way would just be to run your hand along the tube and try to feel it out.

The bucket of water method that we mentioned earlier, however, is a more accurate way. If you’re at home, fill your sink or a large bucket full of water and submerge each end of the tube. Watch for air bubbles escaping from your tire to locate your problem area.

Make sure you submerge each side, as there may be more than one puncture. Be sure to check the inside of the tire to make sure that the puncture-causing object has been removed. Once located, mark that spot with your tire marking chalk.


Step 3. Patch the Hole

When patching the hole in your bicycle tube, make sure that the area around the puncture is clean so that the patch will stick. Using the scuffer from your patch kit (sand paper or emery paper will also do the trick), rough up the area around the puncture so that your adhesives have something to grip.

If your patches don’t require glue, simply press them firmly over the hole. For patches that do need glue, add a layer of glue and spread it evenly around the area. Wait for the glue to get a little tacky, and then press on your patch. If you have the materials available to you at home, some cyclists will sprinkle talcum powder on top of the patch so that that patch/adhesive doesn’t stick to the inside of the tire.

Step 4. Put It All Back Together

Put a little air into your tube and then put it back in the tire, making sure, again, that there are no foreign objects remaining in the tire. Be sure to insert the tube and tire back into the rim using only your hands, as the tire levers may pinch the tube and cause another flat (we certainly don’t want that after all your hard work).

Once you’ve pushed the tire back in and the valve stem is securely inside the tire, inflate your tube back to maximum pressure, being sure to check the tire one more time to make sure that the bead is installed snugly. Ready to ride!

Bike Maintenance 101: How to Patch an Inner Tube

in: How To, Skills

Brett & Kate McKay • May 26, 2022

The bicycle is one of the greatest tools of self-reliance.  

Without any need for electricity or gas, it can carry you far distances. 

But bikes only work towards your self-sufficiency if you know how to maintain them. They may have fewer complications than an automobile, but they’re still machines that can break down and need to be repaired.  

Several years ago Kate and I bought some bikes for ourselves (our kids already had them) so we could take family rides on Tulsa’s many pleasant bike paths. But I realized that I didn’t know beans about how to maintain our new purchases. If one of us got a flat tire, I wouldn’t know how to patch it. If my brakes were acting wonky, I’d be hosed. 

So I set out to learn some basic bike maintenance and repair. It’s been fun. I thought I’d share what I’ve learned with you all in a new series: Bike Maintenance 101. 

In today’s inaugural class, we’re kicking things off with how to patch a hole in your inner tube. I remember watching my dad patch a hole on one of my bike tires as a kid. It looked like a huge pain in the butt. But I learned that it’s surprisingly easy. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Remove Wheel

Let’s get that wheel off so we can get to our flat inner tube.

I like to flip my bike upside down. It makes it easier to work with your wheel. I don’t have one of those fancy bike holders you use to work on your bike.

Getting wheels off a bike is a breeze with today’s quick-release systems. It’s pretty much the same for all bikes. The only difference you’ll encounter is how you’ll disconnect your brakes. That will depend on what type of brakes you have on your bike. Here’s how I removed the wheel on my bike with v-brakes. 

It’s really easy to disconnect a v-brake. You squeeze the two brake arms together and unlatch the cradle from the noodle (that’s the thing with the rubber tip on it).

Flip the quick-release lever open and unscrew it until you have enough space to remove the wheel. 

You don’t have to take the quick-release rod out of the hub, but if you want to, that’s fine. I think it’s easier to work with the tire without the quick-release rod still in the hub, so I take it out.

Wheel removed!

Step 2: Remove Tire From Wheel With Tire Levers

Time to get the tire off the wheel so we can get to the inner tube. Tire levers will make this job much easier. You can buy them on Amazon. They’re cheap.

Place your first tire lever between the wheel and the tire. You want to get the lever underneath the lip of the tire so you can pry it away from the wheel.

To keep the lip of the tire from going back into the wheel, hook the tire lever into one of the spokes. This will keep your tire and wheel separated, making it much easier to get the rest of the tire off of your wheel.

Place the second tire lever next to your first tire lever. Get it under the lip of the tire. You’ll slide this lever around your wheel to separate the rest of the tire from the wheel.

Here’s what your tire will start looking like as you slide that second tire lever around your wheel. It’s hard at first, but gets easier as you progress. As you can see, more and more of the tire lip is over the rim of the wheel.

Tire successfully removed from wheel. Now it’s time to remove the inner tube from the tire.

Step 3: Remove Inner Tube From Tire

Inner tube will be tucked inside your tire. Just pull it out.

Step 4: Find Hole

There’s the hole.

Step 5: Prepare Hole for Patching

Get your patch kit.

Inside my patch kit is a metal square that has a bunch of little bumps on it. It’s almost like a cheese grater. Use it to lightly scuff up the area on and around the hole. If you don’t have a little metal cheese grater in your patch kit, you can use sandpaper to prep your patch area. The scuffing will give greater adhesion to the patch.

Step 6: Apply Rubber Cement

Use a moderate amount of rubber cement. Spread it evenly around an area 1/2″ around your hole.

Step 7: Apply Patch

Pick an appropriate sized patch for your hole. Since mine is so small, I used the smallest patch. Remove the foil backing and stick patch onto the hole.

Peel away the plastic film on top of the patch. Press edges down firmly. Bam! Hole is patched.

Step 8: Put Inner Tube Back in Tire and Tire Back on Wheel

Inner tube back in tire.

Tire back on wheel. Getting the tire back on the wheel can be a bit tricky. You may need to use your tire levers to help you get the lip of the tire inside the wheel’s rim. Just make sure you don’t pinch your inner tube between the tire and the wheel. You’ll risk creating a puncture in your inner tube. Once you get your tire back on the wheel, inflate your inner tube and then put your wheel back on your bike.

You can patch your inner tube a few times and not have a problem. If you have more than three patches, you might start noticing that your tire goes flat overnight and you have to pump it up if you want to use it. After your third patch, chuck your old inner tube and replace it with a new one.

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How to seal a bicycle inner tube at home - Bikeactiv.ru

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If you do not know how to seal a bicycle inner tube, then everything is quite simple - you only need glue and a patch. But wrenches, hexagons, disassembly, a container of water and a vise will also come in handy. The set is enough, so you can carry out repairs in any conditions.

Scheme of carrying out

Do-it-yourself repair of the bicycle chamber is carried out according to the following algorithm:

  • wheel removal. Before gluing the camera on a bicycle, you need to disconnect the brakes, unscrew the bolts on the sleeve. Then the wheel is carefully removed;
  • Remove a damaged camera. The wheel is disassembled with a flat object. Before sealing the bicycle inner tube, it must be completely lowered and removed;
  • further you need to find a hole. To do this, use a container of water. With the help of bubbles, it is determined exactly where the damage is located. Another option is to find a puncture in the bicycle chamber by ear - listen to where the air comes out;
  • sealing the hole. This requires a repair kit. Before sticking the camera on the bike, the surface is protected. You can use special tools, in extreme cases, a napkin will do. Then the film is removed from the patch, the adhesive is applied. It is pressed to the puncture site and held for several minutes;
  • reassembly. First you need to check the insulation tape inside the rim. Then the chamber is laid, the tire is refueled. Next comes the camera itself. This repair has been completed.

Sealing a bicycle wheel tube is easy - just remove it, patch the puncture site with a patch and put it back in place.

Other options

How to seal the bicycle chamber with a repair kit is understandable, but what if it is not there, but the repair is necessary? For example, a patch can be made from any rubber. Any glue is suitable, but the main thing is not to choose industrial.

There are also critical moments. In some cases, it is necessary to close the hole without glue and without removing the wheel. The patch is applied so that when inflated, it is pressed with strong pressure. But in this case, you need a pump.

If you don't have a rubber patch, a dampened plastic bag or duct tape will do, but only if you don't know how to seal the inner tube of your bike to get home, because the wheel won't withstand heavy loads.

Another option is vulcanization. This requires special tools, but the result is reliable. The point is that the patch and the camera are pressed against each other. Thanks to heating, both elements form a single whole. Before you seal the camera at home, think about vulcanization.

Ways to prevent a puncture

Even if you know how to properly seal a bicycle inner tube, it's worth learning how to avoid a puncture.

One of the most interesting options is cameras that can be sealed by themselves. Resin or a special gel is poured inside. When a breakdown occurs, the substance flows into the puncture point and seals it. In this case, it will be possible not to think about repairs for some time, but it will still have to be done sooner or later.

It is worth following a few simple recommendations to prevent a puncture:

  • the tire must be properly inflated. If it is pumped or under-pumped, then the risk of a rupture increases significantly;
  • it is worth paying attention to the roads. Most often, holes appear due to iron screws, glass or nails. They are easy to avoid if you keep an eye on the surface you are riding on;
  • must carefully avoid obstacles. Even if the wheels are cushioned, this does not mean that damage will not occur. There may not be a breakdown the first time, but it will not always be so;
  • use a special tape - this is an additional rubber layer that is placed under the tire inside the wheel.

These simple tips will help you avoid punctures and save time on repairs, although they will not take much time. But, nevertheless, it is better to prevent trouble than to deal with its consequences.

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How to seal a bicycle inner tube

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All cyclists have experienced the problem of tube punctures at least once. Especially if you are a fan of driving outside the city, in the forests, etc. After all, the biggest "pests" of the camera are glass fragments, nails, wire, thorns of various plants. And there are very unpleasant situations when the wheel is punctured far from home or workshop. You can try to glue it yourself, now we'll figure out how to do it.

  • sharp object - often leaves an almost invisible mark on the camera
  • large cuts - such cuts often cannot be sealed. Usually in such cases, the tire is also damaged, which can no longer be repaired.
  • "snake bite" - this happens when the camera is lowered. These are 2 cuts caused by the "snack" of the camera between the rim and the tire. Moving the curb can cause this.
  • chamber cut inside - protruding spoke, for example.

Patches types:

  • self-adhesive patches - works like sticker
  • patches with glue - these patches come with glue (any glue for rubber will do)

How to glue the tube:

  1. First of all, you need to inspect the tire for foreign objects - remove thorns, splinters, etc. Then, remove the tire and carefully remove the camera. It is better to check from the inside whether there is nothing left there.
  2. Ideally, if you travel far from home, take a spare camera with you if you are hiking - but several are better. But when for some reason it is not there, then patches must be required.
  3. Inflate the pierced chamber and try to identify the puncture site by ear, then feel it with your finger. You can moisten the camera - bubbles will go at the puncture site. At home, dip it in water.
  4. We prepare the chamber for gluing the patch - the place of gluing must be dry. Then clean it with sandpaper (it is included with the patches) and, if there is something, degrease it.
  5. After completing the preparation, apply glue to the camera, after a couple of minutes you can glue the patch (just glue the self-adhesive one), and press it with your fingers for 30 seconds.
  6. You can install the inner tube and tire backwards. It is important that it is not twisted and pump well.

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