Fixing a Flat??

[bikeoutback]

Okay this is gonna sound stupid but I know very very little about bike maintenance so when they say everyone knows how to fix a flat that's about half true with me. I've recently encountered a run of bad luck and had a couple flats. I can remove tire and tube and get it all back together no problem, my problem comes in 2 areas:
1. Patching a tire, I patched one and just put a crap ton of glue it seemed on the tube after sanding the area around the hole, let glue dry (seems odd but that's what patch kit said to do) and put patch on. When doing this directions said to put glue around hole, I put it all over, around and on the hole, let dry and put patch on, this one worked I believe. Next tube same thing only I didn't put glue on the hole, only around it and it is still leaking air from the patch, should I just to wild with the glue?

2. To check the first tube I tried filling it with air, no sound, put a little more in and it seemed to be holding. Checked psi and no reading, so I put a little bit more air in, tube seemed alot bigger than 26 inches now and still no psi, let air out. Went to put on bike and it seems tube is now alot bigger than the rim, is this normal or did I stretch it by putting air in it without it being in the tire? I had no PSI reading, but does the tube need to be in tire to get PSI reading? So now I'm at the point where I think I still don't know how to patch a tube very well and I now need to run to the store to buy another spare.

3. Tubes matter in brand and cost and such? Can I run to walmart and pick up a couple or should I continue to run to Eriks and buy the specialized tubes. I guess are tubes like all other things, get what you pay for?

sorry so long and thanks for help.

[Adam Hjelle]

I say forget the patching, just put a new tube in.

[Thewavebb]

I second the "forget patching" comment. Its easier for me to just replace it and not have to worry about it.

my friends and I go in on an order of 10 at a time from pricepoint so we can get a decent deal on them. my wife and I normally go through at most 3 tubes a summer. Most bikes use Presta valve tubes, so make sure you get the correct ones. here is a link to what i get normally http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/10988-345_SPD2P1_PKG-3-Parts-74-Tubes/Accessories/IRC-Tubes---Set-of-10.htm

[danger!]

I say forget the glue. The Park glueless patches work well for me. That said, once a tube has been patched a couple of times, I retire it to the tube farm, and put a new one in. I tend to have pretty good (knocking on wood) luck when it comes to flatting, it doesn't happen a lot for me, so I can get away with a couple of patches.

[rideharder]

the park patches with glue work really well but you have to have about 20 min from the time you apply the patch untill you fit it back in to your tire and put more that 10lbs in it. that my be where your problem is. otherwies if you are in a hurry or on the trail like the others said just put a new tube.

[bikeoutback]

I carry a spare tube with me on trial, was patching the old one figuring I could hang onto it for spare tube then. I'll have to look into park glueless patches. Any thoughts on following:

1. tube brand/cost - doesn't matter or get what you buy?

2. will a patched tube be larger than the rim once used or did I ruin it by putting too much air in it not in the tire? It just seemed to get bigger when I was thinking like large tubes for floating down river it would get to a size and just hold there?

Thanks for the help, I know this is all simple but I wouldn't exaclty be labeld the mechanically inclined, but would be labeled as too cheap to take it in without giving it a try myself ;)

[Tex]

I usually carry a couple spare tubes and a gluelss patch kit in my camelback. I prefer to use a new tube over a patch, but when I'm in a bind a patch works just fine. I have also been known to take my old flatted tubes home with me, and then patch them while I sit in front of the boob tube. I've never had an issue with a patched tube, if you do it correctly they don't leak. However, with that said, I have sworn off the old style patch and vulcanizing fluid style patch kits, because too many times I've open a brand new tube of rubber cement, only to find it all dried up.

Anyhow to answer your questions Chris. The brand and cost of a tube really shouldn't matter. As long as your compairing apples to apples, that is a regular rubber tube vs another companies regular tube. From what I've seen most shops charge about $5 for a tube. Hell, most of them come out of the same factory anyway. Most of the differences are when you start looking at latex or thin wall butyl materials, those will cost more, as well the longer presta valves.

As for your question about whether a patched tube will be larger than the rim. I'm affraid I don't understand the question. But if you're asking if you can ruin a tube by inflating it when it's outside of the tire. The answer is no. You can pump up a tube and patch it and then let the air out and reinstall it with no problems. I just wouldn't inflate it to 100x it's normal size and try to float down the Apple river in one and then try to reinstall it, then it probably wouldn't work. then again, I've never tried.

[gordanfreeman]

i think i know what you are talking about with the tube looking too large after patching. this isn't a problem although it may take some getting used to. once you get the tire and tube on the rim and put some pressure in the tube it will cinch up nicely. it may take a few tries when you are not used to the motions to get everything to fit at first but when it comes together you will probably have one of those "ohhhhhhh of course" moments of clarity :cool:

[bike>>rider]

I agree that probably any brand from a bike shop will be fine. Note that tubes come in different sizes though, even among those for 26" standard mountain bike tires. I first realized this when I tried to use the same tube with a road slick on the back tire of the bike I use on my trainer - it was too big and wouldn't fit. So just watch that. If you know your approximate tire width (1.9, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, etc.) you'll know which tube to pick.

[Don Youngdahl]

2. To check the first tube I tried filling it with air, no sound, put a little more in and it seemed to be holding. Checked psi and no reading, so I put a little bit more air in, tube seemed alot bigger than 26 inches now and still no psi, let air out. Went to put on bike and it seems tube is now alot bigger than the rim, is this normal or did I stretch it by putting air in it without it being in the tire? I had no PSI reading, but does the tube need to be in tire to get PSI reading? So now I'm at the point where I think I still don't know how to patch a tube very well and I now need to run to the store to buy another spare.



There's opinions all over the place on fixing flats, so I thought I'd chime in with mine.

I never inflate a tube out of the tire when the patch is fresh, because the stretching can loosen the patch if the glue isn't completely cured. I always carry a spare tube, or 2-3 for long road rides, as patching tubes on the road sucks, and is much more prone to patch failure. That patch kit you carry should be a back-up only.

I've had poor luck with glueless patches, and regard them as a temporary patch only. On glue patches, I've had exactly one patch fail among many dozens of patches in 40 years of cycling. They are reliable, but after two or 3 patches, I generally discard a tube.

When you inflate a tube out of the tire, it stretches so easily that you'll see no pressure reading on a normal guage, even if it's inflated quite large.

Another trick I've always practiced is to liberally douse new tubes and tires with talcum powder. This makes everything go easier in mounting and dismounting the tube & tire.

Don Y