wayneniner Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) so, I got the tire/tube off the wheel... before I ordered the needed parts, I wanted to make sure the wheel is in good enough condition to work with a tubeless system. rim band was in good condition except around the valve area..pretty damn tight and I think there was some adhesive under it or it could of just been dirt mixed with some sticky rubber residue. (will have a better look later in sunlight) all the spoke nipples/screws inside the rim are rusty...still ok? I did spot(visually) and feel (by hand) a couple spots of the rim that were not ideal for a perfect seal of the tire bead.... I will post some pics later. Does the bead area have to be completely flawless or some minor flaws OK? (no cracks or any major damage...just a ham fisted "mechanic" with no patience) I'll post pics a little later when I get a chance. Planning on taking a wire brush to the rim to clean it up a bit.... (edit to add: I am not the ham fisted mechanic....I meant one of the POs) Edited October 12, 2015 by wayneniner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goudrons Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) It's difficult to say without looking at it. But you've got to think this maybe why it had a tube in it when you bought it. They can get a bit rough through corrosion and damage and owners get fed up with it leaking. If it's not too bad, a bead sealer might fill out any dints and dimples. It's a rubberized paint that you lightly coat around the rim, where the tyre contacts it, just before fitting the tyre. Car tyre specialist use it on porous alloy wheel rims and it's popular with scooter owners, to seal the two half wheels together. Edited October 12, 2015 by goudrons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 (edited) Overall state of the rim: Little inward protrusion: (outside of rim looks straight...not sure how this would happen) Another angle of protrusion: Edited October 12, 2015 by wayneniner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 any chance of holding air? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totty79 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Looks to me like you might get away with it. Although I'd try to use any wheel as intended then squeeze in some tyre sealant if it didn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan wellback Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 the area you have high lighted in your photos is the welded ends of the extrusion that make your rim. put the rim band,valve and tyre on,blow it up. wait for the wife to go out. then put 10inches of water in your bath then carefully lower your wheel in the water without splashing the tiles. rotate wheel, looking for bubbles. mark leaks with lipstick or mascara pencil. now you know what you have to seal! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goudrons Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 mark leaks with lipstick or mascara pencil. now you know what you have to seal! But don't use it all, as you'll have nothing left for Saturday night on the town! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 If you can get a wire brush thats a bit soft (snap on do a real nice small stianless one) you can clean that rim band groove up perfectly im sure. wayneniner where are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 thanks for the info... the weld makes sense. I was puzzled at what I was looking at. ordered parts.. I will update with outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I am near Houston TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Should I coat the spoke nipples with oil/grease of some kind? (after I clean them up a bit?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 not necessary, but i would true wheel while waiting for parts that will involve soaking nipples and easing and adjusting. Then clean up and fit rim band. My trick is to get an air bubble in the rim band which allows it to be fitted in the groove, when you fill with air this disappears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 just a quick thanks for the tips/advice and words of encouragement. I cleaned the rim(wire brush and simple green), lubed the spokes, tightened the spokes...installed the tire. I ended up using a new rim band with the built in valve. Genius. Never done a tubeless tire before but the built in valve had to make my life easier. Installing the rim band was the hardest part of the whole process. I used "Slime" for lubing up the band and that also sealed any leaks under the band/spokes, and the sides that sit in the channel. (this was recommended by lewisport) I went with a Dunlop due to price... it went on pretty easily with soap water. Maybe I am getting better at installing tires but this went on very easily. The tire beader tool helped...not sure how I would of got the tire inflated without this helpful tool. Damn...that POP is scary. Glad I didn't have my finger in the wrong spot...wear goggles. I didn't(goggle) and got some residual slime shot into my eye when bead "locked". After all is said and done--easy job. No need to seal rim with "Sikaflex"/etc. Just a new rim band, some slime and patience while installing everything. After being hit with $1 wire brush, simple green and about 15 minutes: After a few rides: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneniner Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) not necessary, but i would true wheel while waiting for parts that will involve soaking nipples and easing and adjusting. Then clean up and fit rim band. My trick is to get an air bubble in the rim band which allows it to be fitted in the groove, when you fill with air this disappears. I ended up getting an air bubble underneath the band on accident...I think this helped plenty(went into the groove nicely..with a little work from a blunt wide tipped flat head to help seat it in groove). It was impossible to get rid of the air under the band so I left it as is and installed the tire.... I'll take your word for it that it disappears. (it's holding air so even if bubble is still present, not a big deal) Edited November 30, 2015 by wayneniner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicktop Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 If the problem flairs up again you could try a Tubliss setup. Since you are in Houston go to cyclegear for tubliss at 100. or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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