Guide
to repairing a flat tire / tyre- its simple really...
When you
start off-road biking you'll quickly find that its very
easy to collect prickly things in your tires such as thorns,
uh.. monkey toenails, and such like.
If this happens
to you, here's a simple step-by-step guide to repairing
a punctured tyre.
...another flat tyre? Flippen-diddley-heck!
You'll need to remove the wheel, so begin by disconnecting
the brakes...
Remove the wheel and
find a comfy work place.
Deflate the remaining air from the
inner tube.
Start directly opposite the valve stem, and pry the
tyre from the rim using a tyre lever (or an old dull
screwdriver) but be careful not to pinch or damage
the inner tube.
Use some muscle and remove the tyre from the rim
in a rolling manner, being careful not to damage the
valve stem.
(Note: you don't need hairy arms like in the photo
but it will help you keep warm!)
Remove the inner tube
and locate the hole. In this case there are 2 holes
which are close enough together for just one good size
patch. If you can't see any holes pump a bit of air
into the tube and either a) submerge the tube into a
bucket of water (look for bubbles), or b) hold the tube
close to your ear and listen for the leak. Use a marker
pen or crayon to mark the hole.
Check the overall condition of the inner tube and
if it already has a few patches it might be best if
you buy a new tube! If the tube is salvageable cut
one of the patches to the size required and lightly
roughen the area where the patch is to be installed
with a bit of sand paper. Wipe away any dust from
the surface.
Apply a thin layer of the glue (slightly
larger than your patch) to the tube.
Allow the glue to partially
dry (until its tacky) then peel the backing paper from
the patch and apply. If you can put some pressure on
the patch for several minutes.
While the patch is setting, inspect
the overall condition of the tyre and rim. Remove any
sharp objects which are stuck in the tyre and if the
tyre is worn or damaged it should be replaced. Also
inspect the rim, spokes and the rim strip (ensure it
fully covers the spoke holes) and conduct any necessary
repairs.
Once the patch has set, dust the inner tube with
talcum powder (or chalk powder) which will help prevent
the tube from snagging or being pinched during the
reinstallation process.
Tuck the inner tube back into the tyre.
Carefully push the valve stem through
its hole and put both beads of the tyre inside the rim.
Continue to push the tyre back onto the rim but be careful
not to pinch the inner tube in the process.
Inflate the tyre and listen for any leaking air.
If it seems OK, mount the tyre to the bike, hook up
the brakes, and readjust the tyre pressure to the
recommended level.
Now you can now sit back, have a beer and wallow
in self admiration!
...even we can do it!
Tools required:
1
Standard patch
kit (inlcudes: glue, patches, sandpaper...)
2
Tyre lever
(or very dull screwdriver)
3
Scissors
(cut patches)
4
Marker
pen (indicate hole position)
5
Talcum powder
6
Drink: coffee,
beer...
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What we learnt
this time...
A) The more often you repair
a flat tyre the easier and quicker the process gets!
B) It's much easier to repair
a puncture in the comfort of your own garage than it is
in the middle of a muddy forest at night time!
Getting
started
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