Repair Your Inner Tube, DON'T Bin It!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
- Do you want an easy guide to repairing bicycle inner tubes? Follow these top tips to repair your TPU inner tube and save money!
00:00 Intro
00:23 What do you need to repair an inner tube?
00:41 Remove the inner tube and check your tyre
01:09 How to locate a puncture
01:52 TPU inner tube repair kit
02:10 Glue the repair patch onto the inner tube
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What are your top tips for repairing inner tubes? 🚇
i have the ride now tpu tube, very happy with them, i repair them a bit differently, i put glue on the patch and the tube and i don't wait , i apply the patch immediatly.
remember to check the rim and rim tape too. one time i was getting alot of punctures just to later figure out that it was an issue with rim tape. could have save alot of time by checking the rim.
Using a marker to mark the leak makes it easier to find
I successfully fixed leaking valves/valve tubes with air tight nail polish. It is also quite handy, that there are transparent gels available, making the fix nearly invisible.
Speaking of repairing tpu tubes, they often give a structure from inner structure of the tire, so stretching the tube to losing this structure before and during the patch apply can make the difference between leaking and not leaking repairement.
I have had excellent success patching my inexpensive RideNow TPU inner tubes with Lezyne self adhesive patches on the couple of rare times I have experienced a puncture.
Great to hear! Keep reusing 🙌
Got 10 from Ali express for just over £4 each and come with patches as well 🤔
Did they work?
Work great got some 80 mm and 60 mm I buy the ones with metal valves rather than plastic but only 38g there in green colour . The adverts are a little deceiving read twice before ordering but well happy with them
After repairing 150 inner tubes I can afford the new GCN kit by AGU 👍
😂😂😂😂
You'll then look even better fixing punctures in the future 😉
Best comment ever
Park Tools GP-2 Super Patches work great on TPU tubes.
I agree amazing patches
I've had great success with the Park adhesive patches on TPU tubes 👍
I've used Park Tool patches on TPU tubes twice in anger and both repairs are still holding fine.👍
Repairing tubes whilst you're angry always leads to suboptimal results . . . @@joelogjam9163
I have now repaired two punctures in TPU tubes (specifically RideNow brand) using 3M VHB double sided tape with totally successful results. I did NOT rough up the TPU tube's surface. I did thoroughly clean the area around the puncture with isopropyl alcohol. I cut a 3'ish cm piece of the VHB tape and then rounded the 4 corners with scissors. I applied pressure to the patch for several minutes although I believe only several seconds of pressure is necessary as VHB tape essentially adheres on contact. I was not in a rush to reinstall the tube in the wheel in both cases, so I left the tube uninflated overnight. I did remove the plastic that covers VHB tape and liberally applied powder to the outside of the patch so it would not adhere to the inside of the tire. The patches are still holding strong after several months. There are several varieties of 3M VHB tape. I used the "general purpose" variety that can easily be bought online or in hardware stores.
I have used a piece of old TPU inner tube as a patch and Loctite 1360694 (Vinyl Fabric & Plastic Repair Flexible Adhesive) as glue for this with great success. n=1, and only ~1 month old for now, so I do not know yet how robust this solution is.
Would be great if you could comment back at a later date.
Think the exact glue used is key so this is v helpful
@@traderz13 I agree, I will try to report back in the future.
This glue is flexible, intended to fix flexible plastics under air pressure (e.g., air mattresses), and is waterproof. This is why I picked it (but I am not a glue expert)
I have very good results with F6000 glue that my wife uses for her craft projects, just put a drop over the puncture hole (no patch needed) and let to dry 24 hours before using the tube again. Every other glue that I tried failed to stick to the TPU tube, even the one that came with my tubes.
Interesting! How well does it hold up?
@@gcntech right now I'm using a TPU tube with 3 punctures fixed this way, about a month since my last puncture and no noticeable pressure loss.
That's a great tip! Thanks!!!
Thats the same glue i use to fix my tubes too. I fixed a tube with a 4mm hole, and I am still riding on it two years later.
F6000, or B6000?
Explained very well, Robin!
I found some a 3" by 7 ft roll of tpu repair patch that you can use on pool liners, pool floats, basically anything made from a tpu material for $7 and you can cut it down to the exact size you need. I also use just a small bit of a tpu glue for the patch material so it will not peel off. Works like a champ.
Around $4 for Ridenow TPU tubes at AE...
The are actually very lasting
i have 2000k with a cyclami tube at the front and a think rider tube at the back: 0 issues with both of them (with the cyclami already patched), both of those options are even cheaper than the ridenows
Well, instead of using a repair kit, you can also use a TPU tube which cannot be repaired and cut small pieces in it. The glue seems to be exactly the same.
Do you just glue the punctures together?
What glue are you using for this?
@@gcntechI cut a round piece of TPU from the unusable inner tube, and I glue the patch on the puncture as if it were a patch from the repair kit. In fact I do exactly the same thing as in the video, but without having bought the repair kit. The glue of a regular patch kit works just fine.
No news.... One damaged tpu tube makes quite a few patches (100+) and glue is on sale. Kits are just... Nuf about that
I have now repaired two punctures in TPU tubes (specifically RideNow brand) using 3M VHB double sided tape with totally successful results. I did NOT rough up the TPU tube's surface. I did thoroughly clean the area around the puncture with isopropyl alcohol. I cut a 3'ish cm piece of the VHB tape and then rounded the 4 corners with scissors. I applied pressure to the patch for several minutes although I believe only several seconds of pressure is necessary as VHB tape essentially adheres on contact. I was not in a rush to reinstall the tube in the wheel in both cases, so I left the tube uninflated overnight. I did remove the plastic that covers VHB tape and liberally applied powder to the outside of the patch so it would not adhere to the inside of the tire. The patches are still holding strong after several months. There are several varieties of 3M VHB tape. I used the "general purpose" variety that can easily be bought online or in hardware stores.
Like you demonstrate Alex, it's so easy. I always do several together and finish off with a dusting of chalk on the patch to prevent sticking. Then I hang the up for couple of days 👍
Great tips 🙌 Thanks for dropping us a comment!
I've successfully Pirelli TPU's. My tip, if your TPU is not suitable for repair, keep and use it for patches.
*repaired
Great tip 💡How long have you been using TPU tubes?
@@gcntech Since last Autumn. The size/weight means I can easily carry 2+ spares. Initially struggled with fitting and finding the puncture (so small!) but overcame all that. One benefit I have discovered is the 'small' punctures means the deflation is often very slow, so you don't realise it until the next day.
I had a brand new Tubolita valve stem snap, the valve hole was cut off centre. Contacted Tubolita and they sent a new tube, awesome!👍Then I set to and cut down the broken valve stem, drilled out a new hole to accept a replaceable valve, heated the stem slightly and wound the new valve in. Tested it and it works. Camplast Cement that is the repair glue isn’t the easiest thing to find, but EvoStick impact adhesive is and it works better!. No roughing up, coat each surface, leave dry to touch, whack them together, put bit of grease proof paper over top (to stop sticking) leave a weight on, have a cup of tea, done. Been riding TPU tubes 3 years now and this is my go to fix. Given up on the Chinese TPU tubes, too many leaks out of the box. Pirelli/Tubolita work out better value. Nice shirt Algernon 👍
Be careful as you run your fingers around the inside of you tire. If there is a shard of glass or other sharp object still in the tread, you might end up needing a patch for the puncture in your finger...
THIS! ☝That's a great point, don't go fishing around in that tyre 😵💫
thank you man
You're welcome!
Thanks Alex. Video came up same day I just got my first TPU tubes that included a repair kit with them. Nice to know how to fix these now. I guess I can throw out the instructions now. 😁
It's like we read your mind 🤣 Enjoy the TPU life!
Hi Alex, nice one. Yes Butyl inner tubes, I've repaired plenty using pretty much the procedure you show but with a butyl repair kit. TPU tubes I have but they havn't quite got on the bike yet. I read somewhere that paddling pool repair kits work too because its the same stuff. Not tried it though.
A thought, the TP bit means it can be reformed with heat so I wonder if a hot soldering iron might work? Must try it on one of the bands, or a patch.
I tried using tubolito on a 500 mile tour, and after a couple flats, discovered the patch kits worked like crap, at least in 100 degree heat. They were so leaky I ended up doing the remainder of the ride on butyls with no flats.
At this point I carry them only for spares, and ride only tubeless unless it’s one of my fun bike that sits for months at a time.
It's true that in Greek summer heat the patches won't hold up.
I have also not had good luck with the tubolito patch kits, which look exactly like the Pirelli kit shown in the video. My success record for patching is 0/2 on the side of the road and 2/4 at home on my workbench. I find the revoloop self-adhesive patch kits are far less mess, and I'm 1/1 at the workbench with those so far. The hardest part about roadside TPU repair is actually finding the tiny puncture.
Did you feel a difference when you swapped back to Butyl tubes? 💨
I've had success repairing a RideNow TPU tube using one of the supplied peel-and-stick patches provided with the tube. I found the puncture and cleaned it with alcohol. I did not rough up the tube. My thinking is that I do not want there to be a path for air to migrate from the hole to the outer edge of the tube. I used a hair dryer to heat up the tube and patch in order to activate the glue. I placed the patch without touching the glue or cleaned surface and left it for 12 hours before re-installing. The repaired tube has behaved just like new.
After placing the patch is it necessary to check correct placement by dipping in water tub? Or shall we straight away proceed to put the tube in the tire?
I have the pirelli smartube patch kit, and it's great, the glue is just the only glue that i have found that works (if you can buy the glue without the patch kit you could save some bucks cuz the "patches" are just small pieces of another tpu tube)
Ps: i don't use pirelli tpu tubes, i use cyclami and think rider from aliexpress and this glue (the one that comes with the pirelli patch kit), works great with them
Is it just me ? I thought the roughing up stage wasn't necessary with TPU tubes - just a clean with a wipe and stick on the patch??
First I've heard of it
I thought the glue for tpu is a glue and not a vulcanizing chemical.
the roughing creates more surface area, so theres always a benefit to it, even with glue instead of vulcanization... it might really not be necessary but it surely wont hurt
Yes I could have sworn the same. It’s not butyl. No sanding necessary. Just clean
I would add that if you always line the tyre label with the valve, you will know where to search for whatever caused the puncture, when you find it in the tube. Good idea to search the tyre all round anyway in case there is something else as well.
Great shout! You might also get extra points in the bike vault 😉
I heard that tip from that bike restorer guy
tku!
I just successfully repaired a punctured TPU. To check for any other punctures, I inflated it a little and left it overnight. The result was a bulge in the tube. Seems my 'little' was too much. I let it down and the area that was bulged is stretched, but doesn't look too bad. Is it safe to use?
You can feel a tiny breeze off air very good on the backside of your hand.
Use your lips. Super sensitive
Lips is another good spot for finding those little punctures 💨
Correction the tube won't go in landfill as it be recycled into more repair patches
Is there a special glue or can you like use one that has longer shelf life? (Thinking about glue not in silly small tube)
I've plenty of expereince fixing punctured inner tubes. From bicycles, motorcycles, cars, lorries and tractors. When they used inner tubes. I've even fixed punctured tubeless tyre. On all the previous type of tyre. Except the bicycle. Well I did do some work as a tyre fitter several years ago.
Great to hear that you're repairing punctures 🙌 We don't need to keep throwing them away 👀
Is it possible to glue a small piece from a latex or butyl tube to a TPU tube? Also, I read somewhere that TPU tubes end up taking the shape of the tire and rim bed to the point that they are not something you can transfer to a larger, small, or differently shaped rim without risking tearing. Any experience with that?
Haven't tried a heterogeneous patch on TPU, but I would expect the differential stretching would hurt the tube. My best experience has been with revoloop self-adhesive TPU-specific patches. TPU tubes do noticeably expand to take the shape of the rim and tire, so I would definitely not try to put them in a smaller rim or tire after they've been installed and pressurized once. I've used tubes multiple times, just keep it to the same wheel/tire size.
Line up your valve with the makers name on your tyre, carefully remove the tube and keep it orientated with the tyre. Inflate the tube, locate and mark the hole, line up with the tyre and check around the correct area.
Great tip! Always feel silly when you fix the tube only to puncture down the road 🤣
You can repair tpu inners by scraping the area to glue a little bit more with with a more harsh sandpaper, applying the rubber solution and then CAREFULLY flaming it slightly with a lighter. Then apply the patch.
I glued valve cores with loctite back in if air was leaking at this point.
Interesting site note: the color in some tpu tubes ads unnecessary weight or in other words, unnecessary material. Its between 5 and 15g.
So if you buy one, the colored 25g tube could be worse than the 20g uncolored one.
Once you've found the hole, use a marker to circle it. That way, you don't have to go searching for it when you come to put the glue on, or rough the area up.
It also makes it easier to find the piece of sharp debris stuck inside the tire. I've encountered a few that are really tiny. Had I not marked the puncture site, I don't think I can find the sharp debris as fast and easily.
Great little hack! 👌
My Ridenows just came with little stickers. Do those not work?
Those stickers are NOT repair patches. I understand they are for around the hole in the rim where the valve goes through…. To keep the valve stem from rattling, or so I’ve heard.
@@festerofest4374That's exactly the purpose.
There are two kinds of stickers included. One has a hole punched which is for the valves, and another kind without a hole. What could those be other than patches?@@festerofest4374
@@festerofest4374 They have both in the box. The valve stickers are obvious because they have pre-punched holes in them. They also include a number of stickers without holes. If not patches, what are those for?
Cyclami tpu inner tubes 4 for £25. Best value tpu tubes I've found. Not a fan of the ridenow with plastic valves.
After all complete a small amount of talc over the repaired surface is always a good idea so it won't adhere to the inside of the tire.
If you can't repair it, I'm pretty sure, if you cut the valves off, you can recycle TPU tubes in the carrier bag recycling at big supermarkets. Better than sending them to landfill!
How do you deflate the tube with paper towel 🤔
The shirt that Fred is wearing gives off human-centipede on a bike vibes.
I hate to say it, but based on this, I will burn a couple of extra watts and stick with butyl (rubber for us American folks) tubes. Seems like it is both cheaper and easier to patch and can patch more issues.
All of my flat tyres with tpu tubes have been from bonded valve failures. We need to hold manufacturers to account for non-removable valve cores
I’ve had three Tubolitos fail at the valve joint to the main tube. I’m done with TPU.
We would recommend you give the Pirelli tubes a try 🙌 Don't give up yet!
BiBike TPU tubes include 2 x patches with each tube.
I cut the edges off a tire and placed it in a tire with a tube.
I have had a lot of success with slapping electrical tape over pinholes. To help with this I wrap electrical tape around my seatpost and tear off what ever length i need.
Due to how slowly TPU leaks compared to Butyl, electrical tape is more than enough to get you home. I've also been using electrical repaired TPU tubes as my daily driver without issue.
Great hack! Do you make sure the electrical tape is the same colour as the seatpost?
@@gcntech Regular whatever color is available electrical tape. Like humans, we're all the same on the inside once in the tire.
I do a partial wrap around. Electrical tape is relatively stretchy, similar to TPU, but a gap on the alternate side allows any excess tube expansion to occur without any "TPU bubbles" if you were to over-inflate outside the tire.
Link to picture in separate comment as TH-cam generally requires approval for links
@@gcntechMatching color = NICE. Contrasting color tape that matches your bar tape, = SUPER NICE!
i think GCN should try patching using regular butyl patch. just for out of curiousity and demonstration.
We can see what we can do 🙌 Maybe a timed test? Ollie vs Alex 👀⏱
If you don’t have any glue you can use a stapler
We're not sure about this one 👀
Tubes to landfill? Woah! Hold up. Surely its just the CF items that are the only things on a bike nowadays made from unrecycleum or non-biodegradia... right?
I got at least one puncture on my TPU inner tube for every single ride in one week. I patched them and eventually the tube was made of patches. 😀
Oooof that sounds like one nasty week of riding 🚴
I always Drink the alcohol before i clean the ruber
😂😂😂
then just lick the tube ;-)
Mine broke at valve, tubolinos
35 quids, I go out and buy new tire.
That thumbnail is soooo ridiculous: SAVE $$S. If you REALLY want to save money, buy RideNow, Cyclami or Offbondage TPU tubes in AE for $4 a piece.Thank God for the Chinese Empire. If not, these established brands would eat as alive!
Some big shot from Pirelli HQ just made a call to GCN: "Ciao, just shoot ASAP a 3-minute video where you explain that our supremely overpriced TPU tubes are repairable... because we are losing our shirt to RideNow and Cyclami!!!"
Hola, no se tiene que poner el pegamento en las dos superficies?? Saludos
Inner tubes??
Repairs can over time fail. Always carry a new tube. Dont make my mistake and rely on tubes that has been patch perfectly but are now old. You well be walking home.
Great point! You can always repair the tube at home and use a spare when you're out riding, this can really help keep the ride fun and you can repair the tube stress free at home 🏡
Latex tubes are tricky to repair. TPU tougher. Tubeless, you need cush cores lately they say. I'll stick to butyl in a larger size and use glue patches cause glueless don't last permanently. There we are! $$$$ shorter, nothing's really changed.
Always, ALWAYS, pump your inner tubes with SEALANT. It helps a ton!
If they have a fixed valve core, that will be difficult, won’t it?
@@SrFedericoIt'll be impossible.