BICYCLE REPAIR |
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This is the second flat-tire-repair article on my site. I offer two because some people prefer the photo-and-caption-style instructions and others prefer more explanation, which I provide in my other fix-a-flat story. If you really want to be an expert, read them both! First, here are 2 simple and short videos to watch showing tire removal and installation by hand (they open in a new window): Removing a tire by hand Installing a tire |
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What
You Need: As
shown in the photo on the right, you dont need many tools to repair
a flat tire. Shown, from left to right: get a pump, a spare tube
and tire levers. Id also recommend carrying a patch kit, which comes in handy if you get back-to-back flats. And, get the full-on kit, rather than the so-called glueless kit because the regular patch kits fix the tube as good as new. Also, the longer the pump is, the easier it will be to inflate the tire. If you must get a mini because thats all you can carry or mount on your particular frame, be sure to test it before buying to ensure that it does the job (some minis require way too much pumping). Read more about what to put in your take-along bicycle repair kit. |
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Open
the brake:
As soon as you get that sinking feeling or hear the hiss of
escaping air, let your ride partners know you have a flat (so they wont
disappear over the horizon) and stop. If its a rear flat, shift onto
the smallest rear cog. The first step in wheel removal is opening the brake
(photos), which makes it easier to get the wheel out.
Open sidepull brakes by fully rotating the little
lever on the brake upwards (a). |
Tips Be safe! Work off the road/trail so a semi doesnt flatten you! While its possible to get the flat tire through the brake without opening it, it wont be so easy reinstalling the wheel when its fully inflated. Thats why we recommend opening the brake first. If you have disk brakes, theres nothing to open. The wheel will come right out of the brake with no muss, no fuss. |
Remove
the wheel:
Open the quick release
(or loosen the axle nuts) on the wheel with the flat and lift the bike to
remove the wheel. To extract rear wheels, it helps to pull the derailleur
back slightly to clear the axle parts as the wheel passes through (main
photo). For fronts, youll probably need to hold one side of the quick release and turn the other counterclockwise to create clearance to get past the wheel-retention tabs on the fork (inset photo). Tips |
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Remove the
tire and tube:
Remove the valve cap (not shown) and nut (sometimes found on Presta valves:
inset photo). For Presta valves, unscrew the tip (inset
photo) and press down to let all the air out. For Schraders, poke the
end of your tire lever into the valve to release all the air. Starting directly
opposite the valve, wiggle a tire lever beneath the tire edge (called the
bead) and pry down to lift. If possible, hook the lever on a
spoke (many levers are made to do this), or hold it in place. Place another
lever about 6 inches away from the first and pry here (main photo).
Continue with your third lever until you can get one side of the tire off.
Then reach inside and extract the tube. Pull the other side of the tire
off the rim or pry it off with your levers.
Tips |
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Inspect
the tire:
Its important to find whatever caused the flat and remove it. If
you dont, the sharp item might still be in the tire where itll
just pop your new tube. To find it, remove your glove (or use a rag),
and run it around inside the tire in both directions (photo). If
something sharp is still stuck in your tire, itll snag the glove.
Remove it. If you cant find anything, it probably got knocked out
during the disassembly procedure.
Tips |
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Install
the tube & tire: 4 Easy Steps 1. Inflate the new tube just enough to round it out and remove any wrinkles, and place it inside the tire. Stand the wheel up (rest it against your shins) with the valve hole on top and hold the tire/tube over the wheel so that the valve is on top (inset photo). 2. Place the valve partway into the hole and
simultaneously push the part of the tire bead thats at the valve
and closest to your legs onto the rim. With both hands moving downward
away from the valve, finish working the bottom tire bead (the one closest
to your legs) onto the wheel all the way around. If it wont fit
onto the rim, check that the valve is inside the tire, not trapped beneath
the bead. Tips |
3. With one bead in place, tuck the tube fully inside the tire and on top of the rim, which will cause the other bead to rest flush against the rim. Work this bead on, starting at the valve as you did with the first. You may have to push the valve into the tire to provide clearance for the bead. Once youve got it started, work your hands away from the valve pressing the bead onto the rim around the wheel. 4. With a few inches of bead left to pop onto the rim, the tire will resist. Let all the air out. Crouch and rest the wheel on your knee to have something to push against. Now, hold the bead in place with one hand and with your stronger hand, push down to roll the stubborn section onto the rim with the heel of your hand (main photo). But dont try to pop it on all at once. Install an inch at a time, moving your hand along until youve fully installed the tire. Got it? Way to go!! |
Tips |
Inflate
and seat the tire:
Place your pump on the valve and inflate the tire. To prevent valve damage,
brace it by wrapping a finger behind a spoke (photo left) so youre
pushing against your hand, not the valve. Inflate the tire until its
just firm (not fully inflated). At this point, inspect the tire to make
sure its seated, which means that its sitting correctly
on the rim.
If the tube gets trapped beneath a bead (photo top),
inflating further may blow the tire and tube off the rim! |
To
remove tires by hand it helps to understand
how tires and rims are designed to work. If you look at a wheel with the
tire removed, you’ll see that there’s a deep portion at the
center (called the rim well). This is the key to easy tire removal and installation.
The tire is designed to fit over the wheel if you keep it in the rim well
where the diameter of the wheel is smallest. (When inflated, tires sits
higher because the beads seat on shelves on the sides of the rim. And, in
this position, tires are made not to come off.) By squeezing the beads together and forcing them into the rim well first, you’ll find that you have sufficient slack to work the tire up and over the top of the rim and into place with your hands (it’s a bit like how a fluorescent ceiling light cover works; if you’ve ever removed one). It does take a little practice and it's important to have a tube slightly smaller than the tire, and to make sure the tube is completely flat. But with this technique and a little practice you'll find that you can pop tires on an off by hand alone — and amaze your friends too boot. |
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