On reflection I thought some here might get some use out of my misadvantures with tubular tires.
Charles Andrews
SoCal -------- Forwarded message -------- Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 16:17:22 -0800 From: chasds@mindspring.com Reply-to: Charles Andrews <chasa@classicalradio.org> To: krcomet3@sbcglobal.net Cc: chasds@mindspring.com Subject: tubular tires
krcomet wrote:
1.. Does Velox or anyone still make a Sew Up repair kit?
Yes, they do, I think. If not velox, the equivalent for clinchers works fine...just find some fairly sturdy thread to use to sew the tire casings back together. Heavy guage waxed sewing thread is a good choice. Don't use thread that's too thin, I've done it, and it will break under the pressure, ruining the tube.
2.. What type of adhesive can be used to attach the rim tape back to = underside of a tubular tire?
Ah, the great riddle. I've been using water-soluable contact cement. Clean all debris from both tire and tape, make SURE the base-tape is well-glued to itself, so it won't come apart (re-glue with the strongest glue or contact cement you can find, if necessary), then put the tape on a bare rim/wheel. Apply two coats of contact cement to both the tape and the tire. Then put the tire over the tape on the rim when the glue is no longer tacky. Make sure the tire goes on straight the first time, or you'll have crooked base tape. Not fatal, just ugly. Pump the tire up to full pressure, let dry overnight.
I've done it this way several times. The edges of the base tape usually won't stick to the tire because there's no pressure there, but the center of the tire and the tape with adhere to each other pertty well, well enough for use. The current water-soluable contact cements are a little more forgiving than earlier solvent-borne cements. You can remove the tape from the tire, with some elbow grease, and you can reglue when necessary.
I guarantee nothing here, you use this method entirely at your own risk.
Latex DOES NOT WORK here. Not adhesive enough. I've tried it. More than once. I think original tires were assembled under a lot of pressure...and even then, latex doesn't stick indefinitely, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.
3.. Is liquid latex still available to be used to recondition the = sidewalls of "dry" tires?
Sure, but it doesn't work. I've never been able to get latex rubber to properly adhere to dried-out sidewalls. The original tires were assembled with heat and pressure, of that I'm almost sure. If you *soaked* the tire in thinned latex for a month, maybe...a good alternative: smear rim glue on bare spots and let dry. Tubasti is best, dries white. Or use Vittoria Cement, it dries clear. Or use the aforementioned contact cement; the stuff I have dries clear and flexible, and sticks a whole lot better than latex.
4.. Recommendations on a good Tubular Cement removal solvent?
Any alkaline-based water-soluable cleaner (like Formula 409 or similar), works well to get the stuff off your hands. Don't worry about removing it from old rims unless the glue is hard and brittle, in which case, use a small screwdriver or similar to gently peel and scrape away the glue to bare metal. Tedious, but crucial. Once you've done that, a light swipe over gluing area with medium grit sand-paper isn't a bad idea. You just need a stable surface to glue to. If the old cement is still pliable, and sticking well, you don't need to remove it. The new cement will act as a mild solvent, mixing with the old glue to provide a good joint.
5.. And finally: What is the best way to repair a "Herniated" tire = casing, if it can be repaired? (I.E.- big bubble in the tread but tire = still holds air!) =20
If the herniation is very small, cut up an old tubular and glue a piece of fabric to the herniation from the inside, using rim glue or contact cement. If the herniation is sizable, toss the tire.
A couple of people I know who have many bikes and ride them all often (including me), have gone to using very cheap tires on most of their bikes. Vittoria Rally or similar. The Rally is a fine tire for the money (available for as little as $10 apiece.) When the tire flats, they just toss it and buy another.
I have a number of bikes with very fine tires on them, and I ride them alright, but every time I flat one, I cry a little. The best solution may be to have one hf and one lf set of more-or-less generic vintage wheels (like Campagnolo record hubs with Fiamme Red rims), put really good tires on those, when then pop those wheels into whatever ride you want for the day. I've been doing that lately. It'll save on tires eventually. And I get to ride my good tires, using them up before they deteriorate from age, which is really a problem when you have a lot of bikes...nothing like having a set of old Clement silks in good shape that simply disintegrate from age before you get to use them up on the road!