coffeesnob

Is it normal for tubes to take on a rather irregular shape after applying patches. I have put about 5 on one tube and when I put a little air in it it looks like a balloon animal (exaggerating a little but you should get the picture) Is ths ok to still use? Thanks

davidad

It happens. Put it in and ride it.

CliffordK

If the patches are stuck on well, they have less stretch than the unpatched tube.

It is ok unless the patches encircle the tube, and the tube is vastly undersized.

1nterceptor

Normal and okay to use.

RubeRad

As others have said, absolutely normal. When patching at home, I like to squeeze the patch on good and hard with a C-clamp for a few minutes, so the tube doesn't peel away from the patch at the edges. But inside the tire, the tube's stretch is contained and the patch will be fine if well applied.

Bill Kapaun

Since you've basically doubled the thickness, how could you possibly expect it to stretch the same?

coffeesnob

I don't quite get what you are asking.

Bill Kapaun

I don't understand why you don't?

RubeRad

'doubled the thickness' of the tube by gluing a patch to it, making the total rubber twice as thick there. That extra thickness makes the tube stronger, harder to stretch, so it will stretch less there than in all the thin places. Bill Kapaun is saying you should have expected that.

Wilfred Laurier

The tube takes the shape of the tire when assembled on a wheel, so there is no effect from tube bulges and squeezes that occur when you blow the unmounted tube up like a balloon.

coffeesnob

I never thought about it until I saw the odd shaped tube so I didn't expect seeing a balloon animal after putting all those patches on.I never put that many patches on one tube before. Are all tubes the same thickness? I would think a thicker tube would take patches better and thus the tube would retain it's original shape somewhat more.

coffeesnob

Is this a fact. Not wanting to sound like a jerk but I would like to see the tube shape in the tire after filling with air.

Wilfred Laurier

Thicker tube might not get as deformed, but even in the thinnest of tubes with dozens of patches, this is a complete non-problem - the shape of the tube outside the tire is irrelevant as it will always take the shape of the tire when pumped up.

Wilfred Laurier

Then reinstall the tube you are concerned about and see what it looks like. I'll wait....

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....See? Patched tubes always look weird if you inflate them outside of the tire, but are never a problem once installed an inflated.

RubeRad

Then cut viewports in your tire and boot them with thick clear plastic sheets (report binder front pages? old-school transparencies?). Or invent transparent tires.

Or buy a Rabbit Hole rim, replace the tough vinyl rimstrip with clear plastic sheeting, put a tube in the tire with patches wherever you want, inflate, and see what it looks like at all the holes.