LarrySellerz

Hey guys, anyone have a rule of thumb/old wives tale for how much pressure you should run when using different types of makeshift patches? The MTB I’ve been riding has a slow leak which today got way worse (audible) and went flat in a couple of minutes. I don’t have any more patches, so I used a piece of tape over the pinhole leak, the finger of a nitrile glove over that, and more tape to hold the nitrile in place. I wanted a piece of a dollar bill, which is a lot tougher than the glove.

my understanding is when people use a dollar bill to boot the tire, they run it at full pressure.

im worried that my glove is less substantial and I should run lower pressure. I’m running 40 instead of 60 right now, riding home, the leak has slowed down considerably or stopped so far.

Obviously, I want to run as high of a pressure as I can to maximize the time before it’s too flat to ride, but maybe too high and the boot fails?

terrymorse 

Welcome back, Larry. BF wasn't the same without you.

Are we talking tube patch or tubeless tire patch?

Jay Turberville

If you have rubber cement or even contact cement, I'd use that and a piece from an old inner tube rather than the kludge you've put together. If you do try to use an old inner tube, make sure you rough up the makeshift patch and the tube you are repairing very thoroughly. I'd also let it cure overnight before inflating

My only rule of thumb regarding this is to avoid anything makeshift when it comes to tires. I suggest riding to an auto parts store or bike shop and getting a patch kit.

SpedFast

If you did that out on the trail and it got you home, CONGRATULATIONS! Job accomplished. But once you're home, fix it right. Rubber/contact cement and a piece from an old inner tube like Jay suggested works great if you can't lay your hands on a regular patch. Good luck

marko_1111

Keep the pressure where it is if it's working!

So no magic formula for what you're doing, but I'm impressed your MacGyver move worked at all, regardless the pressure. That said, a boot is not a patch. You need something to galvanize rubber to effectively patch. I've only used a boot or a dollar bill when there's a hole or a gash in the tire so large that the tube blows out through the hole.

On the other hand, I'll try the LarrySellerz method next time I'm otherwise stranded.

rm -rf

The dollar bill isn't for the tube patch. It's to keep the tube from bulging out of a fairly big cut in the tire.

indyfabz

#PatchKit<$10

indyfabz

Yep. And after having to boot a tire with a twenty, I always make sure I bring a one with me.

LarrySellerz

Somehow this is holding strong after 10 miles. Thinking more yeah this is unrelated to dollar bill tire boots

rsbob 

Mebe crazy glue? Nail polish? A staple?

big john

As was posted, you got home, now fix it.

rsbob 

Welcome back Larry. You were sorely missed!

rollagain

https://www.rescuetape.com/
It's at least as expensive as a patch kit, and weighs more and takes up more space. What's not to like?

Outrider1

Made it home, mission accomplished! How about a new tube?

pdlamb

I used a $5 bill (smallest I had on me) and it worked. On a later occasion a $1 bill failed me. Bigger is better, it seems.

Buzzkill53120

Jay Turberville

I'd just file that in the "Win" column - then go and get a proper fix.

Ghazmh

Congrats Larry, all in all that was a successful limp home. One time I had to shoot CO2 into by back tire every 3-4 miles to get home since I had a cut on my thumb and there was no way I was able to replace the tube roadside. I can’t remember if I read it hear or heard it on a podcast but I vaguely recall someone mentioning how they tied a knot in the tube at the hole and was able air it up enough to slowly ride home, granted with a lot of thump-thumps.

Slightly off topic but I predict we’ll get at least 4 pages out of this one.

wheelreason

I guess a patchkit or new tube makes too much sense?.... Oh wait, It's Larry...

mstateglfr 

Scotch Tape only- 10psi
Scotch Tape with honey- 6psi
Generic Duct Tape- 16psi
Duck brand Duct Tape- 19psi
Gorilla brand Duct Tape- 167psi
Melted wax- 4psi
Unmelted wax- 2psi
Electrical tape- 16psi
Electrical tape covering Generic Duct Tape covering Scotch Tape- 166psi


All of these have been field tested for just this moment. I told my wife she needed to mind her business and let me use up all our random tapes because some day a BF thread would need to be answered!**

Chuck M 

Pricier than some patch kits. But you get what you pay for.

Jay Turberville

One inch Gorilla tape is only about $4. I usually carry some with me.

LarrySellerz

I have something that looks exactly like this and I hate it, messy and gets everywhere. Maybe it’s just old.

at this point I’m happy with the repair (25 miles) and am not going to take the tube out unless it goes flat. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

The plan is to put another couple hundred miles on it to convince myself that it holds and then crank it up to 60 psi and see how it works there. I’m thinking about it more, and high pressure might help the nitrile glove seal. I bet it’s doing the heavy lifting not the tape, it’s a nice brand of gloves.

it will most likely fail eventually (maybe if the glove shifts), but it’s a good science experiment. It’s the back tire so no safety concern

mstateglfr 

Bro, you used a piece of tape, part of a nitrile glove, and other tape as your fix. And you wished you used a dollar bill even though you didn't know why a dollar bill is used for tire repairs.
That tube is not fixed.

But you be you and tell yourself it's fixed even though 10min of preventative maintenance can save 20 minutes of in ride repair, or even injury.

Jay Turberville

"Don't fix what isn't broken" doesn't exactly apply here. But heck - it will be fun hearing how it all turns out. Life is an adventure after all. :^)