Check The Glue in Your Patch Kits!
#1
Sophomore Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,690
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
631 Posts
Check The Glue in Your Patch Kits!
For those of you still running regular inner tubes. I had a flat 20 miles out, and one spare tube. When I saw that the glue in my PARK Patch Kit was completely dried out, I knew I had no choice but to turn around. Got at least two more flats on the way home, until my hand pump could no longer keep up with the leaks. Guess who had to walk about a mile in road shoes with SPD-SL plastic cleats?
Don't let this happen to you. Carry a sealed unopened tube of patch glue if at all possible, and check the tube often if you don't.
Don't let this happen to you. Carry a sealed unopened tube of patch glue if at all possible, and check the tube often if you don't.
Likes For crn3371:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Land of Enchantment
Posts: 468
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Project One
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Liked 173 Times
in
105 Posts
Had a flat last Sunday for the first time since I started riding again 18 months and 5060 miles ago. Just swapped out tubes but since before going out I was debating taking a recovery day anyway I just decided to head home after that and called it a day. When I got home I went to glue a patch on the punctured tube and of course the glue in my kit I keep in the garage was empty. I carry Park and Leyzne stick-on patches on the bike so just used one of the Park and it worked fine. Put the repaired tube in a spare wheel and a week later it is holding air no problem. I think I'll just stick with the glueless patches. I know a lot of people hate them but I've never had a problem following the directions in the pack. Probably a good idea to get a fresh pack once a year as I'm sure they age as well but the patches and glue were the same age and the patches were still good while the glue had vanished.
#5
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
I got me a bunch of single use tubes from China a while back and only carry non-opened glue with on the road. So far I've never popped one open that wasn't still good and they're going on 4 years since I got them. I think I paid like a buck for 20 of them with free shipping, that was before things went crazy. Can't even find them anymore.
Likes For Bigbus:
#6
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,810
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times
in
3,262 Posts
My kit in the seat bag consisted of both adhesive patches and glue on patches. Probably both about 5 years old. Typically I just replace the whole tube which I also carry. So recently when I finally decided to take time and patch, I found the adhesive patches too dried up to make me believe they'd work. And the glue for the glue on patches dried up. So again I wound up changing the tube entirely.
#7
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,460
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3638 Post(s)
Liked 5,315 Times
in
2,700 Posts
I carry the Park adhesive patches and replace them after a few years. I haven't bothered to check if the old ones are still sticky but that might be interesting to know. I may still have a pack of old ones....
#8
Full Member
For those of you still running regular inner tubes. I had a flat 20 miles out, and one spare tube. When I saw that the glue in my PARK Patch Kit was completely dried out, I knew I had no choice but to turn around. Got at least two more flats on the way home, until my hand pump could no longer keep up with the leaks. Guess who had to walk about a mile in road shoes with SPD-SL plastic cleats?
Don't let this happen to you. Carry a sealed unopened tube of patch glue if at all possible, and check the tube often if you don't.
Don't let this happen to you. Carry a sealed unopened tube of patch glue if at all possible, and check the tube often if you don't.
#9
Full Member
I got me a bunch of single use tubes from China a while back and only carry non-opened glue with on the road. So far I've never popped one open that wasn't still good and they're going on 4 years since I got them. I think I paid like a buck for 20 of them with free shipping, that was before things went crazy. Can't even find them anymore.
Likes For RiceAWay:
#10
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
It doesn't matter in the least whether you open the tube of glue or not. Either the carrier leaks out through the crimp at the bottom of the tube or through the metal tube itself since I have an entire box of patch kits that I bought to hand out to people and they are almost entire worthless now. Since the disappearance of the carrier is so slow, one trick is to get a large size of Rema glue that is about 4 ounces. This lasts damn near forever. But I'm still liking the glueless patches because they don't have any carrier to begin with.
#11
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 344
Bikes: GR300, Grail, Live Wire, 5010
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 189 Post(s)
Liked 241 Times
in
121 Posts
I don’t understand this “inner tube” fetish. Tubeless tires. Done. No need for patches, glue and whatnot.
Next thing you know, someone will be yammering on about “rim” brakes...
Next thing you know, someone will be yammering on about “rim” brakes...
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,887 Times
in
1,646 Posts
One trick I learned on Bike Forums was to squeeze the tube of Rema glue until the glue fills the top before screwing the cap back on, to make sure that there's no air in there to harden the glue.
Likes For Trakhak:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,297 Times
in
7,230 Posts
In other news, water is wet.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times
in
734 Posts
In my experience, once opened a tube of glue goes by quickly. So glad to be running tubeless.
Likes For bruce19:
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 196
Bikes: 2018 Jamis Renegade Exploit, 1996 Trek 930, mid-90's Dean El Diente, 2010 Scott Addict SL, 1998 Trek 730, Xtracycle EdgeRunner 30D, Xtracycle Swoop, 1992 Trek 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 84 Post(s)
Liked 104 Times
in
60 Posts
I remember when I discovered this... I passed a cyclist, stranded with a flat tire on a trail that would have been a long walk. My patch kit, for some reason, had two mostly-used tubes of glue in it, so I gave him one along with a patch, but I didn't have time to stick around and help. When I got home I discovered that my remaining tube of glue was completely empty, and I really hope the same wasn't true of tube I left with the guy I tried to help.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,803
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 2,019 Times
in
1,055 Posts
I learned that lesson when I was a long long way from home or help. A sharp stone used up my first tube, a piece of glass the second. Third was a snakebite, leaving me with patching. My glue had been previously opened, and had dried out. I ripped the tube of glue in half, and found just enough gooey stuff in the middle to make the repair.
These days I carry an unopened tube of glue.
These days I carry an unopened tube of glue.
#17
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 509
Bikes: The Good Book of bicycling
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 535 Post(s)
Liked 36 Times
in
29 Posts
It doesn't matter in the least whether you open the tube of glue or not. Either the carrier leaks out through the crimp at the bottom of the tube or through the metal tube itself since I have an entire box of patch kits that I bought to hand out to people and they are almost entire worthless now. Since the disappearance of the carrier is so slow, one trick is to get a large size of Rema glue that is about 4 ounces. This lasts damn near forever. But I'm still liking the glueless patches because they don't have any carrier to begin with.
https://www.amazon.com/Slime-1050-Ru...H8663QCYSQQQ7Z
thanks for the suggestions. now to find some deals on glueless patches just in case.
Last edited by Duo; 10-11-20 at 06:11 PM.
#18
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,935
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times
in
1,916 Posts
A few weeks ago, I squirted some Stan's sealant into the tubular tires on my fixed gear bike. I was out riding yesterday and got a front puncture. Sprayed sealant all over for about 30 seconds, then stopped. Only lost about 20 psi (90 down to 70); didn't feel that my gimpy shoulders could pump it any higher, and didn't feel like blowing a CO2 cartridge for that little pressure loss, so I kept riding. No problems; worked fine, got home fine, etc. Topped it back up to 90psi for today's ride, did the same route (34 mile loop), and it held up fine.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Posts: 2,185
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 470 Post(s)
Liked 1,016 Times
in
398 Posts
I too have found that the "usual" patch glue (ex: like in Slime kits) dries out quickly. I've had some success keeping opened tubes in a zip lock plastic bag but still.... I recently wanted to patch a e-bike tube (26 x 4.5) for the grand kids to use swimming. I dug out a previously opened small tube of Rema vulcanizing fluid from who knows when. Probably found it out on a trail years ago. I was suprised that it was still liquid. And it worked just fine. I now wonder if the Rema fluid is fundamentally different from the other rubber cement type products. I'm going to bin the other stuff and stock Rema kits now.
As suggested. You can buy large cans of the Rema fluid so it must last well once opened.
As suggested. You can buy large cans of the Rema fluid so it must last well once opened.
#22
Sophomore Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,690
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
631 Posts
To me, this seems like the way to go. Unlimited tire pressures, using ultra high performance tubulars that the pros use, quick sealing, no mess other than gluing the tire on initially.
It's possible that a slightly different sealant might be needed for the higher pressures, but that seems like an easy problem to solve.
It's possible that a slightly different sealant might be needed for the higher pressures, but that seems like an easy problem to solve.
Last edited by Lemond1985; 10-12-20 at 06:59 AM.
#23
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,935
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times
in
1,916 Posts
The Stan's label explicitly mentions use in tubulars, and it seems to work. Who am I to argue?
The only issue I can think of is that some tubular tires don't have a removable valve core, which makes it a bit trickier to get the sealant into the tire.
The only issue I can think of is that some tubular tires don't have a removable valve core, which makes it a bit trickier to get the sealant into the tire.
#24
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 509
Bikes: The Good Book of bicycling
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 535 Post(s)
Liked 36 Times
in
29 Posts
I too have found that the "usual" patch glue (ex: like in Slime kits) dries out quickly. I've had some success keeping opened tubes in a zip lock plastic bag but still.... I recently wanted to patch a e-bike tube (26 x 4.5) for the grand kids to use swimming. I dug out a previously opened small tube of Rema vulcanizing fluid from who knows when. Probably found it out on a trail years ago. I was suprised that it was still liquid. And it worked just fine. I now wonder if the Rema fluid is fundamentally different from the other rubber cement type products. I'm going to bin the other stuff and stock Rema kits now.
As suggested. You can buy large cans of the Rema fluid so it must last well once opened.
As suggested. You can buy large cans of the Rema fluid so it must last well once opened.
good question though, anyone know if there is any differences in the glue brand? my experience has been the little tubes just dry up sitting around.
#25
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
I just ordered a 3-pack of glue tubes, based on this thread.
I just did a quick survey in our garage. I think we have about 9 bikes.
Of the six tubeless tires set up (all on mountain bikes) in our garage, three have lost most of their air pressure in no more than a week and a half. For those with tubes (road and old mountain bikes), all are rideable (although in some cases a top-off might be warranted). I am still not convinced that tubeless (at least around here) is more trouble than putting up with a very occasional puncture or pinch-flat on a tubed tire.
I just did a quick survey in our garage. I think we have about 9 bikes.
Of the six tubeless tires set up (all on mountain bikes) in our garage, three have lost most of their air pressure in no more than a week and a half. For those with tubes (road and old mountain bikes), all are rideable (although in some cases a top-off might be warranted). I am still not convinced that tubeless (at least around here) is more trouble than putting up with a very occasional puncture or pinch-flat on a tubed tire.
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 10-12-20 at 02:53 PM.