This tubeless mounting technique worked for me
#1
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This tubeless mounting technique worked for me
I was able to get the bead on the shelf about 3/4 the way around and get the beads seated with a regular floor pump without even taking out the valve core.
My tires: (new) Panaracer GK SK 700x50
My rims: (new) WTB KOM Tough 700x25
Thanks Syd and Macky.
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#3
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My panaracer gravelking slicks require this technique. Even blasting air from a big air compressor can't get the beads seated because the tire is just too floppy. Alternatively, I can install the tire with a tube, air up to seat the beads, and then carefully break the bead on just one side and remove the tube.
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daisy chain the valve from a really large SUV to the tubeless wheel. Let the heavy vehicle pow that air right in the kisser. It might work, but that's entertainment for someone else to find out.
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Best part of the video is at 2:40. "Why do we even have this?"
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#7
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#8
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1. Buy a $90 6 gallon compressor. I got mine (Porter Cable) on sale from Amazon during prime days several year ago,also useful for inflating car tires and running tools
2. Buy a $20 Prestaflator clone, good ones are widely available these days (or buy the real one for $60 like I did)
3. Mount the valve, push down hard on the top with your thumb while tightening the nut. Carefully give it another quarter turn with a pair of pliers if you need to.
4. Get the most of the bead into the center trough of the rim, spray the remaining bead you need to mount with counter cleaner or whatever is handy to make it easier to mount, lever them on if you need to
5. Spray the bead down again to form a better temporary seal
6. Set the regulator to maybe 40 lbs to start, if that doesn't work, slowly increase the pressure until it does. Don't go higher than recommended max of tire.
7. Let off the pressure as soon as the beads pop. Check beads carefully with flashlight to make sure they are seated properly (using molded line on tire).
8. Pour sealant in through valve stem using one of the 2oz bottles Stan's sells (I refill and reuse the bottle from a bulk supply of sealant).
9. Reinstall valve core.
10. Inflate tire.
11. Slosh sealant around in tire until you can't hear any more leaks. Wipe the inevitable few drops on sealant on the floor up.
12. Take bike around the block quickly.
I've done probably 12 tubeless setups at this point. Road, MTB, gravel, fat. I've never had any problem with the above process, works with any tire/rim combo I've tried. The last full setup I did (gravel bike, 50mm Gravelkings SKs on inexpensive OEM rims) took maybe 20 minutes of work total for both wheels and has held air for months. Two nights ago, I cleaned and retaped an Enve SES with Scotch 8898 and remounted a tire in maybe 10 minutes flat. I've found tubeless is a matter of confidence: if you BELIEVE the tire will mount, it will.
2. Buy a $20 Prestaflator clone, good ones are widely available these days (or buy the real one for $60 like I did)
3. Mount the valve, push down hard on the top with your thumb while tightening the nut. Carefully give it another quarter turn with a pair of pliers if you need to.
4. Get the most of the bead into the center trough of the rim, spray the remaining bead you need to mount with counter cleaner or whatever is handy to make it easier to mount, lever them on if you need to
5. Spray the bead down again to form a better temporary seal
6. Set the regulator to maybe 40 lbs to start, if that doesn't work, slowly increase the pressure until it does. Don't go higher than recommended max of tire.
7. Let off the pressure as soon as the beads pop. Check beads carefully with flashlight to make sure they are seated properly (using molded line on tire).
8. Pour sealant in through valve stem using one of the 2oz bottles Stan's sells (I refill and reuse the bottle from a bulk supply of sealant).
9. Reinstall valve core.
10. Inflate tire.
11. Slosh sealant around in tire until you can't hear any more leaks. Wipe the inevitable few drops on sealant on the floor up.
12. Take bike around the block quickly.
I've done probably 12 tubeless setups at this point. Road, MTB, gravel, fat. I've never had any problem with the above process, works with any tire/rim combo I've tried. The last full setup I did (gravel bike, 50mm Gravelkings SKs on inexpensive OEM rims) took maybe 20 minutes of work total for both wheels and has held air for months. Two nights ago, I cleaned and retaped an Enve SES with Scotch 8898 and remounted a tire in maybe 10 minutes flat. I've found tubeless is a matter of confidence: if you BELIEVE the tire will mount, it will.
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Circling back to this. I tried this, friends, with a new Panaracer Gravelking+ (43mm) and a WTB ST TCS rim (i23mm). I was at home swapping tires. And it sucked! It was really difficult. I gave up and dug out the compressor. I think it would be a lot easier on a MTB tire than on a gravel bike tire, because it would help to have more shelf before the bead seat and more tire to tug on.
My flat approach is still darts and more sealant but it gave me something to think about. If you plan to take the tire off in the field, you need a tube.
My flat approach is still darts and more sealant but it gave me something to think about. If you plan to take the tire off in the field, you need a tube.
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 08-24-21 at 11:28 PM.
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I use a compressor to seat the tires. It is a snap.
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I use a Topeak booster track pump, which works every time for me. Stubborn tyres that refuse to seat after a couple of blasts are usually leaking from one spot on the rim. All you do then is find the spot where the leak is, and push down on it with the palm of your hand while you blast it again. Then they usually pop into place. I've never had to resort to any other method in the last 20 years of running tubeless. Before I had a booster pump I always managed to get by with a normal track pump and a bit of soapy water. But I finally got defeated by a stubborn road tubeless tyre that refused to seat - solved by the booster pump.
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I’ve always used that method - it’s easy and works as long as the tire has been unfolded and had a chance to take shape. Same method with a bump of CO2 will get you back rolling if you break a seal on a ride. Replace CO2 with pump air when you get home. She does a good job of demonstrating it.
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Or you could just go with Mavic UST. No compressor required. Very easy. I've done it several times on our three road bikes.