Tomm Willians

Today I found the need to pull one of my tubulars of the Zipp rim as I couldn’t get it to inflate. I suspected (correctly) that the valve had shut causing the problem. Once I pulled the tire off (with considerable difficulty) I discovered that the tire was installed using Tufo tape but there was still a considerable layer of glue under the tape. I was a bit surprised by this as the previous owner was a detail oriented former TT competitor that I assumed would have cleaned the glue off before applying the tape.
Not a big deal ? Cleaning old glue has been a major pain in my limited experience, if the rim doesn’t need to be virtually glue free it would save a LOT of time.

Andrew R Stewart 

Not cleaning off old glue was the norm back in the day. If the glue didn't pull off with the tire's removal it was pretty well bonded with the rim, just what you want a sew up glue to be. Also some sew up tape instructed the installer to use a base layer of glue before the tape was used. I don't remember what the various Tufo tapes instructed users to do any more. Maybe you can search for an instruction sheet on line to find out, or visit a LBS that stocks Tufo tape and read the included instructions

Either way I don't think it maters if old glue is still there as long as it's not so thick as to cause a lumpy tire seating. For what it's worth the many tens of thousands of miles (and dozens of tires) I rode on sew ups I only used rim tape as an on the road flat replacement, a temporary situation as the spare tire was removed and the tire (new or spare) was glued as usual.

this isn't a bad question as rolling a tire is always a nasty thing (I can still hear the sound that a tireless rim makes on pavement as it slides out) Andy

woodcraft

IME, the old standard of leaving a thick bed of glue does not work so well with modern (Mastik) glues, which, being thinner, want a smoother surface.

This also applies to tape, from what I've read.

I use a curved carving gouge to remove glue, whether just the lumps, or all. It take a bit of time but doesn't make the mess of a wire wheel, nor the toxics of solvents.

If the valve problem included an old style extension, it's worth it to replace with the kind that puts the valve core where you can deal with it, and if it's an older Vittoria

tire with those stupid removable stems, consider junking the tire.

speedevil 

The makers of Effetto Mariposa Caronga tape say that the rim should be completely clean for the best bond between the tire and the rim. Other makers may have different recommendations, but tape will always stick best on a smooth and clean surface.

A new layer of glue will soften the old glue, but the adhesive in the tape won't do that, or at least not nearly as well.

If you intend to use tape I would recommend that you clean the old glue off, I would avoid using a wire brush to remove the old glue. I had very good results using the Effetto rim cleaner - you could not tell that a tubular had ever been glued on the rim.

79pmooney

I've used Tubasti for decades. Never cleaned rims. (Sometimes scrape highs down and fill lows but if the glue was stuck solidly, I trusted it and the glue added to it far more than anything to a clean rim.)

I just went onlne to verify that Tubasti was still available. Amazon, yes. Then Jensen "no longer available". What? Now, is that Amazon Tubasti of who knows how old stock? Is it still being made? Went to Velox website. Took a little searching. (Saw Clement solvent first and my heart sank again.) Then the tab for Glue for Tubular. And there it was. Tubasti, by the tube, by the tub! Yeah! (Now, if I lived in a very hot area, especially with hot descents, I wouldn't use Tubasti. But for the Pacific NW, SF Bay Area, Michigan and New England, it is the stuff. (And maybe descents on CF rims but I have yet to ride those.))

My next rims will be tubular. I'm going back because I never again want to blow a tire and have it come off. Not in this lifetime. And I don't want to to even be a possibility going downhill at better than 45. (Blew tubulars at least once at those speeds many years ago. Enough of a non-event that I don't even remember if it was front or rear.)

Ben

Tomm Willians

I just ordered the cleaner, Acetone works too slow for me.

trailangel

Acetone, an old dull screwdriver and a stiff wire brush. There is no shortcut.

squirtdad

brass brush on a drill fast and safe

JohnDThompson 

A wire wheel mounted on a bench grinder makes quick work of it. Less than a minute per wheel; no nasty solvents, no tiresome scraping.





N.B. wear face & eye protection. Not recommended for carbon fiber rims.

trailangel

^^ That looks good. I try not to use power tools if I don't have too.....might take it too far.