Veloplugs...
08-04-20, 10:24 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Veloplugs...
Veloplugs as a solution for too tight rims? I have some tubeless wheels by HED that are *ridiculously* tight. I have been wrestling with these things since I got them. I've posted about it a few times, sorry. After finally learning the proper technique (use the drop channel, get the bead off the shelf first) I was able to change a flat on the road with them. Anyway, I retaped them with this nice Whiskey brand tape and the next flat I got on the road was STUCK. I couldn't budge the bead off the shelf with all my strength--huge blisters on both thumbs. I was so pissed that I put them on eBay and CL.
TL;DR my actual question here... Might it be possible to make tire changes easier on these with Veloplugs? What I was thinking of trying was putting a thin layer of wax or maybe petroleum jelly on the drop channel. With no tape to "bunch" up under the bead maybe I'll be able to get tires on and off more easily. I would be happier to use these with tubes as my road only set. Beats selling them for half what I paid.
TL;DR my actual question here... Might it be possible to make tire changes easier on these with Veloplugs? What I was thinking of trying was putting a thin layer of wax or maybe petroleum jelly on the drop channel. With no tape to "bunch" up under the bead maybe I'll be able to get tires on and off more easily. I would be happier to use these with tubes as my road only set. Beats selling them for half what I paid.
08-04-20, 11:38 AM
#2
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They're less bad.
Use two wraps of 1 mil Kapton tape (16mm 5/8" for standard; 19mm 3/4" for contemporary wide rims) totaling 0.005" versus 0.010" for thin rim tapes, a bit more for two wraps of Stan's or filament tape, and 0.020" for traditional. That also provides more clearance than Velo Plugs. Even Velo Plug maker Velocity USA recommends a thin tape for their tightest tubeless ready rims.
Also start 180 degrees opposite from the valve. Make a final continuous pass milking slack around while maintaining tension to keep the second bead in the depression before flipping the last bit over.
Yes, but the thinner Kapton provides enough clearance to hand mount tires so tight you cussed at tools with Veloplugs.
Use two wraps of 1 mil Kapton tape (16mm 5/8" for standard; 19mm 3/4" for contemporary wide rims) totaling 0.005" versus 0.010" for thin rim tapes, a bit more for two wraps of Stan's or filament tape, and 0.020" for traditional. That also provides more clearance than Velo Plugs. Even Velo Plug maker Velocity USA recommends a thin tape for their tightest tubeless ready rims.
Also start 180 degrees opposite from the valve. Make a final continuous pass milking slack around while maintaining tension to keep the second bead in the depression before flipping the last bit over.
TL;DR my actual question here... Might it be possible to make tire changes easier on these with Veloplugs?
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 08-06-20 at 10:08 AM.
08-04-20, 11:48 AM
#3
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Drew is right on target. Kapton (aka Capton, Captan, Kaptan ) tape for the win.
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08-04-20, 11:57 AM
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I've got the Veloplugs on one bike.
Velocity Aerohead & Aerohead OC rims.
I don't think they do real well with some shapes of channels. Nonetheless, part of the problem with the OC rim was that the spoke holes were also off center, bringing them awfully close to the edge of the rim.
But, the off-center nature of the rim also pushed the veloplugs off-center, potentially exposing spoke hole.
My solution was the Veloplugs PLUS 1 wrap of electrical tape.
Velocity Aerohead & Aerohead OC rims.
I don't think they do real well with some shapes of channels. Nonetheless, part of the problem with the OC rim was that the spoke holes were also off center, bringing them awfully close to the edge of the rim.
But, the off-center nature of the rim also pushed the veloplugs off-center, potentially exposing spoke hole.
My solution was the Veloplugs PLUS 1 wrap of electrical tape.
08-04-20, 12:54 PM
#5
Banned
Stiff fused loop plastic rim tape deals with double wall rim holes over the spoke nip, pretty well ..
& pops out all & once, if you need to replace a spoke..
..
& pops out all & once, if you need to replace a spoke..
..
08-04-20, 01:51 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
I like the idea of Kapton tape. Going to try that. But, what about using a bead wax? I imagine that a thin layer of some kind of lubricating wax that doesn't evaporate might make it easier to pop the bead out of the channel when I need to. Maybe petroleum jelly?
08-05-20, 03:53 PM
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08-05-20, 07:20 PM
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I would not use petroleum jelly as it can cause some rubber compounds to harden or break down over time. I use the Scwwalbe tire mounting fluid and it is fantastic really for troublesome tires. It makes it easy to get the tire over the rim and for the tire to pop out and seat properly, then it fully evaporates and leaves no residue. Kind of like magic, it does exactly what it is supposed to do...
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08-06-20, 03:47 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
Somebody finally bought them on eBay so I had to box them up and ship them off. Sucks, because I really liked the wheels a lot, but, I couldn't use them because I lived in constant fear of a flat. It just wasn't worth it. Took a little loss and I'm moving on. Might try some Hunt wheels instead.
