JohnDThompson 

Everybody knows fixing flats is the bane of tubular tire users, so when I got a flat on a nearly new tire I decided to try something different. I was too lazy to rip off the tire, open the casing, and fix the tube, and the tire wasn't that good that it justified having the repair professionally done, so after a little thought I decided I'd try some of that new-fangled tire sealant. I picked up a bottle at the LBS, got home and of course discovered that my tires don't have removable valve cores.

No matter; this stuff is supposed to seal punctures, right, so what's another hole? I gathered my materials:

1 bottle "Stan's Tire Sealant," fresh from the LBS, well agitated.
1 20cc piston syringe
1 22ga hypodermic needle
1 Pista floor pump
1 wheel with punctured tubular tire.

Step 1: put a little air in the tire, using aforementioned pump. This gives the tube some shape and allows me to introduce the needle without transfixing the tube. Fortunately the leak was small enough to retain the air for several minutes:



Step 2: remove plunger from syringe, attach needle, and introduce needle into the tube. You know you're in the right place when you hear the air return. Just like a chest tube!



Step 3: remove syringe from needle hub, leaving needle properly placed in the tube. The 22ga needle lumen is still quite small, so it will take a while for a significant amount of air to be lost. In any case, you can always add more.



Step 4: fill syringe with sealant from bottle. I used about 15cc. The LBS guy told me the bottle held enough for 2 tires (59ml), but the bottle states it was intended for MTB tires. I figured I could get away with less with narrow tubulars.




Step 5: attach syringe to needle hub and inject sealant.



Step 6: remove needle, inflate to full pressure, and give the wheel a good spin to spread the sealant around, then wait to see if it works.



Several hours later, it's still at full pressure, so I declare the procedure a success!

DiabloScott

Brilliant!

Busta Quad

Step 4: fill syringe with EPO from bottle. Lance used about 15cc. The guy told me the bottle held enough for 2 races, but the bottle states it was intended for race horses. I figured I could get away with less.

DScott

I see why you did this, but the idea of adding a hole to the sidewall area of a high pressure tubular tire makes me more than just a little nervous. Especially on the front wheel.

Good luck!

wfrogge

Lance is Dope!

merlinextraligh

Vittoria Pit stop requires neither removeable valve cores, nor syringes.

wfrogge

JohnDThompson 

I'll try that next time.

JohnDThompson 

Eh, why? The worst that can happen is another flat, just like the one that brought me to this point in the first place. Remember, a front flat on a tubular tire is much safer than a front flat on a clincher tire because a tubular tire doesn't rely on air pressure to keep the tire attached to the rim.

Duke of Kent

It also sucks compared to NoTubes/Stan's sealant.

Duke of Kent

I did something similar with a tubular tire I had laying around the garage.

Bontrager branded Vittoria.

But, I took my handy NoTubes sealant injector, removed the valve core, and injected 10cc of sealant. Shook the tire around a bit, put the valve back on, and inflated it. It held 100psi for longer than it had before, when puncture-free, and held ride-able pressure for several days longer than it was previously capable.

https://www.notubes.com/product_info....products_id/46

JohnDThompson 

That's whatI would have done if the valve had a removable core. But it didn't...

DScott

Certainly a clever solution, and I guess one more little hole won't matter, especially if it's effectively plugged.

Front wheel flats just freak me out, even if you're less likely to roll a tire with tubulars.

sced

Would it be possible to get the syringe needle down the valve hole?

JohnDThompson 

No; I tried that first.

RacerOne

Clever!

irish pat

Nicely done

BTW Did anyone see the ad, that pops up on this site about needles and syringes? Is it to do with this thread, or the other use that is so popular with Baseball players?

JohnDThompson 

One day later:



Still holding full pressure; the injection site is circled.

ZeCanon

Take it a step further and make your own sealant. powdered latex (or latex patching and leveling additive, but that stuff stinks), and some water. Or windshield wiper fluid if your'e going to be using the tires below freezing.
I made 2 gallons for about $4, and it works just as well.

sced

I have a tire that is a slow leaker and I opened it but couldn't find the puncture. I'm interested in giving this syringe approach a try and would like to know where to buy stuff locally.

Would Slime work as a sealant in tubulars?
Powdered latex?
Where does one buy a syringe - at a drug store? I thought one need a prescription to buy them.

Grumpy McTrumpy

you don't need a removable valve core. just open the valve, then put a small length of plastic tubing on it, fill the tubing with sealant, then inflate around the tubing. positive pressure will push the sealant in through the valve.

trueno92

wow, how much is that pit stop stuff?

i am assuming that with DEEP profile rims i'll need to dismount the valve area of the tire from the rim and then remove valve extender?

Grumpy McTrumpy

see above.

just fill the extender with the goop. positive pressure will push it through the valve.

sced

How small diameter and where can such tubing be bought?

Grumpy McTrumpy

I never measured it. I just use the little tube that comes packaged with Tufo sealant.