April 15, 20206 yr I`ve had a pro rider etourer ebike for about four years now with very little trouble but in the last week my back wheel has had three flats in four days, I keep getting inner tubes from Halford but they only last a couple of miles before bursting and always in the same place at the base of air intake (see photos), anyone throw light on this as I hav'nt had done bike maintenence for fifty years
April 15, 20206 yr Are you seating the inner tube correctly as you fit the outer? If you start seating the outer where the inner tube connector comes out and work round simultaneously in both directions it should come out right. It you don't then the inner can get out of orientation, with the the connector not lining up with the hole in the rim. The connector then gets bent over and is really distorted, and then breaks after a little bit.
April 15, 20206 yr I'm not seeing a rim tape on that wheel? Also maybe the hole needs chamfering smooth. Edit: Beat me to it!
April 15, 20206 yr There are many reasons, some due to using tools, which is why, once the repair is set, I put the tube back in the tyre, only with my hands. Then I put a bit of air only, to reduce the liklihood of pinching the tube between rim and tyre, then again, only using my hands, I slip the tyre wall back into place. On some fat or specialised tyres, that may not be as easy as I make out here though! Also, years ago I had a similar problem, and I found a bit of a thorn, had gone into the tread, was totally invisible, but was holing the tube, but only once air pressure was built up, but as it only came a tiny amount, less than 1 mm, into the tyre, I had to ride to cause the next hole. Two ways to handle it:- 1) run your hand around the inside of the tyre and feel for the thorn. Always marking the tyre with the position of the valve, and knowing the direction of the tyre, makes that easier as you know roughly where to look! 2) Take an old tyre, cut off the walls so that you just have the worn tread. Place that between the current tyre tread and the tube, it gives quite a good protection and is really cheap! Give it about a 2 centimeter overlap when installing. Best of luck Andy
April 15, 20206 yr Author Are you using rim tape? =i There are many reasons, some due to using tools, which is why, once the repair is set, I put the tube back in the tyre, only with my hands. Then I put a bit of air only, to reduce the liklihood of pinching the tube between rim and tyre, then again, only using my hands, I slip the tyre wall back into place. On some fat or specialised tyres, that may not be as easy as I make out here though! Also, years ago I had a similar problem, and I found a bit of a thorn, had gone into the tread, was totally invisible, but was holing the tube, but only once air pressure was built up, but as it only came a tiny amount, less than 1 mm, into the tyre, I had to ride to cause the next hole. Two ways to handle it:- 1) run your hand around the inside of the tyre and feel for the thorn. Always marking the tyre with the position of the valve, and knowing the direction of the tyre, makes that easier as you know roughly where to look! 2) Take an old tyre, cut off the walls so that you just have the worn tread. Place that between the current tyre tread and the tube, it gives quite a good protection and is really cheap! Give it about a 2 centimeter overlap when installing. Best of luck Andy Yes I am using rim tape, I took it off for a better photo. I was a bit surprised that the hole for the inner tube stub does not have a liner/grommet to minimise chafing When refitting I put just enough air in the tube to hold its shape, insert it into empty tyre, place air inlet thro hole and then refit whole tyre. Those inner tubes with presta valves look stronger, could I use one of them
April 15, 20206 yr =i Yes I am using rim tape, I took it off for a better photo. I was a bit surprised that the hole for the inner tube stub does not have a liner/grommet to minimise chafing When refitting I put just enough air in the tube to hold its shape, insert it into empty tyre, place air inlet thro hole and then refit whole tyre. Those inner tubes with presta valves look stronger, could I use one of them I have to admit that I don't know what difference there is in diameter between Presta and Schroder (car tyre), but guessing only, I would think that the Presta is slimmer, and if true, that would possibly allow dirt and moisture in. Perhaps using a sealant may be effective? I have bored out rims to allow a car valve through, but never tried the opposite! regards Andy
April 15, 20206 yr Without rim tape the tube will slide on the shiny inner surface as it slides around, the only option is for the valve base to rip/tear as it pulls against the valve hole. For rim tape you can use anything . electrical tape, tubeless tape as well as a proper rim tape. Edited April 16, 20206 yr by Nealh
April 15, 20206 yr Had a similar problem with my wife's bike - the hole in the rim had a sharp edge. Even after smoothing the edge another tube failed, so I put a tight-fitting washer (cut from a piece of inner tube) round the valve stem and haven't had any problems since.
April 16, 20206 yr Good advice above, also the tubes may be of poor quality. Are they Halfords own brand? Dave.
April 16, 20206 yr I have to admit that I don't know what difference there is in diameter between Presta and Schroder (car tyre), but guessing only, I would think that the Presta is slimmer, and if true, that would possibly allow dirt and moisture in. Perhaps using a sealant may be effective? I have bored out rims to allow a car valve through, but never tried the opposite! regards Andy You can get little adaptors to narrow down rim hole from Schrader to Presta. Might also help with sharp rim hole, but better to smooth that off anyway if it is the problem. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mavic-Schreader-Presta-Hole-Adapters-pack/dp/B004AQLDD8 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-Schrader-Grommet-Bicycle-Adaptor/dp/B07D7MJV3R
April 16, 20206 yr Both adaptors currently unavailable from Amazon who don’t know when/if any more available...... Jim
April 16, 20206 yr Both adaptors currently unavailable from Amazon who don’t know when/if any more available...... Jim Those were just for examples that came up in a search. Try a google search for 'Schrader to Presta rim adaptors' and you'll find lots more, I'm sure some available. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Schrader-Drilled-Rim-to-Presta-Valve-Converter-Adapter-Reducer-Grommet/264688775036?hash=item3da0ae2f7c:g:IYYAAOSwE0peh5Nd https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-tape/mavic-rim-valve-hole-drilling-converter-insert-schraeder-to-presta/ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-X-PAIR-MAVIC-SCHRADER-TO-PRESTA-RIM-VALVE-CONVERTERS-ADAPTERS-REDUCERS-/292352148010
April 17, 20206 yr I`ve had a pro rider etourer ebike for about four years now with very little trouble but in the last week my back wheel has had three flats in four days, I keep getting inner tubes from Halford but they only last a couple of miles before bursting and always in the same place at the base of air intake (see photos), anyone throw light on this as I hav'nt had done bike maintenence for fifty years [ATTACH=full]34736[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]34737[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]34738[/ATTACH] Try a tube that has the thread running all the way down the valve stem. This will have a locking nut to hold the stem in position and take the weight as the tube tries to creep inside of the tyre. Most if not all Presta valves have this.
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