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I have posted before about my Tubeless woes with a wheel I have:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/help-end-my-tubeless-woes/
These were a surprise to me as I have always found setting up tubeless relatively easy.
After that thread I have made the following changes:
- Cleaned up wheel
- Fitted Tesa tap
- Bought Pedros tyre levers
I have now fitted a Maxxis Minion with Stans and X-Lite tubeless valves. The tyre is still tight but I can get it on and off far more easily. It also seats easily with a track pump. But there is still a significant, problematic leak at the valve.
When fitting I made a small hole in the Tesa tape and then used that to push the tubeless valve through. It leaked at first with the squarish base fitted to the valve so I swapped that to the conical one but it still leaks. I don't think the valve hole is sleeved so I guess it is leaking both into the internal box section and also at the valve stem/rim interface on the outside.
I used the retaining ring to tighten the valve down firmly but as the rim is curved the o-ring sort of squirms out of the way if you crank it any further (not that I think I should be cranking it down that hard anyway). So I assume the leak is between the Tesa tape and coned seal but not sure what I can do to improve that and surprised the sealant doesn't do it's job there.
I have tried riding it to see if that would help it seal but the ride was a set of sprints between pumping the tyre up.
So I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do next! Suggestions welcome.
GUessing there's a leak somewhere on the tape, it just comes out at the valve as it'll leak inside the tape, into the rim and then go via the valve.
Best bet is always to just remove the tape, clean thoroughly and reapply tape, when putting a hole in for the valve also be very careful not to tear, otherwise that can be an area that can then leak.
Ah OK, I had not thought of that, useful thanks.
I had only used one wrap of Tesa tape but perhaps two would help with this; so long as it does not make it so thick I can't readily get the tyre on.....
Glueless patch over the valve hole can help with the seal...
As in put the tape on, put a glueless patch on top of the tape then push the tubeless valve through both?
Guessing the point of that is the glueless patch has a bit of give to it and seals more easily?
I had a similar issue awhile ago where I couldn't seem to get the valve tight using the small nut on it, ordered some of these and the issue went away.
They look good too. Where did you buy them in the UK?
Where did you buy them in the UK?
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-tubestubeless-tyre-spares/problem-solvers-big-pnut/
thanks beargrease 🙂
As above, a leak anywhere around the rim will appear out of the valve hole. Don't worry about the o-ring, it's not doing any useful sealing.
I find that as long as the base of the valve is even vaguely the right shape, it'll seal just fine, especially once you chuck a bit of sealant in.
How wide is your rim tape? Does it go from wall to wall so that the tyre bead seals against it? If not, it could be lifting at some point around the rim, or leaking through the join on the opposite site of the rim.
It really shouldn't need more than one wrap of tape. Just make sure that the tape is stuck well to itself at the overlap.