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I'm new to tubeless, and I can't see what I'm doing wrong.
I have a Hope Tech XC wheel set up with 2x layers of Gorilla Tape and a Schwalbe Thunder Burt Evo tubeless ready tyre. [url= https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-thunder-burt-evo-raceguard-pacestar-folding-tyre-29-74062.html ]This[/url] one.
I put 60mm of sealant in, got it up to 60psi and popped bead into place, but I was still getting loads of air leaking from between the rim and tyre bead.
I bit of shaking the thing around while held flat sorted it, but only temporarily -- I put it back up to 60 psi and immediately got new leaks in slightly different places, but still between rim and bead.
Even after a week pumped up and shaken around for a minute every morning, it still seems to drop from 40 psi to 20 psi overnight, which suggests it's not worth riding it.
Anything else I can try before I resort to tubes??
Schwalbe tyres can be difficult to make tubeless but a good ride on them usually pretty much sorts the problem . What sealant , I find Stans the most reliable? Why are you putting 60 or even 40psi in them as the beads are seated and you are never going to run more than hat unless you are a fatso , sorry I meant hard hitting rider . 🙂
I'd add a little more sealant and go for a ride. That'll help distribute the sealant.
Shouldn’t need 2 layers of tape. Maybe that’s getting in the way more than it’s helping?
+1 pump it up go ride. Repeat as necessary
+1 for 2 layers of tape possibly causing issues - Have seen before tyres not seating properly due to excessively taped wheels - but more than 2 layers. You shouldnt need more than one layer anyhow so it's probably worth a shot anyway!
Pop a bit more sealant in through the valve stem, pump up and go for a ride, the stans shuffle distributes the sealant a bit, but riding 20 miles seems to do a better job, the more you ride the better...
Plus a fair bit of that initial 60ml will have sealed up various holes, and dried up a bit so there's no harm in a top up...
A little of all the above. Gorilla tape is thick and best viewed as a rescue rather than a default solution. A single layer of a thin plastic tape such as Tesa ?4282 (eBay), Stans, WTB or that blue Jobsworth stuff that’s £1 a roll at Planet X right now should be ample for that wheelset.
Schwalbe tyres can be awkward and leaky but that’s the sidewalls not the bead interface. Too much tape depth could be pushing the tyre too far up to seal properly.
I’ve never yet seen a Schwalbe or pretty well anything else seal properly until it’s been ridden, they all lose considerable air overnight until being ridden.
Hmm, two wheels with the same rims with the same model of tyre and tape. The first went on with a track pump but needed the sealant adding and a bit of shaking to get things properly sealed around the rim. The second needed two goes with an Airshot but would hold air without sealant.
The first has held pressure for two days without having been ridden. I've only just done the second so hopefully that's the same.
Thanks 🙂
I guess I should just go and ride it...
As for the tape, I don't think that's the problem. The first layer I put on was quite narrow, just covering the spoke holes. The second was wider but still didn't quite make it all the way across the full internal rim width, perhaps a millimeter gap at either side. At first I figured that may have been the problem, but the LBS said it should be fine.
They suggested to pop it back up to 60 psi to make sure it was fully seated, which I'm certain it is. In reality I'll be running more like 35 psi I guess, it's a fairly skinny tyre.
As for the sealant, yep it's Stans
For gawds sake don’t try to ride it at 60! The rim may well not take it well.
60psi to seat is pretty old school but I think most still do this, I know I do.
My default is to tape, mount tyre with washing up liquid lube mix (essential to seat properly) pump til it pops, and leaves the wheel squeezing gently at the bead to make sure there’s no pop left to have (I’ve seen others bounce the wheel, this works too), depressurise, add sealant, add core, inflate to 60, do the Stans shake, and leave it overnight to see what happens. Then I adjust pressure to a sane riding level as go ride. Take a pump in case! After a good ride it should be fine. TBH, unless you’re a very big lad you’ll find 35 unnecessarily hard and probably end up below 25.
60ml of sealant isn't much. I normally go with about 100ml.