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Looking to dip a toe into tubeless setup on the new hardtail.
Seems fairly straight forward from the vids I’ve watched.
Any good tubeless track pumps or air blaster thingys I should consider?
And any good tips for a first time user of tubeless?
I've managed to do all my tyres tubless with just a regular Birzman track pump. The trick (for me at least) is a bit of soapy water dribbled around the rim/bead. Helps the tyre slip nicely into the bead. Vigourous pumping to about 40-60 PSI and a few satisfying pops and pings later, all set!
Most tyres will seat with a bit of frantic, sweaty pumping... if they're not too loose on the rim. A layer or 2 of tape will help them seat easier.
Otherwise, any track pump and one of these:
https://www.merlincycles.com/beto-cja-001s-tubeless-air-tank-inflator-98943.html
I've seated enough tubeless tyres to be done with the sweat dripping off me when trying to seat a tricky one. I now have the best combination of a digital track pump and separate inflator.
IMO if they don't go up easily with a normal track pump then I'd rather not be riding them. Most I have done have been fine like that. If that doesn't work then a bit of fiddling can solve it, if not I just stick a tube in.
I've got the lifeline one from wiggle and it's been flawless. Bargain too as it was only £35 when I got it 3 years ago. They've gone up a bit!
I tried one of those pumps with a tank built in and it was ok for most tyres - but it was struggling to get an aggressor onto a rim I hadn’t previously had issues with and after 4 goes the seal on the tank/in the pump died. It had lasted 18 months and not that many tyre changes. Luckily it was in warranty and CRC refunded me.
I bought an Airshot and a separate Lezyne track pump and haven’t looked back. The airshot hasn’t failed to get any tyre combo to pop up onto a rim - I’ve only once felt the need to use soapy water on the rim too - and that was a black diamond 2.3 Butcher onto a WTB i23. Pig of a combination I found that.
Good to know I might not need an air can blaster jobby.
That was my only concern, a couple of friends said I might need a compressor to seat the tyre!
Will give it a try and see how it goes.
I have only set tubeless up twice but on very different wheels and neither time with "tubeless ready" tyres. An ordinary track pump did fine tho for the fat bike I did need the strap around the tyre to get a seal
One of these:
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Control-Tank-Pump_98282.htm
Works fine. Some tyres will go up with just a track pump, but I end up using it most of the time.
A friend who runs a bike shop told me to use Maxxis tyres on DT Swiss rims as both have very close manufacturing tolerances and he never has any bother setting up with just a track pump.
I have three tyres to do in the near future. Not looking forward to getting annoyed and sweaty!
I already had a track pump before i went tubeless so bought a Schwalbe Tire Booster in addition to it. Was my first time setting up tubeless so wanted to make sure i would be able to do it. First time was a learning curve but its a doodle to do now
Lifeline air last from CRC for me..... Seems to work well so far but I've only owned it 6 months
Topeak Booster - highly recommend.
Lifeline/Jobsworth/Barbieri - not so much. Good pump but tank is too small. Quite often it fails to push bead into right place, especially on tyres that are slightly loose...
Cheers!
I.
+1 for the Topeak Joe Blow Booster. 60% of the time it works 100% of the time. The only rim/tyre combo I've had problems with has been on my gravel bike – Bontrager tyres on supposedly tubeless ready Bontrager rims. Re-taped the rims and switched to Schwalbe tyres and it worked.
Topeak Joe Blow Mountain, has an oversized barrel, 722cc per stroke, it seats all but the baggiest ghetto tubeless combination first time.
Topeak Joe Blow high volume low pressure floor pump here as well. Bought it years ago after too many sweaty wasted evenings with a high pressure track pump trying to fit tubeless.
https://www.topeak.com/global/de/products/floor-pumps/347-joeblow®-mountain
I have an airshot and it’s brilliant. Dead ready and does the job first try nearly every time
Airshot works ok. Wouldn't say its "brilliant" myself - the valve got leaky after a short time and the hose is much too short meaning it falls over all the bloody time, but when it's needed it does the job.
Mostly just need my Lidl £6.99 track pump though. That thing has power!
Christ,I've failed at the first hurdle.
I've just tried to remove the tire from the rim ready for the tubeless setup, but it's bloody stuck on there.
I use one of these
This one
£11
I'll try with a track pump first, then this, then I'll do a few extra wraps of tape, then I'll soap it up.
I find it's only old tyres I struggle with, with gobs and lumps of old sealant. Can never be bothered to clean them off.
One of the best tips I read for seating tubeless tyres was to fit with a tube and blow up until both beads are seated. Remove tube leaving one tyre bead in place on the rim. Install tubeless valve, pour in sealant, pry loose bead on rim by hand then inflate.
Only having one bead to seat makes it so much easier and I've always managed with just a floor pump.
My Giant Control Tank has been excellent for a couple of years now.