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I wouldn't normally ask this on a public forum, but I'm genuinely at my wits end. I've checked all the resources I could think of, and nothing has helped.
I've just got a pair of Hope Tech Enduro wheels, and I'm trying to set them up tubeless. However, I've failed four times now.
I'm using 25mm tubeless tape. On my first attempt, I did a single wrap around (with a little overlap) and made sure the tape was pressed into the rim. Neither wheel sealed, and both leaked from the valve.
I then took it all off, and redid the tape. This time, I did two full wraps around and made sure I pulled it really tight, but didn't explicity push it into the rim. Same problem again, but a little less air escaped. Does anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong here? I can't find anything to suggest that these rims are troublesome. I'm using Muc-Off sealant and Vittoria tyres if that makes a difference.
Screw tape, go with split BMX inner tube ghetto.
Had the same just this passed weekend.
Too baggy tyre, non TLR rim. But with split inner tube method it is still holding air as I pumped it on Saturday evening.
No sealant yet added 🙂
Cheers!
I.
Muc-Off sealant isn't very good , you may well have more luck with Stans . Assuming that your tyres are tubeless ready of course .
Fit the tyre with a tube, pump up to 40psi and leave overnight. Remove tube and try again. This will help the tape adhere better to the rim.
Have you sprayed a soapy solution all over to find out where its actually leaking from?
edit. Ah you said leaking from the valve. Valve core, valve stem?
You need a good 6" overlap at the valve opening.
Only pierce a very small hole in the tape and then push the valve in. It will make its own sized hole.
What does the seal look like at the base of the valve? Is it compatible with the shape of the area where its got to sit and seal?
use a hot air gun/hair drier to warm the tape up after it's on and really press the tape down to remove bubbles.
I've Hope rims and they've been easy to set up tubeless with Bontrager tyres.
Air leaking at the valve is usually a taping problem not the valve itself. I'll occasionally get a leak at the valve, add sealant and go for a ride and everything settles down. I use tape that's the outside width of the rim, when you press it into the well of the rim the edges "pull in" so that they sit right at the base of the inner rim wall.
Are your tyres tubeless ready?
One thing to consider may be that you are over tightening the tubeless valve. I have done so before. It doesn't need to be really tight.
Had similar problems before, a small circle of old inner tube pierced carefully with a bradle to push the valve through before going into the rim. Have used ptfe style tape around the valve base to seal has worked too. Worth a try!
Tubeless sealant is your friend. Make sure you liberally coat the inside seal of the valve with sealant, and an appropriate size of ring for the external seal. Screw the valve nut just past finger tight, and that should seal the valve. Old Tyres won't seal, I doubt it is the tape unless you have and end under the valve seal.
Hi I
like to put a tube in overnight to give the tape a good press down. Ive seen recommendations to poke a hole for the valve with a heated spike. That way the hole is a little stronger than when it’s cut - as the edges are reinforced as the tape melts. . Poking a small hole and pushing the valve through has split the tape sometimes. And, yes, 2 layers of tape.
Mucoff sealant’s been doing ok for me so far.
The base of the valve needs to confirm to the rim nicely.
Air leaking out by the valve is rarely down to the valve. It could be coming from anywhere around the rim. Unless it's an obviously bad fit for the rim bed (e.g. if it's a deep and narrow channel), the rubber base of the valve usually forms a good seal. No need to muck around with complicated methods for making the hole - just stick something sharp and pointy through the tape and push the valve through.
Does the rim tape go all the way to the edges of the rim? Assuming the tape is wide enough for the tyre beads to sit on, then they only thing you have to worry about is the tape being stuck down to itself where it overlaps. I always overlap the valve hole, so that the valve helps hold it together.
To answer some of the questions: I am running tubeless tyres, yes. It's leaking from the bottom of the valve, where it meets the rim.
I definitely overtighten the valves, and I haven't had much luck with the sealant in the past either, so I'll try those first. I'll also try inflating a tube on the tyre before fitting it tubeless.
Thanks for the advice everyone! 🙂