MTB tubeless tyre fitting tips

[leyorkie]

Hi, trying to go tubeless with Schwalbe and I just can’t get the tyres to seal.
I’ve had them inflated with a tube to try and shape them to fit the rims but no luck.
I don’t have an inflator tank and I was hoping that I didn’t need to buy one.
I’ve tried a co2 canister but not enough volume
Any suggestions to get the tyre to seal against the rim.
I would like to be self sufficient and not depend on LBS to fit tyres.
I do all my maintenance except bearings as I don’t have the tools but this new to me.
And so frustrating

[springfan62]

Have you tried a mix of washing up liquid and water around the edge of tyre/rim to help the initial seal.

[leyorkie]

springfan62 said:

Have you tried a mix of washing up liquid and water around the edge of tyre/rim to help the initial seal.

No I think that would make things worse.
The tyre is not tight and the bead is not flush to the rim

I think that if they were tight I wouldn’t have the problem.

Would lubricating the bead over come any resistance that is stopping it moving to the side of the rim? They are snakeskin side walls which are fairly flexible

[springfan62]

You could put more on tape on the rim.

[CoolC]

Are the rims tubeless, or are you going ghetto?

[leyorkie]

Yes I can see that that could work I could use any tape as the rims are sealed just build up the rims to make them tight.
Will try that

[GravelBen]

What sort of pump are you using?

I'm watching this for hints too as I have some new tyres here to fit after discovering last weekend that the fast-trak tyres that came on the Epic are very not good in mud, it will be my first time fitting tubeless.

[BOR]

If you can't inflate them at your first attempt, then abort, and take them to your local petrol station and use the airline there.

You will still need to lubricate the bead with foam from washing up liquid.

You should get an adapter to take your valve stem from presta to schraeder (car type).

You will hear one or two pops as the bead seals onto the rim.

Don't overdo it with the airline or you could explode your tyre.

It will slowly deflate if you don't have sealant added, but it should be ok to add the sealant back at home.

You will still need to re-inflate over the next few days until the tyre fully seals.

[leyorkie]

CoolC said:

Are the rims tubeless, or are you going ghetto?

There standard rims with tape to cover the spoke holes.
I can’t be certain that the tape is airtight as I haven’t been able to inflate the tyre.
I tried my old tyre first and it did inflate but so many previous punctures it looked like a sieve with milk leaking out all over the place so I decided to wait for new tyres

[leyorkie]

GravelBen said:

What sort of pump are you using?

I'm watching this for hints too as I have some new tyres here to fit after discovering last weekend that the fast-trak tyres that came on the Epic are very not good in mud, it will be my first time fitting tubeless.

I’ve tried track pump
Also have compressor with adapter 24 litre tank
But the beads just not touching rims.
If your tyres are tight to fit then I don’t think you will have the problem that I’m having

[CoolC]

leyorkie said:

CoolC said:

Are the rims tubeless, or are you going ghetto?

There standard rims with tape to cover the spoke holes.
I can’t be certain that the tape is airtight as I haven’t been able to inflate the tyre.
I tried my old tyre first and it did inflate but so many previous punctures it looked like a sieve with milk leaking out all over the place so I decided to wait for new tyres

Proper tubeless rims have a different profile to help with the seating/sealing of the tyre.

I've done the same and ghetto-ed my current wheels. I could only get the front to seat, no matter how much building up the rear rim with tape (both gaffa and then plastic tubeless tape) it still wouldn't "grab" and inflate so have to run a tube in the rear. The front was fine and went straight up first attempt. So my survey of one says that ghetto just sometimes works, and other times doesn't.

I've just got a bargain set of tubeless wheels from Superstar though, as there's a 35% discount code which runs out at midnight tonight.

[Toltec]

I replaced the gunk in mine the other month and the front went straight on using a track pump, but the rear wouldn't play. Tried a garage, but it had a useless inflator that was more like a home one in a big metal cabinet than a proper compressor. Ended up nipping over to kwik fit and one of their guys helped with a proper compressor driven inflator. Still took some effort though, I had to pull the tyre tight while he gave it the gas, so to speak. There was less than 20psi in the tyre when it had seated, I think it is definitely flow not pressure that does the job.

If you have a proper compressor maybe get and extra pair of hands to help pull the tyre towards the bead as you put the air in.

[leyorkie]

Update
I added extra tape to the rim possibly too much but then I’ve seen how hard tubeless tyres are to get on. This got them tight as I would have expected them to be.
Inflated ok with compressor but I found in my adapter a tiny filter that seemed to reduce pressure hence volume.
Leaked from valve seat and a small hole in the rim which I think must be to drain any water out of the rim so rim not sealed.
More tape, Gorrilla tape! Tyre hard to get on but inflated with track pump.
Still loosing air from vent hole when put finger over vent hole it leaks out from around valve so it’s in the rim section the tape is not sealing.
So back to the tube and get some better sealing tape for the rims to try again
But more tape did the trick
Thanks for all the helpful advice

[gazza285]

BOR said:

If you can't inflate them at your first attempt, then abort, and take them to your local petrol station and use the airline there...


...Don't overdo it with the airline or you could explode your tyre.

I very much doubt that, very few of the garage airlines I have used would get my van tyres up to 60psi, as they aren't designed to deliver high pressures. I'd be careful using one designed for HGV tyres though...