Tools

[Tom the Bomb]

Well I don't know about you but adding sealant to my wheels is not my favorite project. It is usually a bit time consuming a little messy. Lo and behold he game changer sealant syringe . The KOM CYCLING SEALANT SYRINGE! This thing is great! Pull the core insert the tube inside the stem. suck out the sealant, look at the measurement decide it more is needed. Inject it back in add if necessary , install core pump it up!
No sealant on the core threads , no bead break and much quicker of a job. I did all 4 of my wheels in 30 min. . The cool thing is it's so easy just to check the level. One set was still good on sealant. It even has a shutoff valve.
I actually look forward to this maintenance.

 

[Runs with Scissors]

Well I don't know about you but adding sealant to my wheels is not my favorite project. It is usually a bit time consuming a little messy. Lo and behold he game changer sealant syringe . The KOM CYCLING SEALANT SYRINGE! This thing is great! Pull the core insert the tube inside the stem. suck out the sealant, look at the measurement decide it more is needed. Inject it back in add if necessary , install core pump it up!
No sealant on the core threads , no bead break and much quicker of a job. I did all 4 of my wheels in 30 min. . The cool thing is it's so easy just to check the level. One set was still good on sealant. It even has a shutoff valve.
I actually look forward to this maintenance.


View attachment 94631

Or, you can put the bike in the stand and just pop the bead on a quarter of the rim, see what sealant is there, and if needed drop in some sealant, and reseat the bead.

That's my usual way to do it. The abomination above looks like the SRAM brake bleed system. Overly complicated. Not simple, for us simpletons.

 

[Sasquatch9billion]

I use something very similar that I was given back when I burnt my hand. It's an old saline syringe that fits perfectly on the threads with the core removed.
I have plenty left if anyone ever wants one, they gave me a whole case of them at the Dr.

 

[SnakeCharmer]

I've never actually replaced sealant under normal usage. An exception is if I have to remove the tire from the wheel for another reason. I simply add 4 ounces twice a year either through the coreless stem using the Stans Injector kit or by popping a bead.

 

[evdog]

I just use one of these Stan's injectors when I'm at home or a small Stan's bottle if I have to add sealant during a ride. Injector screws on the valve stem, or the bottle nozzle fits in it. Generally works pretty well.

I'm not sold on the syringe ability to suck out the sealant. The homebrew I make tends to coat the inner tire without pooling like Stans does. 5-6 years ago I decided to try this MilKit system I saw at REI. Looks similar to what TTB posted above and promised to be the be-all end-all of valve stem systems. It had a special valve between the valve core and rim that would let air in but not let sealant out. It also claimed you could insert the injector through the seal and check the sealant level or add sealant while the tire was still inflated.

Well the valve cores still clogged. And when I tried to check/add sealant with air still in the tire the pressure blew the injector out of my hand and spewed sealant everywhere. But what really caused me to get rid of them is you can't inject sealant through the valve stem without the injector. Since I do a lot of remote rides where I might have to add sealant if I get a tear, it meant I'd have to carry the injector syringe with me. Unless I wanted to break the bead - but that can be risky as you can't always get it to re-seat with a hand pump.

 

[Runs with Scissors]

But what really caused me to get rid of them is you can't inject sealant through the valve stem without the injector. Since I do a lot of remote rides where I might have to add sealant if I get a tear, it meant I'd have to carry the injector syringe with me. Unless I wanted to break the bead - but that can be risky as you can't always get it to re-seat with a hand pump.

Isn't that why we carry extra tubes, and a way to boot the tear in the tire?

I just had a gash happen a couple weeks ago, and that was the only solution. It was a mess, but I rode it back to the car.

 

[Y-not]

I use something very similar that I was given back when I burnt my hand. It's an old saline syringe that fits perfectly on the threads with the core removed.
I have plenty left if anyone ever wants one, they gave me a whole case of them at the Dr.

Same thing I use, but added a rubber tube on the end.

 

[evdog]

Isn't that why we carry extra tubes, and a way to boot the tear in the tire?

I just had a gash happen a couple weeks ago, and that was the only solution. It was a mess, but I rode it back to the car.

You could definitely boot it and put a tube in if you have them. That's the fastest way to deal with it what I'd usually do on a day ride.

If I'm bikepacking somewhere remote though I'd probably try to sew it up first with a curved needle and heavy thread and see if I can get it to seal. A repair like this is more likely to let me finish the bikepack than just booting it. And then I still have a tube available if anything else happens. Probably have to add sealant once the tire gets seated again.

Maybe I should have said puncture instead of tear though. I've seen people lose a lot of sealant from those if it is a bad puncture.

More often for me sealant goes dry because I have been slacking, and when I get a thorn or puncture adding some sealant and maybe a plug is all that's needed to get going again.

 

[DangerDirtyD]

Anyone have a saw guide I can borrow? Thanks,

 

[Runs with Scissors]

... I'd probably try to sew it up first with a curved needle and heavy thread and see if I can get it to seal....

This option had absolutely never occured to me, though it should have.

I've just never carried a suture kit on a ride. Makes sense, though.

 

[bvader]

Orange seal come with tube fits on the stem... But hard to measure sometimes

 

[evdog]

This option had absolutely never occured to me, though it should have.

I've just never carried a suture kit on a ride. Makes sense, though.

It's really a bikepacking thing. And not everyone uses it. But it can come in handy. Had to search but Schillingsworth had some good pics of it in use in this trip report:

Queen's Ransom '18 - DNF

A blog about mountain biking, skiing, hiking and travel Bikepacking Arizona Trail Schillingsworth

schillingsworth.blogspot.com

 

[Y-not]

Orange seal come with tube fits on the stem... But hard to measure sometimes

I measure it out in one of those Nyquil cups and continue adding sealant into the tire until the cup is empty

 

[herzalot]

See? This thread is why I never ride more than a mile from my car!

 

[SnakeCharmer]

See? This thread is why I never ride more than a mile from my car!

There are days when the wife is home and I ask her to listen for her phone to ring in case I have a break down on the bike. It's those days where I just don't feel like lugging around anything other than a multi-tool that fits into my pocket. I'm never riding far from home (and always pedaling from home) in these cases.

 

[Tom the Bomb]

Ok I have a million dollar idea. Tell me has anyone seen a star tool that is adjustable and has 4 2 sided bits? different sizes on each end. That would give you 8 different size bits on 1 tool!
I have seen 4 sided adjustable star tools but they did not have double sided bits. If this were available you would only need one tool in your hand for general maintenance ! hate having to swap tools as I am doing different projects on my bike.

 

[Stkx66]

Ok I have a million dollar idea. Tell me has anyone seen a star tool that is adjustable and has 4 2 sided bits? different sizes on each end. That would give you 8 different size bits on 1 tool!
I have seen 4 sided adjustable star tools but they did not have double sided bits. If this were available you would only need one tool in your hand for general maintenance ! hate having to swap tools as I am doing different projects on my bike.

What is a 2 Sided bit?

 

[Danimal]

Ok I have a million dollar idea. Tell me has anyone seen a star tool that is adjustable and has 4 2 sided bits? different sizes on each end. That would give you 8 different size bits on 1 tool!
I have seen 4 sided adjustable star tools but they did not have double sided bits. If this were available you would only need one tool in your hand for general maintenance ! hate having to swap tools as I am doing different projects on my bike.

The most useful tool I've bought in a long time is this screwdriver. The bits are in the handle, it ratchets, and the top cap spins so can put pressure and twist. Really surprising how many times I've used it. I do need to get an additional hex bit though. Now my go to for most jobs.

Ratcheting Screwdriver - 13-in-1 Multi Bit https://a.co/d/b4SGgYO

 

[Tom the Bomb]

What is a 2 Sided bit?

It's a bit with for example a 4mm hex on one end and a 5mm hex on the other. You just pull it out flip it around and stick it back in the tool. Stix makes a star tool 4 ended but the bits are not removable and reversible. So you only get 4 size bits.

 

[Tom the Bomb]

The most useful tool I've bought in a long time is this screwdriver. The bits are in the handle, it ratchets, and the top cap spins so can put pressure and twist. Really surprising how many times I've used it. I do need to get an additional hex bit though. Now my go to for most jobs.

Ratcheting Screwdriver - 13-in-1 Multi Bit https://a.co/d/b4SGgYO

That is a great tool but for bikes it needs 5 hexes and on Torx . That is exactly what I mean by double sided bits. Now put them in a 4 sided break down able fix it sticks tool and we are rockin.