Tubeless Trouble

mech_daddy
mech_daddy Posts: 15
edited October 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
I have recently decided t go tubeless and baught a set of mavic UST rims and panaracer UST tyres. I appear to be having toruble with the valving however the front wheel is valved with a generic UST valve from chain reaction but the rear is valved with mavic's own UST valve and keeps leaking air. What i think is happening is that the bit of rubber that seales the whole thing is too thin and splits leaking air into the rim cavity. I will replace it with the same one as the front to see if that is any better.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you cure it.

Cheers

Pete

Comments

  • rikk
    rikk Posts: 734
    I assume you'l be running some sealant in there?

    Just pop some in and give it a try, should seal up all those little niggles.
  • S_J_P
    S_J_P Posts: 908
    The Mavic valves should have a large (around 5mm x 5mm x 10mm) cuboid rubber block which sits along the rims central groove (not across it!) which forms the seal on the inside. A small rubber o-ring then sits on the outside beneath a lock-ring. This should give a perfectly good seal.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    i have used them on a few wheel sets and found them to be very reliable, try some sealant as already suggested and se if that helps, i think new ones can be had from CRC for about a tenner.
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    How simple is it to do this with UST rims and tyres?

    I have DT Swiss 420SL rims which are supposed to be UST and Specialized Fast Trak Control LK (2Bliss - which I think means UST?)

    I was about to swap tyres, but fancy trying out tubeless before I buy new tyres so I can decide wether to go for UST ones or not.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    the rims are not ust, you will need some rim strips, i use stans in my 420sl rims. the tyres are tubeless ready so will need a small amount of sealant but should be spot on.
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    So should I just buy a kit?

    Will there be enough gunk in a kit to use on the new tyres when I get them?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    yeah, a kit ould be best, i have only used stans and think it is ace, easy to fit aslong as you use tubeless tyres as in my experience trying to convert standard tyres is a nightmare.

    your 2bliss tyres will convert easily.
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    Where is the best place to get the kit from? How much etc?
  • if you want the DT specific kit to do your rims they have them on CRC for about £25 ish and they are very good.
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    edited October 2008
    Let Stan show you how
    He likes to use loads of soap suds.

    I had to use the compressor at my work 'cos the track pump just wasn't cutting it.

    There's definitely a knack to it.

    My top tip is to push the tyre towards the rim at the valve when starting to inflate.

    Good luck.
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    Yeah I popped into a LBS today and they had the DT one for £25 - but I decided against it when that was per wheel!

    May do it next month..
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    I've used the Stans kit but I'm not bothering just now 'cos I like to swap the tyres about often.

    10 minutes spent swapping 'dry' tyres to 'wet' is well worth not falling off a lot.

    If £50 seems a bit steep try Ghetto Tubeless

    Sealant and 2 bmx tubes won't cost as much :wink:
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    when using proper ust type tyres i have always found it easy to inflate and seal tyres with a track pump.

    make sure you know what you want to achieve with tubeless as it might not do every thing you think it might and it is an expensive thing to do