tubless + latex = wheel off balance.

Devastazione

what's the solution to this ?? 2 bikes with the same problem,it looks like my local tech guy is not aware of this phenomenon. Do I have to bring the bike in to have spokes newly tuned ??

UncleMonty

You say off balance, does the wheel wobble slightly when you spin it fast in a stand ?

Tank-slapper

Off balance or feels strange?

When stopped, the latex collects at the bottom of the tyre and it takes a few minutes for it to spread out evenly again after setting off. Before it spreads out, the wheels feel like gyroscopes with a large weight spinning around the edge. You will get used to it.

ride_whenever

Unless you've not ridden your bike for ages and the sealant has dried out in one place!

UncleMonty

My rear wheel feels the same and I don't have a tubless set up, it was hand built by merlin - it's straight and true but even without a tube & tyre is makes the frame shake when I spin it fast, can't feel anything when I ride though

Devastazione

UncleMonty wrote:

You say off balance, does the wheel wobble slightly when you spin it fast in a stand ?

Yes the wheel wobbles and not slightly at all !!! The whole thing is taking a toll on the disc brake too wich makes a scary " zing zing zing" sound agains the pads.
Just came back from my garage and after about 45 minutes of work I've cleaned away the latex from both tyres and placed everything back.
The front wheels has now stopped wobbling although the brakes still makes the " zing zing zing" sound. No difference for the rear wheel,it still wobbles terribly.... :evil:

stu8975

Do you mean your wheels are not true or the tyres were/are not seated correctly?. Brake rotor 'zing zing' would indicate a warped/bent disc, nothing to do with untrue wheel or tyre not seated corretly, as the rotor is attached to the hub not the rim (unless your hub cones are loose then it will wobble).

Devastazione

Final update :

The XC bike : opened up both tyres and found out that the workshop guys poured a green,very dense and heavy latex,probably Slime,wich is a lot more appropriate for freeride or DH(correct me if I'm wrong). Cleaned up everything,gave rear wheel a new tyre an everything spins good now. I'll keep the bike latex free up until next week when I will be in London and I will have the chance for shop for a more appropriate latex.

The AM bike : opened up both tyres and cleaned the messy greenish latex aswell. Now the front wheels spins just perfect. My tech guy told me to leave it latex free for a while and use the bike as usual. The rear wheel has now been equipped with a milky latex,a lot more light and unbalancing. The wheels spins fine,the disc it's a complete mess,I probably hit some rock or something.

Bottom line : i'm not fancy of this latex thing now,I'll probably keep just the XC bike latex free for a while. I always carry a tube with me and in these past days I became F1 mechanic like in removing and replacing tyres. My hands are all messed up tho...