Going tubeless

jeannot18

OK a couple of questions, I have read quite a few articles, watched a few YouTube videos. But I am not still sure on what to get. Here is my setup: Rims are DT Swiss M1800 (Rear) with Nobby Nic EVO PaceStar Triple Compound Tubeless Ready, and at the front DT Swiss AM1900 rim with Fat Albert Evo line Snakeskin PaceStar Triple Compound tubeless ready.
I know i need to get the valves, the sealant. But what about the rim tape, what shall I go for?

In advance thanks, and sorry if that question has been already asked, I just want to make sure that I am buying the right stuff

JC

lostboysaint

People get very precious about the magic yellow Stans tape and suggest that you have to use that, however I have used two layers of electricians insulation tape to the same effect and for 1/10th the price. (My wheels are currently a mixture of both Stans taped and insulation taped and you'd never know the difference!)

When I did mine I just used the Stans rim strip with the valve rather than stand alone valve, that also helps make a nice seal.

So, two layers of tape, bung the valve through, stretching the rim strip around, whack the tyre on, at this stage some people like to pump it up to seat it before then deflating, adding sealant and reinflating, I can't be bothered so just slop two scoops of sealant in, pump it up (track pump) and then slosh it around copiously to get the sealant well and truly covering everywhere.

jeannot18

OK, thanks lost boy,I will bear that in mind. Waiting to see if anybody else is coming with other suggestion. By the way, do you have a link for the Stans rim strip that you bought, I have had a look on Chain Reaction, and they seem to be £16:99 each, which makes the setup even more expensive

JC

WindyG

I just used Gorilla tape £3 a roll and so far I've done 4 wheels with plenty enough left to at least 2 more, valves from Superstar £7 a pair, used Stans sealant, pretty easy to do once you have the first one done.

Jgb1

WindyG wrote:

I just used Gorilla tape £3 a roll and so far I've done 4 wheels with plenty enough left to at least 2 more, valves from Superstar £7 a pair, used Stans sealant, pretty easy to do once you have the first one done.

+1 easy and cheap

dusk

I only found the "correct" inflation method didn't work, I seated the bead with a tube then took the valve core out and removed tube so I only had to seat one side with the pump.

It was useful to check you can pump it up before putting sealant in

jeannot18

Thanks guy, those Superstar products seems pretty good too, they also do a rim tape for £7...
JC

jeannot18

WindyG wrote:

I just used Gorilla tape £3 a roll and so far I've done 4 wheels with plenty enough left to at least 2 more, valves from Superstar £7 a pair, used Stans sealant, pretty easy to do once you have the first one done.

By the way what width Gorilla tape did you get, my rims need 21mm wide, but I can only find Gorilla tape with 25mm width
JC

supermike

I've also used duct tape/electrical tape-both seem to work easier than the proper stuff for a lot less money

WindyG

jeannot18 wrote:

WindyG wrote:

I just used Gorilla tape £3 a roll and so far I've done 4 wheels with plenty enough left to at least 2 more, valves from Superstar £7 a pair, used Stans sealant, pretty easy to do once you have the first one done.

By the way what width Gorilla tape did you get, my rims need 21mm wide, but I can only find Gorilla tape with 25mm width
JC

What I bought was about 50mm wide, I measured 21mm across and sliced through with a stanley blade.

paulbox

lostboysaint wrote:

People get very precious about the magic yellow Stans tape and suggest that you have to use that, however I have used two layers of electricians insulation tape to the same effect and for 1/10th the price. (My wheels are currently a mixture of both Stans taped and insulation taped and you'd never know the difference!)

When I did mine I just used the Stans rim strip with the valve rather than stand alone valve, that also helps make a nice seal.

So, two layers of tape, bung the valve through, stretching the rim strip around, whack the tyre on, at this stage some people like to pump it up to seat it before then deflating, adding sealant and reinflating, I can't be bothered so just slop two scoops of sealant in, pump it up (track pump) and then slosh it around copiously to get the sealant well and truly covering everywhere.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that you didn't need to use the tape if you're using a rim strip, they are effectively doing the same thing. That might explain why your electrical tape is just as successful as the Stan's tape, though it might work on its own anyway.

It also sounds like a pretty heavy solution compared to a single layer of Stan's tape and no rim strip.

lostboysaint

PaulBox wrote:

lostboysaint wrote:

People get very precious about the magic yellow Stans tape and suggest that you have to use that, however I have used two layers of electricians insulation tape to the same effect and for 1/10th the price. (My wheels are currently a mixture of both Stans taped and insulation taped and you'd never know the difference!)

When I did mine I just used the Stans rim strip with the valve rather than stand alone valve, that also helps make a nice seal.

So, two layers of tape, bung the valve through, stretching the rim strip around, whack the tyre on, at this stage some people like to pump it up to seat it before then deflating, adding sealant and reinflating, I can't be bothered so just slop two scoops of sealant in, pump it up (track pump) and then slosh it around copiously to get the sealant well and truly covering everywhere.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that you didn't need to use the tape if you're using a rim strip, they are effectively doing the same thing. That might explain why your electrical tape is just as successful as the Stan's tape, though it might work on its own anyway.

It also sounds like a pretty heavy solution compared to a single layer of Stan's tape and no rim strip.

Stan's recommend both and the first time I did it I used a full Stan's kit so set it up "as instructions" and kit contents (yellow tape and rim strip). Subsequent set ups I've just bought the rim strips/valves but wound on a couple of turns of insulation tape just for the fun of it!

paulbox

lostboysaint wrote:

Stan's recommend both and the first time I did it I used a full Stan's kit so set it up "as instructions" and kit contents (yellow tape and rim strip). Subsequent set ups I've just bought the rim strips/valves but wound on a couple of turns of insulation tape just for the fun of it!

You're right, just checked out the conversion kits and they do include both the tabe and rim strips.

jeannot18

As I had to fix a puncture on my front wheel :evil: , I decided to have a go and see if I could manage to get some pressure in the tyre, using a cut off tube for its valve. With the help of a mate, we tried for quite a while, to inflate the tyre with a pump track, but no luck. My rim had already a rim tape (kind of plastic one), but we could not get the tyre inflated. My mate suggested to go to somebody he knows that has a proper compressor and has done many tubeless setup.
So I am going to order the valves and the sealant for now, and try with the valve only to see if we can get the tyres to inflate. If this works, I will then get the sealant in. If it does not work, I guess I will have to get some kind of tape as suggested by you guys. My mate seems to think that the rim tape I have got is enough
JC

mattshrops

Valves and electrical tape.
2 scoops of latex.
Nip to local garage/tyre centre and ask nicely. Usually they dont mind. Job done.

Edit-don't forget valve adapter

Holyzeus

Co2 is your friend

Jgb1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UeO8Utfny0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H1ib5HdA5M

I didnt use anything but standard rims (DT SWISS X420SL), Gorilla tape, 2bliss tire, valve from an old tube, 1.5 scoopes Stans fluid and a floor pump.

Easy!

allthegearnoidea

if you remove the valve core you may find the tyres a Lot easier to do by hand with a track pump, Otherwise knock yourself up a DIY Compressor, 2l fizzy drink bottle, 2 valves from old tubes and some pipe, is very simple, and seats tyres very easily, some stubborn ones need the bottle pumped to 80psi, but they seat quite nicely!

allthegearnoidea

little vid one of the guys on here did of his DIY compressor seating a tyre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePbjM6wQ1I8

jeannot18

Received the sealant and valves today, hopefully I should be tubeless by the weekend

JC

jeannot18

All done, the guy whom helped me with it really knew what he was doing. A bit of a problem with one of the tyre (would not sit properly on the rim), but after tucking it out it went all ok. First ride yesterday, no problem whatsoever, let hope that it carries on that way
JC

ddraver

Good news - thinking of getting some with the bday vouchers. Can someone confirm that if you have a Stans Rim then all you need is the yellow tape and sealant

(interesting about other options but it's my first time and I think I ll do it properly for the first time at least...)

paulbox

ddraver wrote:

Good news - thinking of getting some with the bday vouchers. Can someone confirm that if you have a Stans Rim then all you need is the yellow tape and sealant

(interesting about other options but it's my first time and I think I ll do it properly for the first time at least...)

And valves.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=68565

jeannot18

ddraver wrote:

Good news - thinking of getting some with the bday vouchers. Can someone confirm that if you have a Stans Rim then all you need is the yellow tape and sealant

(interesting about other options but it's my first time and I think I ll do it properly for the first time at least...)

All I bought was the valves and the sealant, the guy that did it had some spare yellow tape, my tyres were tubeless ready but I think it is not a necessity.
JC

ddraver

Yep and valves...

Thanks boys!

felix.london

yep - I'm about to put an Enduro bike together and figure I might as well jump in too. Stan's Flows and Bonty XR4's. about to order valves and tape from Superstar. If all goes well and the setup holds, will order the Stan's sealant from CRC.

..Then guess I'll probably do the same with the Arch EX & Conti's on the other bike

dhooper7

I've been running tubeless for 4 weeks now on 2 bikes.
My Enduro has DT Swiss E440S rims and Conti RQ 2.4
Wife's Trance has Stans Flow EX rims and Nobby Nics 2.25 tubless ready tyres
Both had Stans yellow tape fitted to them and tubeless valves, NO rimstrips (put off by weight).
I'm not discrediting electrical tape but Stan's is very different, very thick like plastic and not rubbery like elec tape.
1.5 scoops of sealant in the NN and 2 in the RQ.
Inflated with a trackpump.

In terms of being inflating, the RQ were a bit tricky. They don't bite the rim, so hard to get a good seal when inflating. Basically I got tyre as close to the rim as possible and pumped like mad. Eventually got a seal I could pump up to 35psi with. Moved the sealant round for 25 mins in all directions. Left overnight resting flat on a bucket. In the morning I turned the wheels over for another 10 hours. The NN were easy as pie to inflate as expected with Flow rims. However the thin tyre walls seep air and you can see the sealant appearing everywhere. Did the same as the RQ and left horizontal for 10 hrs on each side. Had to reinflate a few times but now airtight.

I do like the new wheels but wouldn't say it's revolutionised my riding experience.
If you suffer from punctures a lot then do it. I never had punctures before so maybe that's why I'm a little underwhelmed...

felix.london

dhooper7 wrote:

the RQ were a bit tricky. They don't bite the rim, so hard to get a good seal when inflating

I'm guessing I'm not gonna have this problem with an RQ on a Stan's rim

dhooper7

Hard to say if the bead on the RQ is a bit slack or if the rim circumference is a bit smaller on the DT's...
Either way the Nobby Nic's were really snug on the Stan's rims. Doubt you'll have any problems.

Only thing I would add is... A tyre inflates bigger when run tubeless. My RQ 2.4 rubs ever so lightly on the back when I huck it over a jump or drop. Never happened when I ran it with a tube...