Tubeless tyres - topping up sealant

MJS996
MJS996 Posts: 20
edited May 2017 in Workshop
Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I've searched and I can't find a clear answer...

I'm running tubeless tyres on my best bike - Hunt Wheels, with Schwalbe Pro-One tyres. I've had them nearly a year now and I haven't topped up the sealant yet, but everything I've read suggests I should do it around every 6 months.

I've heard two suggestions - one is to partially remove the tyre and pour the sealant in, the other is to put it in through the valve. I'm reluctant to take even part of the tyre off the rim because I don't want to go through the whole process of getting them seated again, so I'm looking at how do you inject it via the valve - so far I've read that it can be done, but I don't really know how. I've read I need to take the core out of the valve, in which case, the tyre will deflate - will it become unseated and am I back to square one? What do I need to do it, and what's the process.....

Thanks in advance...

Martin

Comments

  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    The good news is that the tyre won't become unseated if you deflate it. Top up via the valve stem using a syringe.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    The sealant inside is not going anywhere, so if you 'top up', sooner or later you'll end up with a tyre full of lumpy sealant.

    Clean the old stuff out and add new.

    You should be able to seat the tyre without sealant, then fill through the valve, much easier than faffing with a half seated tyre.
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  • One of the beads may partially pop off when you deflate and take the core out but with luck will not drop right into the central well.
    Put valve at 9 or 3 o'clock and inject 20 mls of goo. Then reinsert core and if the bead has not completely loosened you may well be able to seat easily with a track pump.

    However you'll never know when the goo has solidified so you may prefer to take the tyre off completely and clean off any lumps before reseating. With luck you only need to do it twice a year and you can be sure you have fresh liquid goo and not lumps of chewing gum spinning round. You'll probably get better at seating the tyres with practice.

    If you check and the sealant is fine after,say, ten months, then you could leave it at least this long until next check.

    Or you could just ride indefinitely with a spare inner and see what happens. If you get a puncture in six months and fresh goo spurts out and seals then you've won. If not then you can put a tube in and do the above at home.