Punct*** fairy – another newby confused question…

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marooncat

New Member
Location
West Lothian
I was visited over the weekend (did not realise till this morning) and just put in a new inner tube before cycling into work.

However it almost seems that the inner tube is to big for the wheel and there is a slight bulge in the tyre at the moment where the valve is. The tube is the right size (as in for 26” wheels) but I am not sure if the other numbers on the tube should mean something to me. I am going to re-do it at lunchtime so it might sort itself out then but just wondering if this is some silly mistake I have done!!
 

jimboalee

New Member
Location
Solihull
The only number you should worry about is 38-559 ( or something similar ). This is a 38mm profile and a 559mm seating diameter.
 
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marooncat

New Member
Location
West Lothian
The tyres have 26x2.0 on them and the inner tube says it does between 1.5 and 2.1 so I am guessing that is fine.

I am off to try and re-do it now and will see if that fixes it.
 

Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
OT but WTH. This punc**** fairy must have been pissed at me.

2998566639_0c528e9a55_b.jpg
 
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marooncat

New Member
Location
West Lothian
Success - it is now fitting perfect - thanks for all help and advise.

However I had real problems getting my bike pump to work, in the end had to borrow a foot pump from one of the guys in work. I know the pump works as it blew the inner tube up a wee bit but then when I put the tyre back on and tried to do it up fully it was not working. Strongly suspect it was user error not equipment error though!!
 

Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
Congratulations and don't beat yourself up about the pump.

Many bike pumps are very difficult to use and also seemingly designed to just put enough air in the inner tube to get you either home or to a petrol station. After around 12 - 20 psi it can feel as though you are trying to compress water.
marooncat said:
Success - it is now fitting perfect - thanks for all help and advise.

However I had real problems getting my bike pump to work, in the end had to borrow a foot pump from one of the guys in work. I know the pump works as it blew the inner tube up a wee bit but then when I put the tyre back on and tried to do it up fully it was not working. Strongly suspect it was user error not equipment error though!!
 
Back to the OP...

The valve at the tube is wide, and if not seated properly the valve prevents the tyre getting deep into the rim - this can make the tyre bulge at this point as it forces the tyre out.

Let the air out of the tyre and dismantle any retaining rings, then push the inner tube int the tyre so that only th eend remains out.

Now seat the tyre into the rim and pull the valve back down.

Reinflate the tyre and this should solve the problem...
 

bonj2

Guest
and get presta valves, they're better.
 

Sheffield_Tiger

Legendary Member
bonj2 said:
and get presta valves, they're better.

pish..

Real men ride Woods and carry a little narrow bit of rubber tubing to fix the valve with if needed! :biggrin:

(they're nearly as old as this thread! :laugh:)
 

Willo

Well-Known Member
Location
Kent
I've suffered from the bulge around the valve (:tongue:) and as Cunobelin says re-seat it and all should be fine. Also worth checking the tube is not twisted. I recently changed a tube road-side, and noticed I'd lost quite a bit of pressure when I went to use the cycle a week later. Pumped up the tyre, but as I set out noticed a bulge. Let the tyre down, re-seated it and pumped it up again only for a big pop. Took the tyre off and realised the tube was twisted around the valve where I'd changed it in a hurry by the side of the road.
 

hotmetal

Senior Member
Location
Near Windsor
Whrrr said:
Is this what we're talking about? I think I might have the same problem:
tyrebulge.jpg
:biggrin: I wouldn't ride it like that if I were you!

Marooncat, I totally agree with you about pumps. If anything, the so-called 'clever' ones that do Schrader and Presta valves can be the most awkward: Get the pump either not far enough on or too far on and you either get no air going in and the pump locks solid, or (in the case of my Crank Bros one) the air comes out of the other hole. I hate mini-pumps (until I get a p***ture by the side of the road). Well worth getting a track pump for home use IMO. Plus you can pretend to be Wyle E Coyote out of Roadrunner, and imagine that your wheel is actually a crate with ACME Dynamite on the side. Or maybe that's just me!
 
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