Having just spent a FUN morning fixing two punctures in the same tube, I have come to the assumption that the tools I have are rubbish. Where can I get good quality tools, such as the patch tool shown on page 55 of AMH....
Cheep tools = mega hassle.
Good tools = just hassel.

Richard
PS Is the Slime, Tyre weld stuff any good as a get you home...ie, less than 100miles

Take a look at the post http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000061.html

I mention tire iron choices, and Chris talks about which ones to get in AMH p52.

"I carry 3 tire irons, 2 of them the original BMW irons which are excellent, plus one more slightly shorter but with a 90 deg bend on the end and a notch to hook it onto a spoke to act as a 3rd hand - very useful."

Chris does suggest 300mm long irons, but I recommend using shorter ones, around 150-200mm maximum - especially for beginners! If it's hard work with the 200mm irons you're doing it wrong! Step back and have a close look at everything, make sure the tire is sitting in the well all the way, use a little soap and water, and even the toughest tire isn't a big deal with 200mm irons.

The BMW irons are excellent and recommended. I think they are made by Heyco. Hazet makes some good ones also.

For a patching kit, use Rema Tip Top, or the BMW kit which is made by Rema. I haven't found anything else as good as Rema.

Re Slime etc., you will still have to pump up the tire, and may find it difficult with a hole in it, even after adding Slime, as it won't seal well until spun around a fair bit. Possible, but not to be relied on. Also plan on tossing the tube out after, as it is very difficult to patch well after slime oozes onto the outer surface of the tube. Tire manufacturers hate the stuff, but the Baja desert racers love it in the thorns.


------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Like Grant says, Tip Top is the brand to go for worldwide - they can even sell you a whole tubeless tyre changer and compressor. get a catalog.
Rema Tip Top
Westland Square
Leeds LS 11 5XS
West Yorkshire
tel 01132 770 044

The kit I got (and used for the book) came with a 4x4 tyre changeing lever from Australia but is all Tip top.

Chris

------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

Anybody used Slime as a preventative messure? i.e. adding Slime before your trip? Does it work, drawbacks etc? Any feedback is welcome.

Thanks

Hello there,
anyone can tell me the difference between "flat type" and "round type" tire levers/irons?
The link posted by Grant (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000061.html) doesn't work any more.
I am about to purchase some but there seems to be these two types available.

It's my understanding that the lips are flat on all these tools, only the shafts being different on some. I suggest the short and flat tahr arns for travel, 2 of them.
As with any tools, if you don't know how to use them, extreme frustration can fck up your day. And that's your fault, of course.

Yes, I was thinking about buying a couple of them and change the tyres myself to see how good I am in these things, did some jobs on my previous bikes but never actually touched the tyres, didn't need to.

these tools seem to be of two different kinds indeed, some of them look like spoons, others quite narrow at the ends, the only thing I can think of is that the flat and large ones may do less damage to the rims because they will put pressure on a wider surface?

I prefer this one:


Length: 20 cm

I saw these...



and these.....




..... .... which type?

Get one of each.

Get one of every kind you can find, try them out and write up the results on the new HUBB section for reviewing equipment!

__________________
Dave

I unknowingly had slime in my tire. It was put in by a previous owner. I picked up a large nail in my tire that I discovered when the tire went flat. This right away tells me that slime didn't prevent me from going flat.
Pulled the wheel on the side of the road and reached in to get the tube only to end up with a handfull of green... slime.
It took me a good half hour longer that usual to patch the tube because the green goo made it hard to clean to get a patch on.
Luckilly, that happened when I was just on a trip near home, so I could get a new tube and tire when I got home.
So from my experience, I can say.
1. It didn't prevent a flat tire.
2. Patching was a major (and very dirty) chore thanks to the slime.
Others may have good experiences with the stuff. I didn't.

Slime in tubed tyres - u/s with a puncture, does prevent air loss during normal use so has some benefits.

Slime in tubeless tyres - seems to work well

I would always recommend the Buzetti type levers, 200mm with the kinked tip. The rounded shape end ones do not stay put against the rim very well, they tend to slip in, sometimes causing a pinched tube. Partially inflate the tube to help it find its position.
If you need longer than a 200mm lever, you are doing something wrong! (Michelin deserts excluded).

I'm with leigh on this one. Buzetti everytime. I've done a few roadside punctures and they're great, but take three and make sure you lube the tyre properly.

__________________
Remember what Yoda said\", there is no try, either do or not do\".