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It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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Old 15 Jan 2014
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Seating the bead ,middle of nowhere
Hi,

I've just had a struggle seating the bead on a tubed tyre. The thought has occurred to me , what do you do if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere on a trip and you can't get the bead seated ?

Thanks for any advice
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Old 15 Jan 2014
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With some soap, a clean rim and a good pump it can always be done.
If not it will probably seat after a few kms.
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Old 15 Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
If not it will probably seat after a few kms.
...and if it doesn't, just ride slowly until you get to a convenient place to take it apart again and polish the rim. I have found that if I take a scotchbrite wheel on a drill a polish the hump on the rim that the tire needs to pop over, when I am fitting new tires at home, that it will still be smooth enough to allow the bead to seat for a couple tire changes on the road.
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Old 15 Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by jqd05a View Post
Hi,
I've just had a struggle seating the bead on a tubed tyre. The thought has occurred to me , what do you do if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere on a trip and you can't get the bead seated ?
Thanks for any advice
A tube tire does not require the bead to be 100% seated to ride.
As Andy T says, just air it up, ride on. Very tough to 100% seat the bead with a crappy bicycle hand pump, depending on tire type and state of rim.

You need at least 15 PSI to ride the bike, maybe 20 PSI for a heavy twin. When you get somewhere with a good compressor, then deflate tire,, make sure tube is evenly placed in tire, apply tire lube on tire bead and rim edge, re-inflate with compressor. Proper tire lube really works well.
(better than WD40 or dish washing liquid)

The bead should Pop somewhere between 50 and 80 PSI. A good, fresh tube is a good idea too. Also, as mentioned, riding can sometimes allow the bead to fully seat. On road you may feel a bump bump bump going down the road with an unseated bead. No worries, just get it fully seated when you can.

More common problems are guys who've never changed a tire or don't have good tire irons and are not sure how to use them. I carry 3 irons. Practice at home. It's hard work but gets easier as your technique improves.
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Old 17 Jan 2014
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Thanks very much for the replies guys Some really good tips there.

Thanks again
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Old 17 Jan 2014
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Tubeless
If you're trying to get a tubeless tyre to seat enough to get air into it and it won't, then wrap a tie-down around the centre of the tyre. This will help force the beads into the edge of the rim and make it hold air.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ
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Old 17 Jan 2014
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Lubrication and pressure... Both are required.

You can also bounce the tyre against the pavement OPPOSITE where tyre won't seat...

Having a clean, polished rim certainly helps a lot too...
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