Glueing tubulars [the tubular thread]

Wheels, Tires, Tubes, Tubeless, Tubs, Spokes, Hookless, Hubs, and more!

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The spirit of this board is to compile and organize wheels and tires related discussions.

If a new wheel tech is released, (say for example, TPU tubes, a brand new tire, or a new rim standard), feel free to start the discussion in the popular "Road". Your topic will eventually be moved here!
Geoff
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Location: Canada

by Geoff

That is a good indicator that the tire was not properly-adhered. On a correctly prepared rim, once you remove the tire, the remaining layers of glue should be still good to add a fresh layer of glue and add a new tire. You clearly made the right choice.

To clean that rim, I would recommend starting with acetone or alchohol on a clean terrycloth rag, changing frequently. Finish by wiping well with another clean, damp rag. Once you have done that, you should see a nice, clean surface ready for gluing. This time, your glue will stick like crazy. I recommend Vittoria Mastik 1 for all applications (including 'cross).

With respect to the tire, ideally you will want to get as much of the gunk off the basetape as possible. For sure, you do not want to have the tape on the tire when you re-glue it. It does not need to be perfect, though. The odd blob will not affect the glue job.

Frank! I am suprised at you! I thought all Belgians loved their 'cross! What do you think of your Team for Worlds? I met Jan Bakelants last week. He is a super guy with really good legs...

fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
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by fdegrove

Hi,

Frank! I am suprised at you! I thought all Belgians loved their 'cross!
:lol:

We just have way too many of these guys for me to keep track... :mrgreen:
Seriously though, if you mean the CX team they'll be sending to Louisville again then I really don't see who's going to beat them. (He says in all modesty.... :oops: )

The road team for Florence also stands a good chance but that won't be so easy.

Anyhow, back to gluing tubs or I'll tie a Pipistrello Bambino around your neck.... :P :lol:

Ciao, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

by Weenie


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jockster
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Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:25 pm

by jockster

This is obviously already discussed, but couldn't find the answer - can I use Acetone to clean glue residue of my Shimano carbon tubular wheels?

Geoff
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Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:25 am
Location: Canada

by Geoff

Not a chance. The only role for acetone in tubular rim gluing would be cleaning mould-release compounds on a new rim, or something like that.

Tubular rim glue needs a more aggressive solvent to remove it. I have had good luck with a product called 'Goof-Off', but depending upon where you are, it may not be available. Another alternative that will be available in some form everywhere on earth is household paint thinner (Stoddard's, white spirit, etc., depending upon where you live).

Use whatever solvent you choose with a terrycoth rag, changing frequently. These chemicals should always be used in a well-ventilated area while wearing nitrile gloves.

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

I clean off solvent residue (white spirit in my case) with Acetone.
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CulBaire
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by CulBaire

I've just recently switched to Tubs on my new bike; I must say I am a convert....

The COSMIC Carbone SL rims I got second hand needed a bit of work, they had a lot of old glue and even base tape which needed to be removed; I found the "Goof Off" and "Elbow Grease" worked well at cleaning up the rims... I was amazed at how easy it was to glue the tubs on, and even get one back off when I needed a wheel trued (dont ask)... For what is considered a black art around these parts there really isn't much too to it.

And the kicker, the roads around here are fairly "dead", but the feel of the tubular tires is amazing when compared to the clinchers I was running. I can't see myself going back any time soon.

Geoff
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Location: Canada

by Geoff

That is why we post to this thread! Life is way too short to ride on bad wheels and tires. 25 years ago, everybody rode on tubulars. There was no option. It's easy!

Wookieopolis
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Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:28 am
Location: Berkeley, CA

by Wookieopolis

I'm having an interesting issue where the glue joint has failed on almost the entire driver side edge of my rear tire. The non drive side looks great, but deflating the tire the drive side comes away from the outside ~3mm of the rim. Obviously the solution is to remove and remount the tire, I am just wondering if anyone has experienced a similar issue and if it is contamination of the glue joint by chain lube or something similar? The joint looked fine previously, I only noticed the problem yesterday after deflating the tire to put in some sealant due to a slow leak.

Geoff
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Location: Canada

by Geoff

I think that you'd have to have an awful lot of an unusual chain lube in order for your glue job to have been affected by it. It is more likely that the rim was not perfectly clean, or the glue job on one side of the rim was better than the other. No problem, you'll fix it.

dha
Posts: 163
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:40 pm

by dha

Started my first gluing session today. Glue on base tape and rim. Now waiting for 24 hrs before next coat on rim.

Quick question though, should mastik one be slightly stringy? Very very thin fibres almost like fine fishing wire seemed to come from the can when I moved the brush away from it with glue on the brush.

sungod
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Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:37 pm

by sungod

it strings, especially as the solvent in the surface glue evaporates while the can is open - it gets more stringy the longer the lid is off

dha
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Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:40 pm

by dha

Thanks.

dha
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Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:40 pm

by dha

Two tubs now glued on. They look pretty straight and evenly seated on the rims. Happy with my first attempts.

RussellS
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by RussellS

Geoff wrote:25 years ago, everybody rode on tubulars. There was no option.


25 years ago was 1988. Almost everyone on a bike was using clinchers then. Some racers were still on tubulars. 35 or 45 years ago, your statement may be valid. But not 25 years ago. Odd, but that is fairly recent. I think it was Specialized who came out with a light good clincher tire in the 1980s. Poor big thick heavy bad clinchers were the norm before they got into it. Tubulars were almost gone by the late 1980s. And today almost no one knows what a tubular tire is and have never ever seen one in the flesh.

by Weenie


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Calnago
In Memoriam
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by Calnago

@RussellS: Care to list the teams in this year's (2013) Tour de France that were using clinchers?
Colnago C64 - The Naked Build; Colnago C60 - PR99; Trek Koppenberg - Where Emonda and Domane Meet;
Unlinked Builds (searchable): Colnago C59 - 5 Years Later; Trek Emonda SL Campagnolo SR; Special Colnago EPQ

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