How To - Repair leaking spoke nipples

In the real world what advantage do tubeless have over an innertube? Slighlty less wieght and the ability to plug a puncture?

Tubeless tyre's don't deflate as quickly in the event of a puncture unless it is catastrophic, they can be easily plugged on the side of the road and their temperature and performance is far more stable than a tubed tyre.

Your observation about weight is missing the fact that rotational mass increases the inertia exponentially so steering is affected especially as the weight is at the circumference of the wheel. Many of us do stuff like buying light brakes to reduce rotating mass because to us it makes a difference. And don't get us started on unsprung weight!

Pete

Thanks Pete. I think I'll stick with the cast alloys rather than the spoked wheels, which seem like a high maintenence solution.

The outex kit arrived within a week.
Front wheel is done. Tomorrow I will go to the shop putting the tyre back on. And then cross the fingers...

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Karman, you may find your cast wheels are lighter than the spoke jobbies anyway.
Can you weigh each and report back.

I love the look of spoked wheels, but enjoy the carbon fibre ride a whole lot more.

This may explain why my front tyre constantly defaults to 16 PSI

Mine does too. I just pump it up again, but I may buy some of that Outex stuff and try it.

...and mine too - thinking of Outex or maybe just some RTV sealant around each nipple.

This is the best way to stop the leaks:


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We used to seal our 2 piece bolt together drag race wheels by laying a bead of RTV, silicon sealer around the inside where they mated together so we could run tubeless tires, worked great. I would put a glob of silicon over each nipple on the inside and be done with it. Cheap and easy.

Robinson_Spike wrote:

Hahaha - that’s a fair point, but for a newbie like me to get a factory roller it only came with spokey dokeys and the look better IMO

It's got spokes! Three big fat ones!

Game, set and match to Mr Beetle - I’ve had half a dozen stubbies, about to go to bed and he’s on his morning coffee!

My 72 Eldorado is running tubeless courtesy of a $2 tube of general purpose silicone smeared around each spoke head. I had a little trouble at first due to using the wrong type of silicone but even so the tires never suffered a sudden deflation like you can get with a tube.
You would have to remove the tubeless valve to get a tube in, big step backwards.

Smear some into those nice dished nipple indents and they will never leak again.

BTW, looking for a water trough to check for leaks get one of those plastic planter boxes, real cheap at the plant store.

Kiwi_Roy - You mentioned problems due to using the wrong type of silicone. What is the correct type of silicone?

Thanks,
Alden

I have converted my V7 Special to tubeless.
A layer of Sikaflex 291 Marine sealant over the top of the nipples.
A layer of crystal Clear Gorilla tape to protect the Sikaflex while importing the tire.
It's been 6 months or more.
My 72 Eldorado was also done a couple of years back, I used GE 100% Silicon for those.

The GRiSO spokeless wheels look good but all those "O" rings would make me nervous.

I read through the post carefully, did you find the spokes were loose i.e. needed tightening?
Tapping on each spoke they should make a ringing noise.
I haven't seen this type of nipple with the "O" rings do you have any thoughts on why they should start leaking?
Perhaps just a layer of tape over the top of the nipples would provide a second line of defence, the nipples could turn under the tape.

I was taught how to make the wheels tubeless by a long time dirt track rider, I tried several different silicones that would be forced out through the thread before I found GE 100% silicone, my 72 Eldorado been over 4 years now.
My V7III has a layer of Sikaflex marine sealant over the nipples and a layer of gorilla tape over the top to protect the sealant, it's been almost a year now.
My 07 GRiSO has cast wheels of course.

I reckon my spoked wheels are due a new set of 'O' rings as I'm needing to add more air after a couple of days now - does anyone know the spec/correct size of 'O' rings I will need for the job?

Not sure they come as a set (probably not a standard service item). Gutsi bits sell them individually at £1.20 each & there are probably cheaper 'standard O rings' that fit if you need a lot

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Put a tube in the rear when it leaked. Problem solved. Will be adding a tube in the front if/when it leaks or is replaced when wears out.

I have a V7 with spokes, I used a Marine sealant followed up with a layer of Gorilla tape to protect the sealant to make them airtight. The only problem is you might find a tire shop reluctant to change tires for you.
I bought a set of 3 levers with plastic rim protectors and use tire lubricant.
Its quite easy to change tires, I wondered why I put it off so long.

Thanks Paul, I've ordered a handfull of those from Gutsibits & will see how I get on with fitting them - wish me luck!

Good luck - Guessing you already worked it out but I'd work out which are leaking (wheel in bath time) & just do those....oh and read all the previous threads like this one [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]