Dirty bike tire changes

[maxim_X]

Epic fail for me today. What a pain in the ass. After spending an hour and a half on replacing a tube, turns out I tore the new tube putting it in.

I did that a lot when I started and have three tips for that. Get a super heavy-duty tube, lubrication (I use glass cleaner, others use something like talc powder), and inflate the tube so it's round and not a floppy noodle.

[nhbubba]

Also consider using cut-up old tube as a liner.
The new spoons I bought for my trail kit help with this as they have a little nub near the end of the spoon. This helps you position the spoon right on the edge of the wheel and helps prevent pinching the tube. Quite nice.

[typeone]

...three tips for that. Get a super heavy-duty tube, lubrication (I use glass cleaner, others use something like talc powder), and inflate the tube so it's round and not a floppy noodle.

+1, i do both... lots of baby powder on a slightly inflated tube + WD or Windex once i'm getting the last bits on. usually have to reseat the bead with some WD as well. deflate, spray bitch spot, inflate to like 40+psi, let sit until it seats.

if you're fighting, you're prob biting too much. small nips with 3 spoons.

could also invest in one of these, Baja No Pinch Tool

[Kurlon]

I want that Baja tool...

In the mean time, if you haven't bought a gallon of Napa Ru-Glyde tire lube, get some. It makes Windex, WD40, talk, that jar from your mother's dresser, etc all seem like tacky glue in comparison.

[csmutty]

Not that much more $$ and you could probably find a used manual machine which would make it even easier.

[Petorius]

Bump... If I'm only going to have one set of irons, are the motion pro combo lever/wrench ones the right choice? The KDX rear axle is 22mm and the nut on the other side is 27mm. Should I get both of those? Or just one for the axle, plus the 10/12mm combo for the second one?

[csmutty]

Always buy all the tools. All of them.

[nhbubba]

The motion pro "T-6" levers are fucking awesome. They have this tiny little nipple on the end of the spoon that makes putting the tire on without pinching the tube easy. I'd lean towards getting the whatever size the nut on your axle is and either using channel locks, an adjustable wrench or a right-sized socket on the axle itself, if required. None of my machines usually require anything; the nut usually gives way without anything on the axle itself. Usually.

The smaller combo spoon should be good for removing rimlocks and valve stems.

I'd recommend buying a 2nd set of larger spoons for use @ home. Keep the combo set in your oh-shit-kit and the bigger spoons at home.

I like the big curved lever MP sells. I think I got it in another kit with two smaller levers too. I think I use 4-5 levers at a time putting tires on 9/10 times @ home.

So yeah, all the tools.

[Rada]

Yup. That little MP aluminum spoon/wrench it the ticket... Makes it so easy... I honestly think a caveman could do it.