Tubeless Tyres -"saying the same things about tubeless tyres over and over again" Hippy read the first f**king post

ice pick

I book in for a covid booster then swap my arm out for the wheel at the last second.

Doesn't have to be Volvo though

Hot screwdriver it is.

spoke

valve

Shark with a laser

Frozen sausage

Genius

I use a bradawl

I use the pointy bit of a large safety pin, heated to cherry red heat on a gas hob, with a bit of woggling to make the hole roughly the right size. Works for me.

Are people really heating things up to do this?

Maybe I’m not taking it seriously enough.

I never have, usually just stab it with whatever is pokiest nearby or the valve itself.

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/modelcraft-revolving-hole-punch-pliers/6225781000.html

1 Attachment

Are people really heating things up to do this?

I do. Takes but a second, and melting the rim tape rather than cutting it or poking a hole in it reduces the risk of the rim tape splitting when you insert the valve in my experience. The melty bit helps reinforce the edges of the hole. Definitely not necessary, but it works for me and takes no time so why not.

I have found that making the hole isn't the critical bit, it's finishing it. I've started using the tip from Insta's favourite mechanic bee_kay77 and running a small round file around the hole so the tape is perfectly flush with the rim. That way there's no splits which could gradually get longer, or tape folded inside the hole which cam sometimes made it hard to get the valve to seat properly.

You're all massively overthinking this

I've experienced a few leaky valves over the years, I'd rather spend 2 minutes doing it right from the start than rushing it and risk having to fix it later after the rim cavity fills with sealant.

I don't think the hole makes a massive difference - I used these same wheels tubed, with a variety of tubes in and out, before converting to tubeless and I didn't do anything about the quite enlarged valve hole in the tape. It's been fine. I think as long as the valve seal block thing matches the rim cross section fairly well it will a seal OK.

More important to get a rubber valve block that fits properly within your chosen rim IMO

OK, I’m converted. I have a small needle file.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWDLvETB9Z9/

Is there anything really good at removing gorilla glue residue? (Will never use again, a curse on everyone who said it was good as rim tape)

I feel like the tubeless valves with a "rectangular" rubber thing (like dt swiss ones) work better than the ones with a "round" rubber thing.

Acetone removes it without much bother

Take off old tape, put on new tape. Works fine as a rim tape? With/without heated piercing implements.