Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

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Clivester
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Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Clivester »

After struggling with the rear tire on my CH150 Elite I thought I would share this with you.

I generally have little trouble with tube tires. As long as you make sure that the tire bead is angled inside the rim depression on the opposite site, its generally fairly easy to stretch them over the rim.

Tubeless tires are another thing entirely. Those things are really tight on hour tiny 10 inch wheels. I always had trouble breaking the bead from the rim. Today, I had to remove the rear tire from my 150 Elite. I ran over a really bad pothole (courtesy of the Mayor of Seattle) with a passenger on board and shortly afterward the tire went flat. The tire was tubeless, but apparently had been fitted with a tube by the previous owner. To make things worse, the steel rim had some corrosion on the inside from water getting into through the valve hole, so the internal rim was no longer smooth. I struggled with my Black & Decker Workbench along with a G-clamp to break the beads. Managed to get one side off, but the other was a real b!$*%$#@r.

Then I came across this method online. I have to say it works like a charm. After several hours of effort this worked in less than 5 minutes. So for those who may need it (like with a Metro wheel switch) here's the source:

http://scgt.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/ti ... the-beads/

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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by mousewheels »

Thanks Clivester, I will try that on some rusty rims:thumbsup:
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Wheelman-111 »

Greetings:

The one downside is that Clive's upstairs neighbor suddenly complained of the sudden appearance of a hump in the floor... :)

Thanks for the good tip!
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Clivester
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Clivester »

Wheelman-111 wrote:Greetings:
The one downside is that Clive's upstairs neighbor suddenly complained of the sudden appearance of a hump in the floor... :)
Thanks for the good tip!
Also works for adding an extra storey/floor to the humble abode. Another 100 or so tires and I should have a view property. Image
Lambretta TV-175 (wish I'd never sold it!)
2005 Vento Phantom R4i 125cc (stolen)
1986 Yamaha XC180 Riva
1985 Honda CH150D Elite
1988 Honda SA50 LX Elite
1989 Honda SB50
2007 iScooter 150cc
2006 Roketa 150cc
2006 TNG Venice 50cc
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by SPREEtown »

i got some conti zips online for my spree. they sent me tubeless tires and when i contacted them they said i could run them with a tube on my wheel. thoughts?
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Dale Seleey »

Breaking beads.... sometimes it seems that's all I do at the track for my son's kart.... 8)
The easiest way to do it if you don't have a proper bead breaker is with a bench vise. Be careful to not clamp down on both sides of the wheel. If simply clamping the tire won't do it, wrap one of the vise jaws with a rag and place the wheel against it. Then clamp down on the tire (at and angle obviously) with the other jaw.

It's a lot easier if the valve core has been removed from the stem.

Regarding tubes and tubless, yes, you will have no problems using a tube inside a tubless tire.

You should be able to remove the old tire and put the new one on without tools, but if decide you must use tools, be very careful to not damage the bead of the new tire, or the new tube.

Have fun, trust me, it gets easier with experience...
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Trafficjamz »

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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by SPREEtown »

they were a pain in the *, but i got them on there, and off (with just talcum powder and irons. i am running w/ tubes for the curious.
question: there is some unevenness of the tire on the rim, as if it is not seated all the way. i pumped one up and bounced it a few times and this helped even things out a bit. is this a problem? tube being pinched? or will rolling under weight resolve? ill be breaking in my bbk so if things go awry it wont be at speed...
1986 Spree SE:
  • pulley mod
    '85 head
    SB50 intake, reeds, carb
    UNI filter
    44mm bbk
    3x10 conti zipps
    next:
    taz gears, sa50 clutch w/ 2k springs
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by toad772 »

Trafficjamz wrote:Image
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You are suppose to bolt that to the floor(you probably already know this though) I used to have a full size tire changer in the old school bus garage and changing tires was fun.
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Re: Technique for Breaking the Bead on a Tubeless Tire

Post by Trafficjamz »

toad772 wrote:You are suppose to bolt that to the floor(you probably already know this though) I used to have a full size tire changer in the old school bus garage and changing tires was fun.
Yeah I know....I just don't know where to put it yet. :thumbwink:
new best 1/8th mile time 9.647 seconds @67.155 mph 310lbs total weight
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