Tubes fix-a-flat

[motorbikemike45]

It is possible this belongs in the tires section, but more will read it here. In order to simplify all the stuff I carry on an already heavy bike, I bought a can of Bikes only fix-a-flat, made for Accessories Marketing, Inc from K-Mart. A week ago I was at a cruise-in, walking around taking pictures and when I returned to the e-bike, the front tire was flat. Pulling out my trusty fix-a-flat can, I found the screw on fitting wouldn't fit the valve stem. I messed around for 15 minutes or so before I gave up and walked the 8 blocks home with the front wheel in hand. At home I replaced the tube with a new, factory slimed tube and returned to the bike.

Today I was in K-Mart and tested every fix-a-flat can on the shelves on the bikes in the store. Every one had such poorly mis-molded threads that none would screw onto a valve stem. They just wouldn't fit. I informed the store of this and left. Before purchacing a can of fix-a-flat for bikes, try screwing the threaded tube end onto the bike valve stems in the store to see if it will fit. Otherwise, the one time you need it, it will fail you.

 

[Anton]

I've never used a fix-a-flat can but I do know that just about every Chinese pump with the clamp on fitting either seems to jump off when inflating the tire or lets more air out than actually goes in. Frustrating but I haven't found anything with a better fitting than those old screw on hand pumps.

 

[Fabian]

Ahhh, but that's why you get a special order; bespoke 12 volt lighting kit from Wonderful Creations, complete with a 4,000 mAh lithium battery kit, on-board diagnostics and a 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle to allow use of a 12 volt air pump for such inflation duties, as well as charging up your ipad, mobile phone, GPS unit or whatever else requires a power supply whilst out on a road trip.
I am not even going to comment on how much this has cost but suffice to say that it's an item to die for!

There is word around the traps that they're looking to produce a neodymium 52 magnet for the Chinese bicycle engine to really pump up the power output to a couple of amps.
I'm first on the list (opps, sorry i didn't say that) to get the new magnet, because i want to plug in my 12 volt heated jacket and 12 volt heated boot warmers for total comfort in cold weather and for alpine expeditions.

 

[Purple Haze]

I used Fix-a-flat a couple times, it's a very short-term fix. Both times it got me home, but went flat again overnight. Also, it is very messy to clean out of the tire when you change the tube. Fabian, you are right on about the Wonderful Creations generator setup. I am lusting after it myself, but am financially embarrassed at the moment. Also, let me know about that super-mag, I've seen some on ebay that claim to be stronger than stock, but they look like a regular mag to me. I'm sure that a stronger mag would also give a hotter spark and a better signal to the CDI.

 

[motorbikemike45]

I put the little hand tire pump and the tube repair kit back on the bike. As it has ever been, shotcuts aren't always the best route.

 

[darwin]

Trick to losing air when disconnecting air valve is to put 5 more psi in then needed. Show dat pump whos boss huh!

 

[jrowse]

i am going to put solid tires on mine. i've had 3 flats in 2 weeks, that's enough ! i not going to change where i ride so i'm getting rid of the problem.

 

[MikeJ]

Desperate times call for desperate measures... I know that your frustration well. I recall a Sunday last year that I had three flats in one day; one up front and two in back. I got good at changing tires without any tire-changing tools. I went with what I think is a motorcross trick after reading someone else's success in the Tires thread. I went with a tire-in-a-tire. That is, fit a knobby tire inside my 2.3 inch road tires (had to cut an inch or so out). Then I placed a punctured tube (minus valve stem) inside all that. Then placed a new tube in all that and inflated and balanced with counterweights. Both wheels are holding up after 300 miles or so; not even losing air like it used to.

I had tubes that were poorly manufactured, yet passed QC. It was only in action on the road did they fail from stress. Read up on the pros and cons of solid tires. They are not a perfect answer, but better than frequent flats.

 

[darwin]

Nomo flats tire liners and punture resistant tubes, kevlar lined tires, your good to go then. Its called waging war and WINNING not just the battle but the WAR.

 

[The_Aleman]

I never trusted that fix-a-flat stuff. Years ago when I busted car tires for a living, I hated that stuff with a passion. It was almost impossible to repair a car tire once it was used.

As for bicycle tires, I've been using Slime for over 20 years. Can't really patch a Slime'd tube, but you probably won't need to. 6-8 ounces in the tube, and a tire pump handy just in case.

If you get a puncture with Slime, it'll start bleeding. If what punctured the tube is still stuck in the tire, remove it, pump the tire back up, and keep it rolling. It should seal up. I have had tubes last for years despite dozens of punctures. Sometimes they go flat again, but once pumped back up and rolled, they stay pumped up for awhile. My current MaB has a particularly nasty rear puncture and it loses air every week. I need to replace the rear tube, but Slime keeps the one I have going!