How to Remove, Repair and Remount Tubular Tire

How to remove a tubular tire

Firstly, you’ll need to deflate the tire. Air pressure makes the tire grip the rim.
Next, try and pry a small part of tire free. Use your thumb and grip strength. If the tire is properly glued, you won’t manage. Well glued tires can’t be removed by hands easily. After working a 10cm section on one side, turn the wheel over and try the opposite side. It is possible that some of the tire base tape will begin releasing from the rim.
Then, you may need a narrow pry tool, such as a slotted end screwdriver, to push into the glue and separate the tire from the rim. You should push the screwdriver all the way through between the tire and the rim. Use it carefully, or you may poke the tire. Separate the tire from the rim in tiny bites.
When you finish tool insertion, replace the slotted screwdriver with a round, Phillips type. The best size is a blade about 6mm in diameter. A larger diameter dowel may work, but the rim and the tire prefer the small steel shape. While being seated, place the wheel between your legs, with the screwdriver handle in your dominant hand.
Orient the wheel to place the screwdriver at the top. Pull the driver towards you with both hands while you rotate it clockwise. Pulling while rotating advances the blade towards you, rolling against the sticky tire bed and skidding against the smoother rim. This rolling requires a strong turning hand and a firm pull on both sides. The tire bond is no equal for this rotation. The tire will begin to separate from the rim as you pull and rotate.


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How to repair a tubular tire

Firstly, locate the puncture while the tire is still on the rim.
Next, inflate the tire and feel the leaks. If you don’t hear air escaping, hold the tire near your face and turn it and try to feel the air. You may think it is ridiculous, but the fact is the skin on your face is very sensitive.
After you find out leaks, mark the spot so that you can find it again quickly after you remove the tire off the rim. Before you start patching the tire, remember to remove any pieces of the object that caused the puncture.
Use a knife or a sewing seam ripper to cut the stitching threads. Pull the tire open and remove the thread remnants.
Patch the leak with the stitching threads




How to remount a tubular tire

Place the wheel in the truing stand. Inflate the tire just until it twists and the base tape faces outward.
Put on latex gloves and open the glue container or the tube. Apply a light and even coat of glue to both sides of the rim and the tire with your brush. Make sure to apply the glue across the entire surface of the tire bed and base tape. Be careful not to get glue inside the spoke holes of the rim.
Put the rim and the tire aside for drying in a clean, well- ventilated area. If you don’t know when it is going to be dry, refer to the glue manufacturer’s instructions.
After the glue is dried, repeat the above steps for twice. Briefly speaking, you’ll need at least three times of gluing.
After three times of gluing, deflate the tire and remove the rim form the truing stand. Hold the rim between your feet on somewhere clean. Put the valve stem through the rim’s valve stem hole. Press it down.
Turn the tire to the left and right of the valve stem. Make the rim down towards the ground. Slide the remaining tire onto the rim with your thumbs. Quickly check the tire to make sure it is centered on the rim.
Inflate the tire properly so that it takes shape and check to see that an equal amount of base tape is showing on both sides around the rim.
Place it in the truing stand, and spin the tire slowly and make sure that the tire is not wandering form side to side. If so, deflate the tire a little and move it over until it is completely centered on the rim. If necessary, repeat this step.
Inflate the tire to recommended pressure and clean excessive glue from the rim and the brake track with rag and acetone.