Turning spoke wheels into tubeless wheels.

[springer]

 So why WOULD you want to get rid of those tubes that live inside of you tire and spoke rim? Because when you get a flat, it is the tube you got to fix. That means taking off the tire to get to the tube to patch it. What a hassle that can be, get the front or back in the air, remove the wheel, then remove the tire, and fix the tube. Yea, sometimes, some folks, can do all that with out taking the wheel off...sometimes, but still it is a hassle.
I would much rather just plug it and go.  ;)

Here is a fella that shows you how simple it can be...most of the time to just plug it and go;

That sure looks easier than doing all that other stuff to fix a tube. But since my main go to bike is the Africa Twin my options are some what limited. Spoke wheels with NO tubes means that my options are;
1. Have Wood's Wheel Works build me a set of tubeless spoke rims, but that can be expensive...about $2.5k expensive.
2. Buy a Outex kit for about for around $117.00 for the front and rear rim;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CRF1000L-Africa-Twin-Spoke-Wheel-Tubeless-Kit-21-2-15-18-4-00-MT-FR21214-/291698243582

That /\ is the way I went. Of course after buying that kit I got told of a little bit cheaper option by some Supermoto members here, but que sera sera...or so it goes.  :D

Here is how they do it, some guys also use some kind of super tape, this video shows both;

So anyway, got started on it today. First step is of course getting the old tire off the rim. Use a set of Motion Pro Bead Breaker tire irons to break the bead and remove the old tire.



(BTW, BEST set of Tire irons money can buy. They are short, but provide plenty of leverage plus breaking the bead is VERY fast and since they are made out of Aluminum, they are light. A must for any motorcyclist in my humble opinion.  :D )
So once the tire is off, it is time to clean...and I do mean clean, the inside of the rim. I used acetone because nothing cleans metal like acetone. It removes stuck on gunk quickly, dries fast, and leaves no residue.



In the Outex kit are some little round sticky things. They go on the spoke nipples;



I just peeled them off the roll and applied them to the nipple. I then used a #2 pencil eraser to stick them good to the nipple face. I then used a dental pick floss thingy. The pick end is plastic and flexible. Perfect for getting the round sticky things to fit around and stick to the nipple head.  ;)
Next up is the double sided sticky tape...and man, is that stuff sticky. It goes around the rim into the channel where the spoke nipples are. You cut the sticky tape so the end piece fits flush with the other end. No need to overlap. Start about 2 nipples away from the schrader valve hole. (schrader valve, that is the thingy you use to put air into the tire.  ;) 2 new schrader valves are included in the kit) Picture \/



Now remove the green backing from the double side sticky tape. Now apply the white(ish) clear tape, butting the ends up like the sticky tape but go about 1 nipple down (So the splice of the 2 tapes do not line up with each other). Cut the hole in the rim for the schrader valve out with an X-Acto knife with a long sharp point. (Not included in the kit)  I also used the pencil eraser to make sure everything was stuck down as good as I could.  ;)

Now mount your new tire to the rim and air up.



I aired the tire to 40 psi. It will set over night and if I did everything right,  ::) I should read 40 psi in the morning.
If I do, then the back rim will get done tomorrow.  ;)

If I didn't, you will hear me cussing from Mobile to Huntsville.  :D

[springer]

Ooops, Video, first one is with the spoke nipple covering;

This one is of that super sticky double sided tape;

[Cahaba]

I did this Outex procedure on Moto rims for my Beta, that first night they may drop just a tiny amount of PSI as the pressure forces the tape down into every tiny crack and cranny.  Think I lost maybe 3-5psi?  Wasn't much.  I did it while they were still brand new so at least I got to skip the cleaning part, which I can imagine could be some work depending on the age of a wheel.

Then after that first night you should be good!
That system takes patience but mine is getting close to one year and it has worked perfectly!

I also use Ride On in those wheels as a balancer and for potentially a little extra protection against picking up road trash.  Lot of opinions in that area, but I've been a fan of Ride On at least for balancing for a while and doesn't really make much of a mess at all like some others do when time for a tire change. 


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[bblass]

Great write up @springer !

[springer]

Great write up @springer !

Thank you sir!

Front is done!





BTW, the front lost just 3-4 pds over night;



So it should be good to go.

Now for the back rim...and a new tire too. Can't let the back get jealous of the new tire ya know.  ;)

[kylepeterson]

Very nicely done!

[odell2115]

That is a beautiful bike.  I love those colors.

[Cahaba]

Thank you sir!

Front is done!





BTW, the front lost just 3-4 pds over night;



So it should be good to go.

Now for the back rim...and a new tire too. Can't let the back get jealous of the new tire ya know.  ;)

I'll bet you enjoyed how easy it is to mount a tire once converted to tubeless!  I smear a little shindy's bead wax on the lip, it spoons on the final stages nice and easy (even thick sidewalk ones), and just fill her up til the bead pops on good and tight. 

Now if only I could get my rear tubliss dirt tire to seal as well ... it loses about 1 psi every 4-6hrs on the low pressure side, slower once it drops beneath 10psi.  Just tiny tiny leaks seem to be all around the tire bead/rim itself.  I slathered SLIME on at install too.  Next tire change I'll really try to figure out why, for now I just add a little air whenever I need to. 


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[springer]

 Well, after my walk this morning;

I thought it is just to pretty to turn a wrench so I went mountain bike riding at Tannehill state park. Got home about 12:30 and ate lunch, then jumped into it.  ;)
Came home around 12:30, ate lunch, then started in on the rear tire. Got the wheel off;



Then the tire off. Cleaned the rim for the 1st time;



and now taking another break.  :D

[springer]

 Okay, got the little nipple covers on, put the sticky as hell tape on, and then put the cleat non sticky plastic tape cover stuff on. (How can a roll of plastic with no sticky stuff be called tape? I have no idea, but that is what Out-ex calls it.  ::) )
Letting the tire warm up in the sun as I have a coke and a smile.

 

[kylepeterson]

I love the way tires feel at 13-15psi without tubes. The problem with this on dirt wheels is that fine sand and dirt make their way into around the bead and eventually start leaks. I ran it for a month or so without issues but after a few days in really dry/powdery conditions, they leaked. I would carry a 21" as a backup if you plan to do any long distance dual sport riding.

I'm back to tubes for now, but watching for your experiences with the tape method.

[springer]

I love the way tires feel at 13-15psi without tubes. The problem with this on dirt wheels is that fine sand and dirt make their way into around the bead and eventually start leaks. I ran it for a month or so without issues but after a few days in really dry/powdery conditions, they leaked. I would carry a 21" as a backup if you plan to do any long distance dual sport riding.

I'm back to tubes for now, but watching for your experiences with the tape method.

Well hold on...the rear is leaking around 2 spokes...so everything is not so good. So tomorrow off comes the tire, then I will have to take a look see. I bought some "3M Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 5200". Some guys on Youtube say that is all they use for this. Apply all around the spoke nipple and on top, let cure for 24 hours, and reassemble...sill got a bit of the sticky tape and plastic tape from the Outex kit, so that might be used too.

Today was a bummer... :-[   

[Cahaba]

Hate to hear that, gotta be frustrating.

The last pic makes it look like you could have a few spots that need to be pushed down a little more, so hopefully that is all it is.  Take something strong and smooth (like the handle of a butter knife, paintbrush, etc) and see if you can work that tape down a little better.  I used something along those lines and put a piece of cloth (or some smooth/strong fabric) around the end so it slides around easily on the tape backside, and worked it down and into place good on mine.  Maybe that's all it needs, but it is nice they send you a little more tape than you need in case you need to slice and redo a small section. 


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[kylepeterson]

Well hold on...the rear is leaking around 2 spokes...so everything is not so good. So tomorrow off comes the tire, then I will have to take a look see. I bought some "3M Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 5200". Some guys on Youtube say that is all they use for this. Apply all around the spoke nipple and on top, let cure for 24 hours, and reassemble...sill got a bit of the sticky tape and plastic tape from the Outex kit, so that might be used too.

Today was a bummer... :-[

That's good news actually... I never saw any leakage at the spoke nipples, it was always at the bead between the tire and rim. I'd say you're good after you too off the leaking tape, clean it and try again. You really want to use a roller of some kind to get the tape into the wheel good. If you pump it up higher to around 50-60 it will put more pressure against the tape and help form it against the nipples.

I think I saw about 1psi per week, until the Dusty racing Arif, then it would loose 10 in an evening. If I ever figure out how to seal the rim/bead with some kind of sealant I'll do it again. Loved the way tires felt without tubes.

[springer]

That's good news actually... I never saw any leakage at the spoke nipples, it was always at the bead between the tire and rim. I'd say you're good after you too off the leaking tape, clean it and try again. You really want to use a roller of some kind to get the tape into the wheel good. If you pump it up higher to around 50-60 it will put more pressure against the tape and help form it against the nipples.

I think I saw about 1psi per week, until the Dusty racing Arif, then it would loose 10 in an evening. If I ever figure out how to seal the rim/bead with some kind of sealant I'll do it again. Loved the way tires felt without tubes.

Yea, it was blowing out bad around 3 of them. 2 right together and the 3rd one about a spoke set down. (2 spokes down)
Moar bad news, checked the front and over night it went from 50 psi to 30 psi.  :( It help good the first night but not last night.  :o

I have taken off around a 3rd of the Outex stuff from the rim;



I am planning on doing something similar to what this guys does;

I have already got the sealant he showed;



But he did not say what tape he used. (brand)  :( He did say impenetrable by air...or something like that. Packing tape maybe?)

Any advice?