Inner tubes are poppin' every 5 mins!!

[Allthingswithamotor]

Hi all,

I have built my own mini bike but I am having massive problems with the inner-tubes on the rear wheel. Here goes:

Whenever I replace the innertube the valve is straight in the hole however when any torque is applied through the rear wheel the inner tube seems to be forced round the wheel stretching the innertube at the valve. At the correct pressure the inner tube rips at the exact same point at the base of the valve hence popping the inner tube.

Is there any way I can stop the inner tube from slipping around the wheel?

I have tried reinforcing the valve joint etc but this has not helped.

(Side note: the valve on the inner tube does not have a tightening nut.)

Any help would be appreciated as I am fed up with replacing the tube

Thanks all!

 

[Tpdingo]

Go tubeless! If you can build it the first time, you can uild it better.

 

[TT540]

Stud the tire? Screw through wheel and tire, but not through inner tube.

 

[Allthingswithamotor]

Stud the tire? Screw through wheel and tire, but not through inner tube.

How would that work?
Thanks

 

[Nosandwich]

Use short sheet metal screws through the rim into tire bead. 4 on each side would be plenty.

Obviously, they need to be very short.

 

[anickode]

What is the 'correct' pressure? What size and type of tire is it? If you're running big fat floatation tires at low pressure, you might just need a couple more pounds in it.

 

[Joe-405]

Picture would help.

 

[Nosandwich]

Picture would help.

Or not. It's simple. The tire is spinning in the rim.

You're not going to see inflation is a picture. You're not going to be able to tell if the tire is narrow for the rim. You're not going to see the condition of the rim or tire bead.

A couple of bucks at HD....problem solved...guaranteed.

 

[karl]

If you are using harbor freight /dolly tires, rims ,or anything that is your problem.

If not put air in them! Get a low pressure gauge and put in at least 15psi.

A pic will help alot and do not put screws in your tire.

 

[Nosandwich]

Say WHAT? Yeah we ALL know about HF tires. What do YOU know about using screws in tire beads? (Common practice in drag racing).

Care to share the experience (you don't have) to back up that advice?

Highly unlikely it's a HF wheel, as it's a DRIVE WHEEL!

 

[karl]

Say WHAT? Yeah we ALL know about HF tires. What do YOU know about using screws in tire beads? (Common practice in drag racing).

Care to share the experience (you don't have) to back up that advice?

Highly unlikely it's a HF wheel, as it's a DRIVE WHEEL!

Hmm. I would advise not using screws for this application . This is not a drag car. Just because drag racers do it does not make it the best solution for all applications. Beadlocks and other solutions are used in specialty applications by pros.

As for experience, I work at mower dealer, and professionally change and repair tires daily. If that means anything.

And Harbor freight tires use the very common 2 13/16 on 4 bolt pattern, so It can easily end up on the back.

 

[Nosandwich]

Well then how about you come up with a solution, instead of negative comments towards other solutions.

Great, lawnmowers aren't minibike either. What's the downside to putting a few sheet metal screws into the bead.

Share your horror story of the riding lawnmower someone did this to, and how it totally ruined something.

 

[TT540]

I wonder if something sticky around the bead would do the trick. Like a thin slather of rtv. Easy to break later. Or, to sand the bead on both tire and wheel to aid in friction.

I think the screw approach is a last resort.

It would look badass though.

 

[karl]

Well then how about you come up with a solution, instead of negative comments towards other solutions.

Great, lawnmowers aren't minibike either. What's the downside to putting a few sheet metal screws into the bead.

Share your horror story of the riding lawnmower someone did this to, and how it totally ruined something.

I suggested to Add the right amount of air to the tires, and make sure the tire and rim are up to the task of mini bike service.
As long as the tire and rim are of decent quality, the air pressure is right, and everything is clean and installed right, this would not be an issue.

It is the safe, proper way to go about this.

The downsides to using screws is having a rim and tire with holes in it and risk of punctures. Then when you haft to fix it right you got to deal with a mess.

I am not trying to be negative, I dont want someone inexperienced to take poor advise.

I agree screws can provide a temporary fix , But I would never run screws into my go kart or minibike that I fabricated from scratch. I would fix it right and ride worry free.

 

[Nosandwich]

Hi all,

I have built my own mini bike but I am having massive problems with the inner-tubes on the rear wheel. Here goes:

Whenever I replace the innertube the valve is straight in the hole however when any torque is applied through the rear wheel the inner tube seems to be forced round the wheel stretching the innertube at the valve. At the correct pressure the inner tube rips at the exact same point at the base of the valve hence popping the inner tube.

Is there any way I can stop the inner tube from slipping around the wheel?

I have tried reinforcing the valve joint etc but this has not helped.

(Side note: the valve on the inner tube does not have a tightening nut.)

Any help would be appreciated as I am fed up with replacing the tube

Thanks all!

Your inner tube spinning is not the problem, it's the tire spinning in the rim, and taking the tube with it.

Your tire beads are not mated well to the rims, as Karl said, if everything is clean and correct, this shouldn't be an issue.

As TT540 suggested, you can simply lock the rims and tires together with screws. ( Which I agree with).

Anyway, that's your problem, and a couple of solutions.

 

[bob58o]

Get a different wheel.
Or let me find that thread where that guy was oven baking his minibike tires. LOL

 

[Allthingswithamotor]

Thanks for the advice everyone!!

I will try locking the tire down to the rim first and if that doesn't work I will try screws. Otherwise I will be back on here for more advice

 

[Honda450R]

What is the 'correct' pressure? What size and type of tire is it? If you're running big fat floatation tires at low pressure, you might just need a couple more pounds in it.

What’s the air pressure you’re running?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Thought I'd pop in and point out that a lot racing kart rims for tubeless tires have screw-type bead locks from the manufacturer.

At the very least make sure the rim is clean and smooth and that the tire's bead the same way. A lot of the no-name "brand C" tires are covered with a really greasy and awful mold release compound. I have not seen that with anything remotely name-brand, even $10 bicycle tires.

Or let me find that thread where that guy was oven baking his minibike tires. LOL

I'm afraid to ask...

 

[thebroketeenager]

Simple solution to a simple problem- I have the same one. At 10 psi, I ripped out valve stems left and right until I glued the tire to the wheel. Doesnt take a lot to do it. I use spray glue in a can. A little messy yes, but it works a treat. Havent had a problem since.