How to Replace the Inner Tube on Bike？
How to replace the tube on a bike is a must-know for every cyclist; when you are riding, you can never be too careful. You must ensure the bike is in good condition before taking it out on the road. A punctured tube can cause severe problems if not replaced in time. This is why it is essential to know how to replace the tube on the bike. Here are tips on how to replace the tube on the bike.
Get Your Tools Ready
Bikes require regular maintenance, so you should have a tire lever and pump ready in advance, as well as rubber adhesive, an old patch kit, sandpaper, and new inner tubes. Store these in the garage or utility room, save time when you find a flat tire on your bike, and replace or patch it yourself. You will need a good set of tools for this job. You will need a pump, patch kit, tire levers, and a valve stem core remover. If you don't have any of these things, they are available at most auto parts stores or hardware stores.
Remove Old Tire
First, check and judge whether the bike's inner tube or outer tire is punctured, and remove the foreign matter that punctures the tire. If the inner tire of the bike is punctured, please continue to read the following content, hoping to help you.
Use one of the tire levers to pry off the tire from the rim of your wheel. Be careful not to put any force on the spokes, or they will break off easily. On the side of the wheel corresponding to the air nozzle, use a tire lever to insert between the tire and the wheel frame and fix it, and insert the second one at an interval of about 5cm. Let the edge of the tire come off the rim. Then continue the above motion until eventually the entire tire is freed from the rim and the tube is pulled out.
Make Sure the Tire Is De-Flated
You want to ensure the tire has been deflated before working on it. This can be accomplished by squeezing the tire until the air is out. You can also use an automatic deflator if one is available.
Remove The Valve Core
The first thing to be done when replacing the tube on the bike is removing the valve core from the tube. This will allow air into the tube so you can inflate it again after replacing it with a new one. how to replace the tube on a bike to remove this piece, stick your tool into the hole where it sits and twist it until it comes out easily.
How to Find Holes in Inner Tubes and Fix Them
Listen for the leak on the inner tube. If you have tried hard to hear but still can't hear, then you can try to use your lips close to the top of the inner tube, and gently press the inner tube while rotating the position of the inner tube to find the location of the air leak.
Use sandpaper to polish the area around the hole, and completely flatten the molding marks on the inner tube such as the parting line, at least not so sharp, because these may cause problems with pasting. Finally, clean up all the polished rubber powder to ensure that the surface is clean.
If you're using a glue-free patch, then you're ready to start applying the patch. Let the patch fully contact the inner tube and press for a while. If you are using a combination of glue and tire patch, first apply an appropriate amount of glue to the hole in the inner tube, then center the hole and spread it around, the area is slightly larger than your tire patch. Then wait for the glue to dry. As the glue dries, the finish will change from shiny to matte. It takes a little patience and doesn't rush to the next step.
Check Tire Pressure
Use a tire pressure gauge to ensure your bike is at the correct tire pressure. If you don't have one, you can buy one at any bike shop or department store that sells bicycles. You should check your tires at least once a week, but it's a good idea to check them before every ride because they lose air quickly when they're hot or cold. For example, if you take your bike out on a 90-Fahrenheit day and ride for 20 minutes, your tires will lose about 1/2 pound of pressure per square inch (psi). That's a lot! The ideal tire pressure should be between 80 and 120 psi for most bikes, so check yours regularly and adjust it as needed based on how hard you ride each day.
Wrapping Up
The inner tube is rubber, but steel wires and fabric layers reinforce it. If you have ever had how to replace a tube on a bike with your inner tube, then you know how difficult it can be. Check your bike tires' size before purchasing the new inner tube. You want to ensure that the replacement will be compatible with your bicycle's frame and tires. Purchase new rim tape and tools, if necessary, at a local bike shop or hardware store. Remove any old hub nuts or screws from your wheel with an Allen wrench before removing the old inner tube from your wheel hub.
If the inner tube often leaks, it is recommended to replace the new inner tube directly.
