@moira asks about flats that happen along the seam of a tube.
Q2. Are tube seam failures worse than punctures, and do they make repair less viable?
Original post for context: https://mastodon.murkworks.net/@moira/115952487457171580
#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite
A2. Once bitten, twice shy.
I'll fix a split seam once (if it's not too big a hole) but if it goes again, the tube's going in the recycling
@ascentale @moira @bikenite #BikeNite This seems to have been comprehenisvely answered in other replies, but as a related bonus A2 answer, keep an eye on any tubes you're carrying as spares: It's easy not to notice the edges/seams being worn away over time. TPU tubes are even more susceptable to this.
A2
Never had it happen to me but a 10mm split sounds ominous for future splitting. I would definitely bin it (actually recycle / dispose of at bike shop)
The saving in cost of repairing does not balance the risk of it happening again and the consequent annoyance of roadside repair when it does. It will go when bike and trailer are fully laden and it's raining
@ascentale @moira @bikenite A2 - I pretty much tubeless now on my bikes. About 18 months ago I had a newish (about 2 months) tube in a road bike that I had.
Cycling along before a loud pop and instant flat. On checking the tube it had split about 1cm on the seam. No chance of repairing. Must have been a manufacturing issue.
It was recycled and new inner tube put in.
@ascentale @moira @bikenite #BikeNite A2. Yes. If a tube is failing along the seam, that is a manufacturing defect, and it will not be worthwhile to repair, unless you have no other choice.
@gcvsa @ascentale @bikenite Just weird that it's five years late. I wonder how long it'd've lasted otherwise? Ten? xD
@ascentale @moira @bikenite A2. I don't have real experience with this, anecdotal or experimental, but I would assume a seam failure would imply an error in manufacturing and would likely continue to fail. Maybe not guaranteed to fail, but likely as that should be the weakest point along the tube.
@ascentale @moira @bikenite #BikeNite A2 as a long term patcher, I'd have to say yes. OTOH, the worst (or most entertaining) flat is when the valve comes off the tube -- that one is definitely not patchable
I've had really old tubes fail along the long line... like splitting open for 3cm. I think the last one was on a bike that had been hanging in a garage since 2010 or 2011.
And of course, I thought I'd ride four hours without changing tubes.
@ascentale @moira @bikenite @NNN we use a.lot of rubber(ish) seals in the <work main product line> and the manufacturers usually give a shelf life of 7 years, fwiw. "Thankfully" I go through tubes and tyres much more quickly. #BikeNite
@NNN @ascentale @moira @bikenite
I always carry spare tubes. Easier to change a tube on a ride and patch it later and use it next time.
@ascentale @moira @bikenite #BikeNite A2. Seam failure, IMHO, means the tube is structurally compromised. Not repairable.
@ai6yr @ascentale @bikenite That exactly was my speculation. But idk, t00bs, right? "Sure is rubber! Sorta! Probably?" is all I got 😁 Thanks ^_^
@ascentale @moira @bikenite A2: Yeah, much worse. Honestly though I've not had that happen except for fatbike tubes or tubes that were very undersized for the tire width. There's no patching a seam split. #BikeNite
@josh @ascentale @bikenite A2 reply: That's exactly what I was thinking about. Neither of those situations were true, but nonetheless it happened. Very odd!
@moira @ascentale @bikenite Bad day at the tube factory. Sometimes it's not our fault, ha! #BikeNite
@josh @ascentale @bikenite It did go like five years, so it's not like Anna didn't get good life out of it. Just odd to see, that's all. She rides at like 60psi vs. my 80, so it's not even particularly high pressure.
> She rides at like 60psi vs. my 80,
OK, that leads to a #BikeNitePQ: What wears out a tube more, high pressure (more stress in the tube) or low pressure (more squirm in the tube)?
I pump up my tires to the minimum pressure indicated on the side wall (maybe 5psi over the minimum), and I'm always impressed by the improvement of the ride after inflating. But even at min+5 I'm very much aware of the road surface that I don't feel on slightly deflated tires.
@moira @josh @ascentale @bikenite I have a bunch of tubes that I purchased "new" (now returned and refunded), which were already rotting out, the stems would leak and also come out with minimal force... I suspect the seams could be hand ripped.
@ai6yr @moira @ascentale @bikenite we have aged these tubes in the sun no less than 12 months for a premium cycling experience.
@moira @bikenite @ascentale
#bikenite A2:
It depends on whether you patch or swap in a new tube. In the latter case, seam flats are more obvious and likely due to defect or pinch flat. It's the punctures that can be trickier if you can't find the source of the puncture. On several occasions I have suffered a subsequent and immediate flat after not finding the tiny wire or glass shard still hidden in the tire.
@MartyCormack @bikenite @ascentale A2: furtherance To clarify, what I meant was really more "is this safe to repair or is the rest of the seam just gonna split soon anyway?"
The seam split that caused this was surprisingly difficult, I needed to use a water bucket and despite being like 10mm long it was weirdly non-leaky in some positions and obviously very leaky in others. I think it was not completely split, but like... webby, still connected a bunch of places along the length but nonetheless failed.
@moira @cainmark @MartyCormack @bikenite @ascentale The thing about a seam rupture is it’s already the weakest part of the tube. And then even after patching, you’ve got stress concentrations at both ends of the rupture. A patch might get you home or at least to the next bike shop, but at some point that seam is just going to unzip further.
@bikenite @ascentale @moira #bikenite .
In the few cases I've gotten a seam rupture flat, I've tossed the tube instead of patching. I only patch discreet punctures. With a seam rupture, I assume defect, unless a pinch was the obvious cause. If it was a defect I wouldn't trust the rest of the tube.
@MartyCormack @bikenite @ascentale @moira
I had one of these seam flats just last month. It was hard to find (needed the water bucket approach to find it). I just put a new one on the bike. I haven't tossed the old tube yet - seems like I should be able to find a use for it. 😏
@Weather_Rock_Wx @MartyCormack @bikenite @ascentale @moira
All our old tubes get cut up for "ties", better than cord for tiring stuff because of their elasticity. Can replace bungees.
@Weather_Rock_Wx @MartyCormack @bikenite @ascentale @moira @the5thColumnist also as a source of material for patching leaky panniers! #BikeNite
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