How to Put a New Bell Inner Tube in a Bike
Bell is a prominent bicycle accessory company best known for its helmets. The company also offers a number of types of inner tubes, including standard universal tubes and self-sealing tubes. Bell inner tubes are easy to find and will serve as an ample replacement in the event of a flat. Learning how to swap out tubes is an essential part of mountain biking or cycling and will enable you to address a flat tire.
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Instructions
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1
Make sure that you have the correct sized tube. Before purchasing a new Bell tube, double check the size of your tire on its sidewall. Make sure to purchase and carry a tube that is the proper size.
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2
Release your brakes. Many brake types, such as V-brakes, will prohibit you from pulling the wheel off the bike. If your brake pads get in the way, you need to release the brakes. This is generally done by pulling the cable off the brake arm or out of the V-brake mechanism.
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3
Shift to the smallest gear. If you're changing the tube on the rear wheel, shift to the smallest cog.
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4
Stand the bike upside down on the seat and handlebars. This will give you better access to the wheel.
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5
Pop open the quick release skewer. Hold the lever steady while turning the nut on the other side counterclockwise to loosen the mechanism. Turn it until the wheel is able to slide free from the fork or dropouts. If your bike uses nuts in place of quick release, open the nuts with a wrench.
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6
Gently pull the wheel free from the bike. If you're working with the back wheel, carefully maneuver the cogs off the chain.
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7
Remove the cap from your valve and press down on the air release to get rid of any leftover air in the tube.
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8
Use one of your tire levers to pull the tire off the rim. Point the lever down and push it into the space between the tire and the rim. Push it down to the bottom where you can grab the tire bead and then pull back on the lever until the bead folds over the top of the rim. Hook that lever to the rim or hold it in place.
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9
Use the second lever as you did the first. Aim about 3 inches from the first lever and remove another section of the bead. Repeat this until the bead is loosened enough that it comes off by hand. Remove the entire bead from the rim.
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10
Take the old tube out of the tire and rim. Dispose of it properly or carry it home with you. Don't leave it on the side of the road or trail.
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11
Inspect the inside of the tire and the rim for any sharp, visible protrusions that could have flattened your original tube. Remove or repair any problematic objects before installing the new tube.
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12
Remove the new Bell tube from its box and roll it out. Take the cap off and pump just enough air into the tube so that it forms into its round, tubular shape.
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13
Push the valve through the rim and carefully install the new tube into the tire. Make sure that it is fully in the tire and isn't pinched or twisted.
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14
Begin to push the bead back into the rim. Start opposite the valve and slowly work your way around the tire, pushing the bead in by hand. When you get to the end, if you can't muscle the bead in manually, gently lift it in with a tire lever. Rotate the wheel to make sure that you didn't pinch the tube between the tire and the rim.
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15
Pump the tire up to the desired pressure. The recommended pressure should be denoted on your tire.
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