How to Replace Bike Tubes
When a bicycle tire goes flat, the tube inside the tire usually needs to be replaced. While the outer tire is quite durable, the inner tube that holds the air is made of a thin rubber and can be punctured easily, even with the tire in place. Some tube damage can be fixed with patches, but tube replacement is the safest and most effective measure. Changing a bicycle tire tube is not difficult, but it requires tools and some patience.
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Instructions
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1
Use a wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the wheel to the bicycle. Hand loosening the brakes may also help make more room for the wheel to slide off.
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2
Deflate the tire by pressing against the valve pin with the end of the tire lever.
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3
Place the wheel on the ground, and use the tire lever to pry between the tire and rim. Keep the lever under the lip of the tire as you use your fingers to move around the wheel and push the bead of the tire away from the rim. Use your fingers to slide the tire off the rim. Remove the flat tube and discard.
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4
Inspect the tube and tire for damage. Sometimes part of the object that punctured the tube can remain in the inside of the tire and puncture the new tube.
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5
Place the new tube on the rim and thread the air valve through the hole in the rim. Place the edge of the tire against the inside of the rim and use your hands to work the tire into position on the rim. It may be necessary to use the tire lever to push the last few inches of tire in place.
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Install the wheel on the bicycle frame. Pump the tire with air to the recommended pressure.
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Tips & Warnings
If patching the tube instead of replacing, follow the same steps to remove the wheel, tire and tube, but replace the original tube on the tire after patching.
Take caution not to puncture the new tube by pinching it with the lever when replacing the tire.
Remember to tighten the brakes if you loosened them to remove the tire.
Take care not to strip the bolt when using an adjustable wrench to remove the wheel.
References
- Photo Credit decayed bicycle image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com
