Electric Bicycle Flats and Patches

FLATS AND PATCHES

Punctures
• Glass, thorns, nails, staples, screws; anything sharp can cause a flat
• These result in slow leaks that can take up to 48 hours to go completely flat
• Usually easily repaired with patch kit; not normally associated with severe tire damage

Pinch flats
• Compression of the tube between your rim and a hard surface
• Known as ‘snakebites,’ these are dramatic, audible flats that deflate quickly
• Hard to repair with patches; replace tube or use oval patches; rim damage possible

Tire damage
• Improperly adjusted brakes can rub through tire and cause tube to blow out of tire
• Maintaining proper tire pressure helps prevent flats and maximizes rolling efficiency
• Worn tires leave less rubber between the tube and the road, decreasing flat protection

Rims
• Spokes and sharp spots on the inside wall of the rim can cause flats
• Recurring flats are usually caused by sharp metal on the rim or part of a spoke
• Use a file or sandpaper to buff off the sharp spot and remove any burrs

Flat forensics
• Carefully studying where the hole in the tube will allow you to find its cause
• Make sure that you keep the wheel, tube and tire in the same orientation
• Flats may be caused by imperfections in the tube; these may be impossible to detect

Find the hole
• Pump tube with air; listen and feel around the tube for the leak
• Mark hole with chalk or hold under your thumb
• Use the sandpaper or another abrasive to rough up tube around hole

Apply glue
• Apply glue to the size of a quarter, centered around the hole
• Allow two to three minutes for glue to set; glue will turn cloudy
• Make sure that the glue area is slightly larger than the patch

Apply patch
• Remove patch with plastic still attached; do not peel plastic off of patch
• Place sticky, non-plastic side down, centered over hole
• Slide it around in a small circle to ensure even distribution of glue

Wait and hold
• Hold patch firmly between thumb and forefinger for about three minutes
• Time taken now will ensure that your patch will hold later down the road
• If at home, place tube flat between two books and place heavy object on top

Check it
• Inspect to make sure that the patch bonded to tube all the way around
• Plastic will keep glue from sticking to inside of tire; wipe off excess
• Patches can last forever if properly applied