Thursday, 22 June 2023

W/NG - a puncture

Another unexpected event this week - a puncture. Strange, because air suddenly started hissing out of the tyre after I'd been standing in the workshop for an hour - the bike hadn't been out for days. 

I had a spare tube and resolved to fix it with the tools I had on board, just to prove that I could. 

The wheel came out easily, even with the panniers in place, though one of the top hat washers on the drive side (the repro one) was very stiff in the slot. I skimmed it in the lathe. 

Proving that tyre changing is all about technique, the cover came off easily. 

Unusual puncture - the tube has fretted against an unused security bolt hole in the rim:


It's gone through the rim tape too. 


Nothing much here, but I pulled off this old canvas tape, wire brushed the whole rim and laid a piece of the old tube over the hole to reinforce it. 


Having inspected the brake, which was showing nice even wear, I replaced the tube. 


The cover went on without any drama, though initially I forgot you have to start opposite the valve to avoid nipping the tube. 

Job done - almost. The connector hose on the pump was completely knackered. Luck was on my side, because although I inflated the tyre with my workshop pump I found I had a genuine Apex pump with its long connector in stock!



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