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How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube

Introduction

Riding a bike is a great thing, but occasionally you can get a flat tire. Flat tires can be caused by rocks, debris or just plain wear and tear. This can puncture the tire which in turn creates a hole in the inner tube that needs to be repaired. This repair guide will easily teach anyone how to patch a hole in their bicycle tube. After patching your bike, you will be ready to go!

What you need

  1. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube, How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 1, image 1 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube, How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 1, image 2 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube, How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Using the tire lever hook side, hook the inside of the tire. Then proceed to remove the first side of the tire from the rim all along the circumference of the rim.

    • Once one side is out, pull the rest of the tire out in the same direction.

    Edit

  2. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the inner tube away and out of the tire until it is completely detached from the tire.

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  3. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • While squeezing the tube with both hands, rotate the tire while keeping an ear to the tube to hear air escaping, which marks the location of the hole.

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  5. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • NOTE: The next portion is about patching the hole so keep the sand paper, rubber cement, and patches nearby.

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  6. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 5, image 1 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 5, image 2 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Grind the location of the hole slightly until the surface feels a little rough.

    • Next, apply a thin coat of the rubber cement around the hole. The coat of cement should be about the same size as the patch.

    • For best results wait until the rubber cement is dry to the touch—around three minutes.

    • Finally, peel off the back of the patch, place it over the area of rubber cement with the hole centered, and then apply pressure with thumb until rubber cement is dry.

    Edit

  7. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 6, image 1 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 6, image 2 of 3 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Using one hand to hold the rim, use the other to push one side of the tire back onto the rim.

    • Starting by placing the valve stem into the hole in the rim, begin pushing the tube into and under the tire. Then continue all the way around the tire.

    • A valve stem is the metal/rubber piece that sticks out of a bike tire's tube.

    Edit

  8. How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 7, image 1 of 2 How to Patch a Hole in a Bicycle Tube: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • Once the tube is in, push the second side of the tire into the rim and continue all the way around the rim until the tire is inside the rim.

    • Check both sides once you believe to be done as to make sure that the tire did not slip out of the rim anywhere.

    • If you have caliper brakes then it is recommended that you place your tire back onto the bike before re-inflating.

    Edit
Conclusion

Now that the tire's tube has been patched, all that is left is to place the tire back onto the bike, lock it in, re-inflate it, and the bike is ready for a joy ride. Enjoy.

10 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 11 other contributors

Jorge Saro

Member since: 04/09/15

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Team

Cal Poly, Team 28-1, Green Spring 2015 Member of Cal Poly, Team 28-1, Green Spring 2015

CPSU-GREEN-S15S28G1

4 Members

8 Guides authored

One Comment

Thanks for the guide - only suggested improvement would be to flag that it's a good idea to check inside ot tyre before re-inserting the repaired inner tube. Otherwise the thorn might still be sticking through and you might immediatly create another puncher.

It would be helpful to take this guide with words like 'puncher', 'tyre', 'wheel, 'repair', 'bike', 'inner tube', 'flat tyre' so it's easier to find. Before posting this comment a comment search did not find it: https://www.ifixit.com/Search?doctype=gu...

P Badrick - Reply

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