tubeless conversion with 3M 5200 and tape??

[s1120]

OK, so I have read, and studied a lot of the threads on this subject, and soaked in a ton of information. That being said, I decided to go with the 3M 5200, with the 3M super sealing tape.  One thing I dont see anywhere, is when you put the tape on??  Do you wait till the 5200 is fully cured??  still tacky? Soft? Does it even matter??  Does anyone who have done this ever looked into this aspect of the conversion?? 

[John Croucher]

No need to tape if you put on enough sealant.  This is 3 applications over a period of several days.  24 hours between applications and a couple of days for a final cure.  Acetone is your friend with 3M sealant.  It is the base solvent and cuts it good when cleaning up. 

[s1120]

No need to tape if you put on enough sealant.  This is 3 applications over a period of several days.  24 hours between applications and a couple of days for a final cure.  Acetone is your friend with 3M sealant.  It is the base solvent and cuts it good when cleaning up.

Ya, I plan to break out the Acetone to smooth things out before I do the tape. I was thinking of just doing the sealer, but went with the tape in the end. Did you use the fast set, or the normal 5200??  I ended up with the normal stuff, and its been a slow process because of the long cure time. You can only do a handfull at a time, because it sags as you turn the wheel.

[pyoungbl]

Either 4200 or 5200 will work for this application.  Both are marine grad sealers.  4200 is designed to come apart at a later date whereas 5200 is meant to never come apart.  I had to chase a leak on my 5200 and it was fairly easy to pick out with an ice pick.  The key here is to clean the rim to operating room clean so the sealer will stick. 

[hauto]

Just ordered the tape.Will going the same route next week. Is the tape needed? Most people who were successful used 3M 4411n tape

[s1120]

Just ordered the tape.Will going the same route next week. Is the tape needed? Most people who were successful used 3M 4411n tape

Ya thats what im using. I figure hedge my bets.

As for prep..  I wire brushed. I had some rusty spots that I hit with Naval jelly to treat. Brake clean, and wipe, then a final shot of rubbing alcohol for good measure.  Could it be cleaner??  Maybe but I did what I could.

[ampm7]

I used 5200 for years working in boatyards and I can tell you that stuff works! 4200 if you want to take it off at some time.

[s1120]

Well im not going to lie...  putting that tape on was a PITA!!!   But its done...  I think I got it sealed well..  I guess I will find out when the tire goes on.  The front rim is so narrow, with a small drop center, it was hard to work it all in. We will see how the rear goes. Some say to get the tire on right away to have air pressure pushing on it to seal it.... and some say wait. Right now the tire is ice cold so it will at least wait a few hours.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well im not going to lie...  putting that tape on was a PITA!!!   But its done...  I think I got it sealed well..  I guess I will find out when the tire goes on.  The front rim is so narrow, with a small drop center, it was hard to work it all in. We will see how the rear goes. Some say to get the tire on right away to have air pressure pushing on it to seal it.... and some say wait. Right now the tire is ice cold so it will at least wait a few hours.

I didn't have any luck getting the tape laying down like I wanted with the narrow drop center. <shrug> Ripped it out, cleaned everything up again  and just used the sealant. That has worked very well indeed. So far..

[s1120]

I didn't have any luck getting the tape laying down like I wanted with the narrow drop center. <shrug> Ripped it out, cleaned everything up again  and just used the sealant. That has worked very well indeed. So far..

Took a bit but it seems to be laying down OK.. We will see I guess. The rear is wider, so I hope it will go better.

Did you use a rim strip on top of it??   

[Chuck in Indiana]

Took a bit but it seems to be laying down OK.. We will see I guess. The rear is wider, so I hope it will go better.

Did you use a rim strip on top of it??

Nope, but I was careful installing the tires. 

[s1120]

Nope, but I was careful installing the tires. 

I was asking because I had ordered new ones, [old were rock hard] and they were not due till the end of the week.. Well they showed up this morning, and I guess it wont hurt to use it.... 

[larrys]

I used 5200 for years working in boatyards and I can tell you that stuff works! 4200 if you want to take it off at some time.

Metoo. I use 3M 4000 for above the waterline applications, its got UV inhibitors. 5200 will give up the grip with some heat, propane or MAPP. Had to get some thru-hull fittings out without destroying them, the heat did the trick.
Larry

[BigDen]

S1120, regarding using rim strips, Greg Bender on the This Old Tractor site says to use rim strips when installing the tires, then remove them after the tire is on.  He says "I (and others) have found that the rim strips can migrate and cover the valve stem. When this happens, the rim strip acts as a one-way valve, permitting air in, but not allowing any air to escape. This makes checking tire pressure a fruitless experience."  Here is the link to the TOT entry: http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe_tires_-_tubeless_conversion.html.

Dennis

[Denis]

Why not just put tubes in it?

[hauto]

In the middle of a conversion myself.I cursed like hell dismounting my old tire.Just thinking of trying to do that on the side of the road would make my head spin.Thank you very much,but I'll just push a plug in and be on my way.

[s1120]

Why not just put tubes in it?

The thought of changing a tube, on the side of the road, 4 hours from home, with no center stand, and cheap small tools. Im not as young as I used to be, and wrestling with a heavy bike on the side of the road just doesn't appeal to me any more.

[s1120]

Tire held air overnight!  We will check the "win" box for that one!! 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Tire held air overnight!  We will check the "win" box for that one!!

Attaboy.  The tubeless spoked wheels on the G5  hold air longer than any other wheel I've had. It's probably because of the over the top cleaning I did on them.

[bigbikerrick]

I am a big fan of tubeless conversions,and used the 3M 5200 slow cure on my Cali Aluminum 's  spoke wheels over 7 years ago, and many tire changes, without any problem whatsoever. I "glued" a rim strip over the top of the 5200 after it cured, but I really dont think it was necessary... .That 5200 is some tough stuff!!
I bought some of the 3M #4411 tape,  actually to do a fat tire,mountain bike tubeless conversion,and I am not sure I would trust it to stay put....  to me,It does not seem as tenaciously sticky as regular black Gorilla tape, for example.
Rick.

[hauto]

I got my tape today in the mail.I'm questioning if it is really a 3M product.that I got.If you have a roll of 3M 4411 tape,does the cardboard core have 3M identifying logo printed on it. Mine has nothing on it.

[s1120]

I got my tape today in the mail.I'm questioning if it is really a 3M product.that I got.If you have a roll of 3M 4411 tape,does the cardboard core have 3M identifying logo printed on it. Mine has nothing on it.

No. All I have seen is the 3M tape comes on huge rolls. They reroll it onto smaller rolls for sale. So its 3M...  just not a lifetime supply.

[Bisbonian]

I bought some of the 3M #4411 tape,  actually to do a fat tire,mountain bike tubeless conversion,and I am not sure I would trust it to stay put....  to me,It does not seem as tenaciously sticky as regular black Gorilla tape, for example.
Rick.

It really is tenaciously sticky stuff, the 3M tape.
I used it on my Versys-X, just pay attention as you won't be pulling it back up.