[kdedflyr55 offline]

So I've heard wonderful things about Stan's tubeless conversion kit, so I sucked it up and bought the 80 dollar kit. I intended to put it on my Cannondale Trail SL2's Maddux DC3.0 29'er rims. But, after installing the rim strip and putting the tire back on (Kenda Small Block 8's x 2.1) the bead wouldn't catch for the life of me. I pulled the stem off and tried to seat the bead but the tire kept blowing off the bead at the valve stem. It seems that the tires are the problem. Has anyone dealt with this?

[dgaddis offline]

Did you drill out the rim? The hole the valve passes through needs to be enlarged. Only on the inner wall (where the tire bead sits) and not the outter (where the spokes enter the rim).

Also, Kenda's tend to be a pain to use tubeless. The sidewalls are really thin, but that shouldn't affect getting the bead set.

FYI - the Stans kits are a massive PITA to set up in my experience. BUT, once it's set up, it's well worth the effort.

[jtorlando25 offline]

I've had way more luck/easier times with the ghetto tubeless setup than with the Stan's kit. I'm running the Stan's kit on my current wheelset but only after replacing the tape that came preinstalled on my front wheel. Air was somehow getting under it and blowing out of the nipple holes

[konacoiler offline]

Watch the video on Stans website again and do everything exactly the way he does. I converted mine with ghetto tubes and sealant and was having trouble until i drilled out the valve stem hole, built up the inner channel with more wraps of tape, hung the tire, patted it all the way around and then it inflated.

[8valvegrowl offline]

Do you have access to an air compressor? Even a cigarette lighter powered one will make your life easier. Even with the valve core removed I had a hard time with a floor pump on some sets of tires (WTB Mutanoraptor 2.4's), but the compressor made it a snap. Once you get the techniques down, it's a breeze...I can do a wheelset from start to finish in under 30 minutes now. Maxxis Ardent 2.4's were a snap to get seated, so certain tires are definitely easier than others.

[pedalwrench offline]

In a pinch I've used a C02 inflater to get the tire to seat, it might help to lube the rim with soapy water.
I use stan's sealer, but use Bontrager rim strips

[fleetwood offline]

I love my tubes! And I roll 26. I do everything wrong. See ya on the trails.

[bfletch1310 offline]

I did ghetto tubeless and only had minor leaks. The Stan's fixed that within a few minutes. It's the only waybill go with tubeless now.

[Hiway offline]

Yeah the internet has some really easy to follow "ghetto tubeless" instructions to include step by step videos. It's cheap and easy. You don't need to drill you don't need tape, and all you need to buy is a smaller sized tube than your size tire. I went the lightest I could buy that was cheap since you are just cutting it anyway.

I use the stans sealant also, but kept the stem from the tube I cut in half. I just move the tire away from rim to add sealant and seems to work just fine. No flats in 4 months since going this route.

[mtbgreg1 offline]

http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-re ... ain-bikes/

[maddslacker offline]

I'm loving my UST wheels!

[treky92 offline]

Back to the original issue. You said that the bead is blowing off the rim at the valve stem, right? How many PSI are you pumping the tire up to? It should only be pumped up to about 40 psi in order to seat the bead and then drop it back down to your riding pressure. I use Small Block 8s in my tubeless set up and it isn't a problem for me at all.

[BCP1 offline]

I love my tubes! And I roll 26. I do everything wrong. See ya on the trails.