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Ultraseal - just one doubt remains... Ultraseal - just one doubt remains...
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 27 Apr 2007
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Ultraseal - just one doubt remains...
im leaving to dakar in 34 days (yes.... im countin them) and considering using ultraseal on my tubeless tyres. but i still havent understood one thing. lets say that you're so unlucky as to get a puncture even after using ultraseal, can you still plug the tyre or will ultraseal prevent you from doing so?
thanks for any replies guys!!
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  #2  
Old 28 Apr 2007
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Carry inner tubes for emergency backup

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  #3  
Old 28 Apr 2007
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Sadoblazo
Ultraseal is water soluble and can go in a inner tube or a tubeless tyre.
Yes you can plug a tyre with ultraseal in as, once the plug is in, it is the air pressure agaisnt its 'head' that keeps it there- Any Ultraseal in the tyre will just go over it and seal any gaps if ever there still was one. Make sure all the air is out of your tyre first.

Common mistake with pluggers is the bikers reluctance to clean/file the puncture hole properly to allow sufficient room for the plug. Often, this isn't done and the plug is 'spat out'...inside the tyre...ho hummmm and down she goes again.


Take with you a proper tyre plugger kit and practice BEFORE you go (if you fit new tyres before you go ask your tyre dealership for an old one to practice on)


Down that way, look for the sign saying ' GOMME' - these are guys who will melt tyre rubber over any hole! and fix any puncture a layer at a time- interesting to watch! best know how to take off your tyre with your own tyre levers if you value your rims....
Last edited by Bertrand; 28 Apr 2007 at 19:25.
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  #4  
Old 30 Apr 2007
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ultraseal & plugs
well, talking from recent experience..

ultraseal will plug any puncture thats up to 6mm (according to their manual)

the two diffrent types of plugs I carried with me would plug punctures up to 4mm...

I had a puncture not far from Mauri border and the ultraseal was "gushing" out of rear tyre all over the wheel etc.. tried three plugs (two standard BMW and a different one) none of them worked..

I used a heavy duty 18inch inner tube (17inch rim) that couple of locals with industrial size tyre levers helped me insert on the tubeless tyre.

result: real wheel made it all the way from western sahara to Malaga and then to London, (I am still riding the bike daily..) and a scratched rear rim..

--if I was you I 'd carry a spare inner tube..
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  #5  
Old 30 Apr 2007
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Lightbulb Pocket Tyre Plugger kit
I don't know which plugs you have used GeorgeT. The beemer ones are....well let's pass....

Have a look here The Tire Plugger : Stop & Go International
Just one of the places you can get the plugger kit. I have one and it really works well but there isn't any harm in carrying an inner tube too but....
* Have you a bead breaker? / and or do you know how to break a bead?
* Do you know how to use it?
* Will you be carrying decent tyre levers? decent as in length? 40cm offer proper leverage (can get them from Ernie at Overland Solutions)
* Have you an air pump really sufficiently strong enough to re-seat the tyre?
I never came accross a working air line in NW Africa
(trick- you can have a air-line made up with identical ends to decant air from a lorry tyre- remembering to plug into the lorry tyre FIRST then being quick with yours! else..... Bang!
...and finally have you actually practiced either plugging a tyre or opening one to put an inner tube in etc. before going?
It's not just about having an inner tube and sadly, punctures are not known for happening outside a garage/tyre repair shop.... unfortunately!

and if you're looking for a good air pump....look here.. Product Details : Stop & Go International
Last edited by Bertrand; 30 Apr 2007 at 16:32.
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  #6  
Old 30 Apr 2007
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I have never used Ultraseal (never had a puncture, even put 18,000 km on a TKC 80 with no problems), but have always wondered what happens if you have a tyre full of sealant and you need to let air out - does it 'plug' the valve when you open it?

I am also planning a Saharan trip and would like to know what the best combo is Tubeless tyres with inner tubes, rim locks or self-tapping screws, are 'mousses' good for overlanding?.... any advice on tyre setup would be great!
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Old 30 Apr 2007
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spot on
think Bert got this right..

get a decent set of tyre pluggers (those stop n go look good - they were out of stock when I wanted them)

inner tube (works well if you dent the rim too)

and the bigger tyre levers you can carry..
---
BTW there was a working air line in the last petrol station in W Sahara before the border with Mauri.(Bert has the GPS coordinates)

Just had to go behind / next to the fuel pumps to the garage they fix trucks etc. kind of recovery station.. they were helpful very pleased to help.. although other than tyre levers and parts of truck engine had nothing else -
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Old 30 Apr 2007
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The good thing about tubes, is that you can re-seat the tyre with a foot pump, plenty of soap on the rim Not possible with tubeless
This seems like a good idea, if a little expensive.
BeadBrakR: BestRest Products BMW motorcycle accessories

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  #9  
Old 30 Apr 2007
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Thumbs down Mousse
Quote:
Originally Posted by henryuk View Post
are 'mousses' good for overlanding?
Short answer: no.

See this link for more detail.

I've got them in my CRF and I'm looking forward to getting back to tubes. It's nice to know I can't get a puncture but I'm restricted to sand until they've reached the end of their lifespan. Hence not much use for overlanding.
Stephan
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