Delgado Race rim makes Jon crazy

[walsh]

My new dedicated disc-to-fixed rear wheel is built with a Delgado Race Disc 26rim.
This is my first wide rim - I have built and owned a handful of Mavic and Syncros cross country rims.

I have been having the devil's own time mounting a tire on this rim. (2.1" Motoraptor - I know that the tire is good.) The rim's hook is so grabby that the tire doesn't want to mount in a round fashion. The bead just sticks wherever it happens to contact the rim when the tire starts to fill. Talcum powder didn't do a darn thing. Soapy water and a considerable amount of tugging and swearing yielded marginal results. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with this thing if I flat in the middle of nowhere, other than let the tire do whatever it wants, and receive a lumbar deep-tissue massage all the way home.

Anyone else had this happen? Searches of this site and MTBR didn't turn anything up.

[Dirt]

Sorry dood. The 29er rims (the only ones that I've worked with) have exactly the opposite problem. They're fit with most tires are so loose that I am forced to run higher air pressure in them or I yank the tire off the rim.

My best suggestion is that you can leave just a little bit of air (<10psi) in the tube enough so that eye-ball the bead to get it even. If it is new tire + new rim things might settle out. I've seen that happen in a minor way with some combinations, but nothing as drastic as what you're describing.

Good luck

Pete

[riderx]

Have you tried another tire? It may be the rim/tire combo that is the issue.

I'm with Pete, my tires (29er) are hard to get to stay on they fit so loose. And the race version of that rim? I won't be getting another one, they aren't very tough. Love the regular Delgados though.

[Vecsus]

I have a similar issue with my Delgados. What I do is mount the tire then inflate to about 10-15 psi then force the tire out until the bead catches. Most tires have a low band of rubber that will sit just above the rim when the tire is seated properly. You can rotate the wheel and follow this band with you eye. It's pretty easy to see where that line dips into the rim. In those spots just squeeze the tire in the opposite direction - like you are trying to roll it off the rim. Doing this works for me every time.

[smdubovsky]

I have a similar problem w/ my laserdisc trail 29ers & panaracer rampages. Its VERY hard to get the tire on the rim. Didn't have as much trouble seating as I use a tube and just overinflated until the bead popped into place (sounded like a loud firecracker.) Then I deflated to the correct pressure. I read somewhere that that is the typical procedure for UST type rims. Are you running tube or tubeless?

[sdh]

Walsh,

stupid question

are the tires cold?

were they sitting in the garage or something. bring them up to room temp and use soapy water.

Are the tires new?
sometimes new tires are deformed but once on and inflated they stretch and are easier to put on and off.

[joep]

KY gel is a wonderful thing.

[Vecsus]

KY gel is a wonderful thing.

My wife has already accused me of loving my bike more than her.....if she were to walk downstairs and see me standing over my bike with a tube of KY she'd file for divorce. :eek:

[drewdane]

KY gel is a wonderful thing.

Yes it is, but we're talkin' 'bout tires here. :p

[walsh]

To answer the handful of questions: the tire fits on the rim loosely but doesn't seat itself naturally, the tire is lightly used, I did try warming it, and Delgado rims are for tubed use only.

Thanks for good advice, all. (Except for JoeP, who can rest easy knowing that his wisecrack will come back to haunt him when he least expects it.) I have tried those tactics; it might be time to consider a tire with a more flexible bead. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious, and also to publicly whine for a while.

It's time, I suppose, to pull up my big girl panties and just deal with it.

[pepelkod]

To answer the handful of questions: the tire fits on the rim loosely but doesn't seat itself naturally, the tire is lightly used, I did try warming it, and Delgado rims are for tubed use only.

Thanks for good advice, all. (Except for JoeP, who can rest easy knowing that his wisecrack will come back to haunt him when he least expects it.) I have tried those tactics; it might be time to consider a tire with a more flexible bead. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious, and also to publicly whine for a while.

It's time, I suppose, to pull up my big girl panties and just deal with it.

http://www.ebikestop.com/items/004-TL8252

[walsh]

http://www.ebikestop.com/items/004-TL8252

Wow . . . that thing looks almost as well-adapted to the task as my hand.

[eloach]

My wife has already accused me of loving my bike more than her.....if she were to walk downstairs and see me standing over my bike with a tube of KY she'd file for divorce. :eek:


Hey, I tell mine I have 9 bikes, but only one wife. That puts a smile on her face. ;)

[eloach]

Wow . . . that thing looks almost as well-adapted to the task as my hand.

Actually, it is a beast. Like channel locks for tires. $42 is a lot though, considering you shouldn't need it that often. Post up if you figure out if it's the rim or the tire. I was getting ready to build a new SS rear wheel with that rim, but might hold off if I have to carry the Park Tool vise grips to change the tire. I run a Kenda in the rear, and it's usually fairly easy to mount and dismount. In the front I have the 29er version of that rim on a dtSwiss 240 hub and tires go on and off very nicely (Kenda). Not to tight and not too loose for my weight and tires.

[nocro]

Hey, I tell mine I have 9 bikes, but only one wife. That puts a smile on her face. ;)

Very clever of you to omit stating how many mistresses you have. ;)