I've been running tubeless for a few years now. I'm using Stan's tubeless on Stan's Flow rims on my 29ers. I've been too reliant on my LBS and friends who have fridge-sized air compressors whenever I needed a tire change. I prefer to be self-reliant if possible, so I want to be able to do this myself.

I picked up a new 3gal 100psi compressor at Horrible Fright last week, and I'm pretty sure this is too underpowered for the task. Multiple attempts have not gotten at all close to seating the bead on a tire that has already been used as tubless on this rim. If you have your own compressor setup that works for Stans tubless, could you post up the capacity and psi of your setup?

I really do not have the space in my garage to store a fridge-sized compressor. If it comes to that, then I'll just have to learn to be more comfortable being not self-reliant.

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Velo Ergo Endo

I use a CO2 cartridge; for me the trick is to spray around the rim and bead with soapy water, that helps the tire to slide in place with less pressure. Good luck.

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"Just stop this walking shit and let's get this done"
Avidtesty (Arch 2019)

I've been able to use a hand pump.
I have Stan's Flow EX rims and use Kenda Nevegal UST tires.

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Go that way REALLY fast. If something gets in your way, turn.

I use a 3 gallon Horrible Freight air compressor for my tubeless tires with success. Its this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/ ... 60637.html

The soap on the rim is key. I also used this compressor on my recent ghetto tubeless setup using non-tubeless rims and tires.

Why screw around. I use a 60 gal 220 unit
You should have success with the soap tips above ^^^^ maybe push down when pump/ airing up

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

lol

I have a Porter Cable 3.5-gal pancake compressor and it works fine. I have had to charge the compressor up to 120 psi to get a wire-bead non-tubeless Exiwolf to seat on my non-tubeless rims. Of course, that's no where near what I put in the tire initially (40 psi max). It just works better to get the beads to seat.

I got a tire inflator like this and retrofitted it with a presta pump head. Works very well.

I used to use soap on the beads, but have since just used an artists paint brush to put sealant on the beads before airing up. I do use soapy water on a sponge around the rim to look for air leaks after inflation.

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"Those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers."
— Tzun Tzu

You can try and remove the valve core to allow more air to flow inside quicker. I think the 3 gal compressor would be fine since a lot of people use hand pumps

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

Thanks guys. I had lots of soapy water on the rims, and all it was doing was blowing bubbles. I could not get enough air to pop the rims. I guess I'll keep trying...

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Velo Ergo Endo

Use a tie down strap, piece of webbing, or rope wrapped circumferentially around the tire to compress the beads into the rim. It'll take some fiddling to get it adjusted right, but should work combined with the tips above.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

You mentioned it was a tire that has already been mounted tubeless. If you haven't done so already, meticulously clean all the old Stan's boogers (all residue) off of the tire bead and the rim. It's a bit of a pain but that has worked for me in the past.

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It is not enough to fight for the West; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here. -Edward Abbey

+1 for taking the core out. My little baby compressor pops tires out like none other without the core in.

Thanks again everyone. My tiny compressor is indeed the same one that quaestionis posted above. Horrible Fright had a coupon in the paper for that toy at $39 and I couldn't pass it up. Given all the good words above, I went back out to the shop to give it another solid try.

I had a tiny 1/4" ID hose that I was using. I swapped it out with a beefy 3/8" ID hose that I have from my vacuum pump (used for veneering woodworking projects), but that extra hose diameter didn't add any noticeable oompf. I soaped up the bead and even tried RandomWalk's idea to paint Stans sealant on the bead but I just could not get enough air to combat the many small leaks. I have presta stems with a schraeder screw-on attachment. The schraeder valve attachment I have for the compressor requires the valve stem to be in place to enable the flow, so I can't try removing the valve core. I'll need a different schraeder attachment for that trial. That will be next.

I also like OldDogDan's idea about a rope or tiedown strap around the circumference. This Stans Flow/Maxxis Ignitor combo seems to be difficult and needs some mechanical assistance. I'll try that once I get a different schraeder attachment.

I'll share a picture of why I like riding with sealant. I got a gash just under 1/4" long along a knob on my ride yesterday. I heard some hissing, but it went away as I rode due to the sealant doing it's job. I thought this was a ball of poop until I pulled on it at the end of the ride and it started hissing. That was a lot of sealant that leaked out that gash. I added a tube patch to the inside of the tire and it should be good for more service. It's almost a new tire and I hate to chuck it.

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Velo Ergo Endo

If you're using the removed core trick you don't need a presta adapter. Just push the standard inflator onto the remaining Valve stem and presto... Large air volume.

I use the air gun attachment with the rubber end. I drilled the inside of the end to allow more air flow. It works well.

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If you are the big tree
We are the small axe

Also, make sure there isn't a tear at the valve stem interface to your rim. This happened to me once with Stan's strips, which came with the bike I bought. It drove me nuts for half an hour, why my farging beads wouldn't seat.

And definitely clean the old sealant off the beads. A Scotchbrite pad works well.

BTW that strap technique works great on tubeless wheelbarrow tires.

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"Those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers."
— Tzun Tzu