I clean dry glue off the rim by scraping with a cone wrench. Anything that doesn't scrape off is well stuck, so it stays, unless it's 10 years old. Then, I put a layer of glue on the rim, a layer on the basetape of the tire, and another layer on the rim, since it has usually started to set by the time I finish the basetape. I place the valve of the prestretched tire in the rim and pull the tire hard in both directions until I am about 2/3rd the way done. Then I remove the wheel from the truing stand and finish by holding the rim with my feet and carefully avoiding contact between the side of the tire and the glued rim. I have given up on Clement and now use Vittoria cement that I buy in bulk. I finish by putting about 40 lbs in the tire and centering it, inflating up to full pressure, deflating back to about 30-40 lbs, rechecking the alignment and then letting the tire sit at least overnight. I also learned not to use latex gloves when mounting the tire. Tubular cement makes an instant perfect bond with latex! It's like SuperGlue and skin.
I don't think that the method used in gluing is all that important, as long as you start with a well-prepped rim, get enough glue in there and start with a layer on the basetape. I have tried a variety of methods and have never rolled a tire. The worse glue I've used was Tubasti. My current technique, which works well with today's more uniformly sized tires, results in a bond that is darned hard to get off (I usually have to start the rolloff with a key) and leaves enough glue that a used spare sticks well after replacing a flat.
I would be very cautious about using solvents to remove glue from sidewalls. I worry about degradation of the tube. I haven't used that Tufo tape, but I pulled a pair of tires off that had been attached with the stuff and the bond was incredible. Remember to sand a new, smooth rim so that the glue sticks to it better. And keep those new tires mounted on clean junk rims so they can stretch naturally until you are ready to use them. Stretching the tire over your foot should only be done if necessary.
Steve Barner, Bolton, Vermont
> From: Thomas Rawson=20
\r?\n> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org=20
\r?\n> Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 2:02 PM
\r?\n> Subject: [CR]Gluing tires
\r?\n>
\r?\n>
\r?\n> OK OK you guys are all cranked up about gluing tires and
\r?\n> coincidentally this newbie was in process of gluing first set
\r?\n> ever. Fiamme red labels, stella spokes, NR hubs demanded I break
\r?\n> down and learn how to do this. AND because I was too impatient to
\r?\n> wait for Jim Mccoin who offered to help, I painted myself into a
\r?\n> corner - somehwat - maybe - hope not???
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Am using Mastik. Cleaned new (NOS new) rims with acetone and
\r?\n> brushed on couple coats of mastik there plus one coat onto
\r?\n> tires - yea yea the underside!
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Tried to be neat but in fact was not and managed to slop a bit of
\r?\n> Mastik onto edge and sides of rims - where it would show when
\r?\n> tire mounted. Before third coat and attempted to mount tire
\r?\n> thought it would be clever if I cleaned up my ugliness. Tried to
\r?\n> clean up excess with acetone and was merely frustrated by that.
\r?\n> Tried a bit of scotch brite but w' little effect. Found some
\r?\n> carburetor cleaner in the storage room which did the trick? Now