In a message dated 2/11/05 8:11:00 PM EST, dvancleve@cox.net writes:
> I have a big pile of Conti Sprinters that need repair.
> Is there any quick/easy/cheap way to get these back
> on the road? I was thinking of trying True Goo or slime in one of them.
Hi Doug, I have had great success using "fix-a-flat" auto tire inflator and sealant from Pennzoil to fix both Conti Comps and Sprinter 250s. It's 1/3 to 1/5 the price of the inflator/sealants found in bike shops. It's $3-4 for a 16oz can vs. the $8-10 for 6-8oz of the bike store stuff. You need a Schraeder-to-Presta valve adaptor to use the hose on the can.
Contis use butyl tubes, so you can do this. The auto tire sealants will destroy latex tubes.
The real trick is to not to over use the stuff. Squirt in just a bit(1-2 seconds), inflate the tire to 80psig or so, and then spin the wheel for 2-3 minutes. Check the tire in a couple of hours. If it's still hard, the flat is usually fixed. If not, deflate the tire to about 20psig and squirt in another 1 second of goo. Reinflate to 80-90psig and spin the wheel for another 2-3 minutes. Also, once I fix the flat, I do not deflate the tire. Before each ride, I just bleed off a little air and pump to 125psig. If you squirt excess sealant into the tire, it will remain liquid. As the tire spins, it will evenly distribute.
I don't remember if this stuff comes in a smaller can. Clearly, at 16oz this is a bit heavy to haul on the bike. Home use or support vehicle use only.
HTH
Jan Pinkowish
Bristol, CT