[CR]I need help with a sew-up repair.

(Example: Production Builders)

Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:06:49 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
From: "Richard Robinson" <vintagespoke@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]I need help with a sew-up repair.

Hello,

I need some advice on base tape repair. I know this question has been asked before...I checked the archives, but didn't find what I was lookig for. See below what I found in the archives:

<<2.. What type of adhesive can be used to attach the rim tape back to = underside of a tubular tire?

Ah, the great riddle. I've been using water-soluable contact cement. Clean all debris from both tire and tape, make SURE the base-tape is well-glued to itself, so it won't come apart (re-glue with the strongest glue or contact cement you can find, if necessary), then put the tape on a bare rim/wheel. Apply two coats of contact cement to both the tape and the tire. Then put the tire over the tape on the rim when the glue is no longer tacky. Make sure the tire goes on straight the first time, or you'll have crooked base tape. Not fatal, just ugly. Pump the tire up to full pressure, let dry overnight.

I've done it this way several times. The edges of the base tape usually won't stick to the tire because there's no pressure there, but the center of the tire and the tape with adhere to each other pertty well, well enough for use. The current water-soluable contact cements are a little more forgiving than earlier solvent-borne cements. You can remove the tape from the tire, with some elbow grease, and you can reglue when necessary.

I guarantee nothing here, you use this method entirely at your own risk.

Latex DOES NOT WORK here. Not adhesive enough. I've tried it. More than once. I think original tires were assembled under a lot of pressure...and even then, latex doesn't stick indefinitely, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.>>

I purchased a bike off ebay that came with some extra tires, a very nice pair of Clement (new) and pair of Challenge Vulcano 28 sew-ups that have seen little to no use at all. The problem - the base tape on the Challenge tires has come off at the edges. I will use contact cement to reattach the tape. What I wanted to know is what type of glue/cement/laytex is used by the company? It's black and coats the tire's sidwalls. Also, is it better to completly remove the tape and reattach the whole base tape at once? Finally, if one was to replace the base tape can I use any 1 inch cotton tape common to most fabric shops?

Thanks for the help in advance.

Regards, Rich Robinson
Jacksonville NC