TYRE WRINKLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 36

TYRE WRINKLES.

From Vabious Sottkces. Firt.t Rule of Cycling Life. — Never atit abroad without a Midget repairing outfit and a pnmp. E>ep the Inside Clean. — If you get a puncturo, clean all dirt off the feyre before beginning ts detaoh the cover. Don't Use a Dust-choked Pump — When a pnmp has hem lying c.boat in duat, or in the tool-bag for a time, ifc is well to give scvoral strokes befere applying it to the valvo, ao as to blow out asy dust whiab. may have ar.cusaulatcd io tha kozklc. This is a protection against v»l?e troubles. Pluck Out the Thorn.— When detnc'iin; a punctured tyre, pass the hand- round inside the oover, with a view of feeling whether the punotu'-iDg objbat remains stuck through it. By so doing you will at once guide yourself to the poßition of the hole in the air-tubo, ?nd not run the risk of the same object inflicting a second puncture in the sami place. Any Dirt Inside Cover ?— After repairing 6ee if any dirt has fallen imide the cover, and if bo rfmstve it before closing up the tjre Solution Must Dry.— Rubber solution, uulika other cement*, will not adhera uuleso it is allowed to become nearly or quite dry before uniting the surf ices. Solution Won't Stick on White.— Solution will not adhere to the air-tubs unless the white deposit be first cleaned off the spot to bo pat-chad. Stretching a Tube. — The rationale of stretching an air-tube to locate a puncture lies in the simple fact that by stretching the tube you enlarge the hole, and thus make it eaaier to detect the locality when the air escape*. Need Not Alwayi Delach Cover — If you can locate the puncture without removing the cover it will usually suffice to push one wired edge inward, and pull a short length of the air-tube out, under the wire, for repair. Faults on Both Side 3. — Never forget to look on both sides of the air-tuba to ascertain whether the puncturing object has gone through the under as well as the upper wall of the tube. Don't Nip the Tube. — After repairing, assure yourself that the air-tube is not nipped under the wired edge ot the cover before you complete the inflation. A slight inflation of the air-tube before replacing will ensure against a nip. Caulk Cuts in Cover.— ln the event of a lnrge cut or burat in the outer covi r, patch with canvas on inside, then fill hole in outer rubber with cotton wool soaked In solution, and bind up strongly with tapo. The tyre can then ba ridden at once. Detach Gently. — Be very careful in removing outer cover not to use a rough instrument, as by doing this the fabric is torn from the wire and a burst is the reiiult. Most tyres can be detached with the fingers, if (he directions are properly carried out, but in tho event of one being rather stiff, the smooth lever supplied or something similar may be carefully used. On Emergency. — When you puncture and find you have left your Midget repairing outfit; at home, the following wrinkle may be used j with success. ' Procure a ■tamp or eavelopo,

and stick several layers over the , puncturo, pump up carefully — nob 100 hard — and you will, no doubt, be able to get home wi'hout further trouble. Of course, it is well to make | a permanent repair of it at the earliest opportunity. Blowing- off. — Another source of trouble is occnaionally experienced in tyres blowing off the rim. This is sometimes caus d by CArtlecsness in replacing the cover, aud cave should be takon in rtfitfc'ng to knead or p'lll the cover from side to sido till the wires are in their proper pl>o.:s. MisfittiDg Rims. — Another (but very rare) cause of blowing off is when a rim is slightly under gauge — vz., too email in circumference for the wires to fit properly. In these cases a new rim is the only remedy. i Splicing Air-tubes. — Whena burst occurs aud a rtnfc iv the air- tube id made several inches long, it is no uso patching it ; tbe tube must be joiiMjd. To manage this effectually, cut away the portion of tubs which is torn, take one end of tho tube and turn it innide oat for about a' oonple »f inches, and onreful'y clean with sandpaper. Tbe outside of the other end should also fee cleaned for th« same distance. Tiie» coat each end evenly with solution, wtrch mus* oaly be allowed to purfcially dry ; hold tbe tube in such a manner that it is not twisted ; bring the ordinary or plain end against the curled flap of the other, and while pressing it as if to fore* it imide draw the n\p down and force forwards. Tbe two •olutiooed surfaces will th«u be in contact, and the join can be completed by pressure of the fingers. It id well to give this -repair some 10 minutes to dry before rophcing it in the cover.