MTFCA Forum

In all the decades I have owned Model T's, I have never changed a tube in a clincher wheel. I have changed tires many times and always put the partially inflated tube inside the tire and installed the tire/tube as a single component on the clincher rims, but never just changed a tube.

Should I just pull one side of the tire off the rim and pull out the tube or remove the entire tire from the rim?

If you are out to change the tube (and not just patch it), AND, its a metal stem tube...my experience is it is usually a lot quicker and a lot less cussin' if you just pull the complete tire with tube inside and treat it as new. Those stems just seem to be about 1/4" too long and too ornery otherwise.

It is a 2.5" Dill metal stem so I will try pulling one side of the tire off first and see if the tube and stem will come out.

Jeff, fitting a tube with one side of the tyre still on the rim is a major reason why many tyres have notches cut in their beads. When you pull on the tyre to get the tube in, you pull the opposite bead over the valve stem hole and it makes sticking the valve stem down the hole problematical. Hence the cut out.

It is much easier to take the tyre off the rim and re-fit the tyre, tube, [and flap if you must] as am assembled unit.

Allan from down under.

Thanks everyone.