My jockey wheel has a 8" pneumatic tyre/tube setup which has decided to go flat. Removed the tube, found where a sharp part of the tyre rim had worn a hole thru the tube so decided to repair the tube. First thing I noticed was the tube felt more plastic than rubber, and didn't smell like rubber always smells. However, using the Dremel I ground the area around the hole smooth, applied the rubber cement, waited till tacky then applied patch. Waited another 10 minutes and started to refit the tube to the tyre and the patch just falls off. Figured this was strange so decided to apply a big blob of cement to tube AND to a new patch to see if they softened as they should but they never did.
So, looks like both patches and tube are impervious to rubber cement. The patches I used were in a bike tyre repair kit from Supercheap, sealed in the package though I'd bought them years ago.
Question: anyone else had this problem and is this another form of progress?
I did try Sikaflex on an airbed some years ago and it's still holding up so might give that a go as the hole is next to the rim where it should not flex. 2nd thoughts why was over $20 on a tube of Sikaflex when it may not stick (airbed was rubberised fabric). Might check Bunnings for a tube but don't really like to throw an otherwise good tube away..
Bought a new one from the big green shed for $14 in the end. Tried making elastic bands with the old tube but they don't even stretch so totally non-repairable and non-recyclable. That's progress.
