Posted by: D_C_
Posted by: Lowcard
WAO is/was using Tessa tape from uline. I should know, I'm the one who sourced it!
Do you know which Tesa tape? I’ve had an interesting time getting tape to stick to my WAO rims, but the stuff that came stock held up quite well.
Warm rim and tape after you've cleaned it with isopropyl. Otherwise it won't stick.
Posted by: Lowcard
Warm rim and tape after you've cleaned it with isopropyl. Otherwise it won't stick.
Some isopropyl and other off the shelf alcohols have greasy crap added to them. Not sure why they add it. I had a hell of a time getting stuff to stick a few times, and after driving myself crazy, I finally figured it out and sourced a different brand of alcohol and now clean all my rims with acetone.
Try cleaning with acetone, then I bet it'll work. Lowcard's warming trick sounds like a good one, too.
Posted by: D_C_
Posted by: Lowcard
WAO is/was using Tessa tape from uline. I should know, I'm the one who sourced it!
Do you know which Tesa tape? I’ve had an interesting time getting tape to stick to my WAO rims, but the stuff that came stock held up quite well.
One of my unions leaked out of the box. Stans stuck fine. Wierd. Haha.
apparently stan's is tesa (4289) tape. impressive margins people are making on this stuff...
Posted by: xy9ine
apparently stan's is tesa (4289) tape. impressive margins people are making on this stuff...
translate that to all the other easily produced products based on materials/processing that already exists.
mtb'ing doesn't need to be as expensive as it is.
I wonder if we did a guerilla marketing campaign across as many mtb web platforms as possible about the Tessa tape if Stan's would drop their price so they don't lose all their bidnez.
Posted by: xy9ine
apparently stan's is tesa (4289) tape. impressive margins people are making on this stuff...
It's ridiculous how much some companies charge for a few meters of plastic tape.
I scuffed my WAO rims with light sandpaper and no sticking problems now.
haha, for giggles ($49 vs ~$5.77 / roll retail):
https://www.notubes.com/stan-s-rim-tape-60yd-x-25mm
https://www.packbgr.com/filament-and-strapping-tape/tesa-4289-1in-111357.asp
i'm sure tubeless sealant pricing is similarly jacked.
Does anyone know the difference between 4288 and 4289? Also, one of the handy things about the different name brand tapes is they come in specific mm widths. Anyone find Tessa in a 30 or 32mm width? I know you can get away with 1" (25.4mm) but it really does work better if the tape seals up to the bead.
I think you want 4289 if you can get it. There’s a difference in tensile strength. I think UV resistance is different too but that doesn’t matter for rims the big thing is width vs availability.
When you buy WAO wheels they come taped with 4288 black tape and they sent me a roll of spare tape because I had adhesion issues. For sure the yellow/4289 tape is easier to get stretched and placed on the rim (without breaking).
I don’t know about you guys, but have a pretty respectable tape wall going on nowadays.
I also had problems with Stans tape (and the very similar WTB tape and Giant tape).
However, I found a trick for ensuring a good seal.
After installing the tape, I inflate the tire with a tube in it and leave it overnight (hard, 35 psi or more). This uses the tube-pressure to press the tape to the rim-bed until the adhesive has cured a bit. Then, pop out ONE BEAD ONLY, remove the tube, and add sealant and inflate.
This also makes the final inflation easier because one bead remains fully mounted.
Aforementioned heat gun or blow dry for removal and I have never had to touch solvent.
Out of my bikes I only have one tubeless wheel that came set up that way. My other ride is tubeless ready but I haven't bothered to do it. Re setting up the tape, how close to the bead seat should the tape go?
4288 is thinner. 4289 is what Stan's rebrands.
I got the 25mm roll's. I double wrap and go all the way to the side of the rim.
It works great.
Posted by: syncro
Out of my bikes I only have one tubeless wheel that came set up that way. My other ride is tubeless ready but I haven't bothered to do it. Re setting up the tape, how close to the bead seat should the tape go?
I find it is best if the tape is hugging just under the bead. I like your tube overnight idea.
Yeah, you really want to cover the whole width or even slightly wider so the tape goes even slightly up the side of the rim just a couple of mm, ideally (32mm tape on 30mm rims is great).
The secret is the tire beads need to sit ON TOP of the tape.
If you do that, the whole inflate a tube overnight to press the tape down dance is totally unnecessary.
If the tape is sandwiched between the tire beads and the rim along the outside edge, it will seal and pressure of the air in the tire pressing the rim beads onto the rim provides plenty of pressure on the tape.
This was the key for me. If the tape is narrower than the rim and you're just relying on the tape being stuck to the area around the spoke holes, you're gonna struggle.
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