Sorry to hear, Duccout - what a huge pain in the arse! I hope you can get the gunk off the wheel, but if not, good thing it was a spare.

As someone who loves the look of the stock GT wheels, but has considered going tubeless, I've seen too many tubeless kit stories gone bad here to go that route. I probably won't ever go tubeless unless I just can't source the tubes anymore. If that ever happens, I'll definitely just bite the money bullet and get tubeless wheels.

 

And, the instructions tell you to avoid getting detergent down the spoke holes when washing your bike?? What happens if degreaser gets down there? It's all too risky. Maybe I'll look at going over to alloy wheels.

 

Based on what you write here, it doesn't sound like this kit would provide a safe, permanent seal. Did the advertising or reviews that prompted you to buy it tell a different story? What made you think positively about it in the first place?

This topic interests me, since I own a Bonneville I'd like to take tubeless at some point.

 

Don't suppose you got the chance to weigh the Outex tape did you?

 

Hmm...maybe I should start a cottage industry sealing spoke wheels. :think:

I sealed the spoke wheels on my KTM Adventure...three times actually! But now I know how to do it and they held air every bit as well as any "tubeless" wheel.

 

...or maybe you could tell us how you did it, instead of just teasing us with possibilties...

 

Well, no, I didn't weigh it, but it's a lot lighter than a tube!

 

What?? And give away my million dollar business venture??

It's been discussed here before and widely dissed by the doomsayers, none of whom have actually tried it.

 

The video on u-tube made fitting look easy, so in spite of my reservations I thought that it was worth a try, although the price is ridiculous. My gut feeling was not to trust this product and I wish that I'd listened to my guts!

The instructions with the kit show a picture of the rim with flush or recessed nipples and in that case then the kit would work, but it would mean grinding all the nipples off flush, which would be a hell of a job. I think that Outex should have explained in their advertising what was entailed, as the u-tube video dosen't show the preparation required, just how easy the tape is to fit.

 

That's a shame. I was very intrigued after seeing the video - it really looked like THE answer. I never noticed the flush nipples and rim grinding either.

I'm sorry you got stuck with this, but thank you for being the one to step up and give it a shot. I don't suppose the seller has any sort of satisfaction guarantee, do they?

 

sorry you had a problem with this, (disclaimer - I have no connection to outex other than I bought it and use it)

I ordered my kit and it worked perfectly..
the key is you don't need to grind the seam or the nipples flat, you just need to remove the assembly burr's so you don't poke through the gel tape.

the gel part goes on a little weird, it leave a ring of air around the nipple...
this is not a problem, once you put the plastic protector strip, put a tire on and inflate it actually completely seals the wheel,

I've changes my tires 3 times this season, and have pressure washed my wheels, this stuff really does work..

bummer to hear you had issue..

 

I just did not trust it, after I'd worked it around the nipples the amount of sealing tape contacting the rim was only about 1/8 of an inch at the side and there were small kinks in it. I've had my rear wheel rebuilt with stainless spokes and the nipples used are flush with the rim well, so the tape would have gone on easily and I was going to have the front wheel rebuilt too but spent the money on the Outex kit. Another possible problem is that the Ducati nipples appear to be made of steel and if they rust under the Outex tape then they will pop it.

 

You can use cheap domestic stuff to seal your wheels. I did it on two of my bikes and it worked.

You need:

1. Glass sealant which you can find in any hardware store.
2. 16" Harley inner tube on ebay. 1" smaller that our wheels to make it tight fit.
3. Glass cleaner or oven degreaser.
4. Loads of spare time...

Clean the wheels with the degreaser/cleaner, wash with water to make sure that any chemical is washed off. Wait for a day in dry, clean environment, blast of air is indeed a great help.

Apply the sealant to each spokes, wait for a day to cure, apply another layer, wait again.

Apply sealant to the inner part of the wheel. One layer for one day, do it twice then wait until it's completely cured.

Cut HD inner tube to size so it covers the inner part of the wheel. Cut a hole for the valve and you're good to go.

Hope this helps...Cheers.

 

but Duccout, did you even air up the tire? Did you complete the process and find leaks or are you just speculating that it wouldn't work based on the fact that the tape doesn't look like it would work?
I just did my rear wheel with the outex kit, and although I don't think I did a great job I think it would seal. The thing I noticed after doing it, was I should have kept tension on the roll of sticky tape as I worked the air out. We will see if it in fact doesn't work, but if it didn't it will most likely be due to a installation error.

 

The nipple heads are so large that it is impossible to get the tape to go over them without kinking, and on the front wheel the tape supplied only allows for about 1/8 inch overlap + the warning in the instructions not to get solvents on the wheel when cleaning, gave me no confidence. I have had my rear wheel rebuilt with stainless spokes and the nipple heads are much smaller, so the tape should work there without problems.

 

The nipple heads are so large that it is impossible to get the tape to go over them without kinking

No, I better not.

 

Worst case scenario, you put the tube back in on top of the tape. I understand that you are pissed that you spent that amount of money as I would be too. I'll report how mine came out when i'm done. I'm waiting for some 90 degree valves as filling the tire with straight stems is a pain.

 

Just finished my outex kit

So I just finished my front wheel today, and the kit works as it should. Duccout i understand what you mean with the front wheel, but mine is holding 40 psi as we speak, and the rear has been holding 38 psi for about a week now.
I think the problem you might have is with installation, not so much the product. I had trouble with the first wheel I did, but the rear seems to be more forgiving since it has room for error. On the front I was more careful, and now know what I was doing wrong with the first wheel. The tape supplied for the front is cut just wide enough to fit in the spoke valley of the rim. It really can't be any wider. I applied the tape more slowly this time, and it came out almost as good as the video.
Now I need to road test these wheels.

 

So I just finished my front wheel today, and the kit works as it should. Duccout i understand what you mean with the front wheel, but mine is holding 40 psi as we speak, and the rear has been holding 38 psi for about a week now.
I think the problem you might have is with installation, not so much the product. I had trouble with the first wheel I did, but the rear seems to be more forgiving since it has room for error. On the front I was more careful, and now know what I was doing wrong with the first wheel. The tape supplied for the front is cut just wide enough to fit in the spoke valley of the rim. It really can't be any wider. I applied the tape more slowly this time, and it came out almost as good as the video.
Now I need to road test these wheels.

glad to hear this..
Mine have worked all season long.
the front is more of a trick,,
gtx, the coolest thing I thought was after I did my first tire change..
the seal inside is perfectly flat! I suppose its the air pressure..

 

I'm looking for a set of aluminum wheels for my gt and plan on using the outex kit on them. Would sealing the spoke assy before applying the outex tape increase the integrity or performance of the outex? Thanks rick

 

My engineering gut feel says no. I think part of what helps it work is the differential pressure to atmosphere through the spoke nipples. Otherwise, they would likely have you seal the spoke assy anyways

 

just wanted to say what a noticeable feel in lightness on my first quick ride. Feels more flickable and almost like a different bike, but then again I ride a few.

 

I may do this. Thanks for the input!