Is it ever really necessary to remove the wheel to fix a puncture on a bicycle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Liam
  • Start date Start date
L

Liam

Guest
I know it's easy to do on a modern bicycle, but on older bicycles - such as those with rod or drum brakes - it can be quite a chore. Is it ever really necessary to remove the wheel anyway? Or can you just take the tyre off in the frame?
 
To answer your question exactly as you stated, then yes there is a time when it is neccessary to remove the wheel and that is in the instance when the tube can't be patched. If the puncture is so bad that it needs to replace the tube then the wheel must come off. If it can be patched then theoretically you can keep it on though in reality I would have thought that was even more of a pain than removing even the wheel types you mentioned.
 
not unless you need to replace either the tube or tyre.
i would remove the front wheel for handiness if it is a quick release type.
 
not unless you need to replace either the tube or tyre.
i would remove the front wheel for handiness if it is a quick release type.
 
Just get that wheel out where you can give it a check up. wheel bearings need cleaning tightening and repacking with grease. how straight is that wheel when the tire is off is a good time to true the rim too. If the inside of the tire is not examined you may have another puncture right away. Dagger shaped glass tends to work it's way to the inner tube. So I always remove the tire completely and fee the inside and shine a light inside the tire and use that as an excuse to work over the rim too.
 
you know with all the issues you're having with this old bike, it sounds like time for a new one to me :)

anyhow, you can patch a tube with the wheel on the bike, but i find in the heat of summer patches want to leak or fail completely. a patched tube is fine to get you home, but i like new tubes to run on. at some point i would have to take the wheel off to put in a new tube.
 
Back
Top