Leaking Tubes behind Fender / Rubbing strip

[Fred.]

All the tubes leak on my valliant behind the fender / rubbing strip ! (well, 3 out of the 4, & 4th is a slow puncture that I haven't found yet! )



So no straight forward patches !
So does this make it a Major Job in having to completly remove the rubbing strips Or is it possiable to to just ease the rubbing strip free around the areas where the leaks are & re-glue !!!
Any step by step guide for a novice would be much appreciated before I ruin something !

[office888]

Originally Posted by Fred.

All the tubes leak on my valliant behind the fender / rubbing strip ! (well, 3 out of the 4, & 4th is a slow puncture that I haven't found yet! )



So no straight forward patches !
So does this make it a Major Job in having to completly remove the rubbing strips Or is it possiable to to just ease the rubbing strip free around the areas where the leaks are & re-glue !!!
Any step by step guide for a novice would be much appreciated before I ruin something !

Remove the rubber rope holder above the rubrail.
Slice an incision in the spot behind it.
Patch the leak from the inside...apply mastic around your inside patch to prevent weepage.
On the way out, cover your incision with an inside/outside patch
Glue the rubber rope holder back over your patch



If you've never glued before, leave this to a professional.

[jelwood]

The bubbles don't necessarily mean that's where it's leaking, it can track for ages, obviously you can narrow it down to which chamber but I've seen the bow chamber leak and blow bubbles at the cone lol

If all chambers are leaking it's probably just as easy to remove the rubbing strake find exactly where the leak is on the seam for each chamber and sort all of them then put the rubbing strake back on.

[office888]

Originally Posted by jelwood

The bubbles don't necessarily mean that's where it's leaking, it can track for ages, obviously you can narrow it down to which chamber but I've seen the bow chamber leak and blow bubbles at the cone lol

If all chambers are leaking it's probably just as easy to remove the rubbing strake find exactly where the leak is on the seam for each chamber and sort all of them then put the rubbing strake back on.

There's a seam in that location...it is pretty likely that the rubrail was bumped, which pinched or ripped the seam internally. I've seen it before with a Searider 5.4m.

[jelwood]

If you were sure it was that Seam and not the centre seam it'd be easier to just lift the rubbing strake there fix the leak and putting the rubbing strake back on

[Dave Cowell]

What age is the rib?
Are all four chambers leaking or just one chamber, movement of the baffles between chambers will cause adjoining chambers to soften when a chamber deflates.
As has been said the leak in the tubes may not be where it exits from behind the strake.
This sort of repair is probably not the best type to learn on if you have never carried out tube repairs before.
You dont say where you are based but it may be worth asking a local tube specialist to have a look at it before you start pulling strake off.

[Fred.]

Thanks for all your replies


Its on a Valiant DR490 year 2000 & im in Somerset.

I rang up a Local manufacture up today & asked about getting it repaired, I was asked on the make, to which they replied "This what happens with cheaply made ribs, they come apart on the seams, you need to speak to Valliant to find out a local dealer / repairer on their service network that has been on the appropriate course for mending these !"
:-(
:-(

[jelwood]

You tried henshaws? Only in wincanton

[office888]

Originally Posted by Fred.

Thanks for all your replies


Its on a Valiant DR490 year 2000 & im in Somerset.

I rang up a Local manufacture up today & asked about getting it repaired, I was asked on the make, to which they replied "This what happens with cheaply made ribs, they come apart on the seams, you need to speak to Valliant to find out a local dealer / repairer on their service network that has been on the appropriate course for mending these !"
:-(
:-(

It's a 16 year old boat...I think the manufacturer did a fine job in that case. How rude.

[Fred.]

Originally Posted by office888

It's a 16 year old boat...I think the manufacturer did a fine job in that case. How rude.

"how rude"


I thought the same, but then thought about it for a little while & came to the conclusion that if I built another brand with hypalon tubes I think I may say the say ! (may not of been meant rude but we all praise our favourite brand :-) (especially in the offroad 2/ 4 stroke bike market where I come from )

Originally Posted by jelwood

You tried henshaws? Only in wincanton

No way :-), nothing is ever this far far down south !!
Monday, im on it !! ;-) - Thank you
(although I suspicious that a company with this much reputation of quality / professionalism is beyond my small job & means !)

[paulbrown22]

Depending on where exactly you are, there's Henshaws in Wincanton and Paul Tilley/TIDEL at Dartmouth/Totnes Or more places over towards Poole/Solent.