Thursday, February 19, 2015

Handy Sandy - How to Patch a Bike Tire Tube

Yup... another episode of Handy-Sandy. But it bodes well for the future. Last month Mama noticed the front tire on her bike was flat... not low... but completely flat. Uh-oh... So today we are going to patch it. Mama says she hasn't done this for... like... never! But the theory is basic... So here we go.

First... you pry the tire off the rim. This was the hardest part.... you need a screw-driver or something to lever one edge off and then work around until one whole side of the tire is off... Then you wiggle the tube out and get the whole tire off.

Next... you pump up the tube and then put it in water to see where the leak is...

Do you see the bubbles?? That's where it is!

Then you pull it out of the water and mark it with a felt pen. It must have been a thorn that caused that because I couldn't see anything!

Next you dry off the tire...

Then you get your patching kit. Mama used to have one a long long long time ago but never used it... so got rid of it. Sigh... So this one came from Canadian Tire...

It has 4 self-adhesive patches. Hmmm... that's a new invention. Back in the day, you needed a tube of glue and what not...

Nope... all you need here is a bit of sandpaper to rough up the tube and then you just stick on the patch!

Super-duper easy!!!

Then the back edge of the tire goes onto the rim... easy...

The tube comes next...

It takes a bit to get that stuffed back in under the tire...

Most important part is to make sure the valve stem is nice and perpendicular...

I thought we would need our screw-driver tool to put the front edge of the tire back on but nope...

Ta-dah!!!

Now we just need to put some air in it... Mama doesn't have a bike pump (ah-hem... possible Christmas gift for those who are looking for one!)... so we are going to use the truck pump....

It plugs into the cigarette lighter and makes a lot of noise but it worked. And that's all there is to it. I do hope that this means we can go on a bike outing soon!!

16 comments:

  1. Sandy, you're such a good helper. Really, we wonder how seKretaries even manage when stuffies aren't around...

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    1. I wonder the same thing myself. I think if we weren't around, sekrebearies would just sit around all day watching TV or computer screens or something!

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  2. It seems like you are getting all of your chores out of the way in Winter so you can have all Spring and Summer to explore, adventure, and play.

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    1. I certainly hope that's how my stars are going to align!!

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  3. Nice job Sandy. I think your channel is going to give Bob Vila some serious competition.

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    1. Thanks Droop! Do you think?? Bob Vila is a pretty big name out there... of course, I am much better looking than him.

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    2. I agree. Perhaps you know Bob Vila's cousin, Bear Vila?...

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  4. Sandy, Ben says that we have a few old things in our house that could use some fixing... "Yah" adds Jerry, "like owR seKretary...hez from the Middul Ages!" Then Jerry falls over laughing. Anyway, Ben would like to know if you make house calls? Maybe you should be in charge of the Home Improvement show on the new Stuffie Network?

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    1. I do make house calls actually... I am still working on my US visa however... not sure how long it will take. They said I need to "bear" with them... Do you think they have a sense of humour or are they just brushing me off? Hmph! I've noticed that Jerry falls over a lot when he laughs... he might need a balance adjustment... perhaps a few honey packets in the left pocket might help! I know that I don't balance so well in a stiff wind but... I don't think that's my fault!

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  5. You would think with NAFTA in place coming down to work in the US would be a piece of honey cake?

    Hmm, I think the next episode of Jerry's Korner should include no questions, just 30 minutes of Jerry telling jokes.

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    1. Oh, no... that was the NAFTA deal - the TN Visa makes it easier for professionals to get visas to the US... theoretically. I'm not sure that Handy Sandy counts as a professional though...

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  6. #peejayday edishun of the teddy tedaloo times iz out! http://ht.ly/JsMAL

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