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What to do to add/replace sealant?

2574 Views 19 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  rangeriderdave
So I have had my bike for a little over 7 months now, and it is a tubeless setup. I am pretty sure that the shop I purchased it from said to replace the sealant after about 6 months, but I have no idea how much of that process I should go through. I have noticed a little bit of sealant on the outside of my rear rim for about 4 inches, and I think it is time to replace the sealant. I have not done this before, and don't know where to start. Should I remove and replace the rim tape or not? Do I have to empty the sealant I already have or just add fresh sealant? Should I just take it to the shop and have them do it for me? I am a little lost and YouTube has not provided me any answers, so I came here for help. Anything is appreciated!
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you could easily get away with just breaking the bead and adding some more sealant and pumping it back up. after doing that a couple times, then i take the tire off and clean it all out and start over..
I just remove the core then add a couple ounces with a syringe.
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you could easily get away with just breaking the bead and adding some more sealant and pumping it back up. after doing that a couple times, then i take the tire off and clean it all out and start over..
Thank you so much! I was really lost with all of the instructions from videos and this really helps simplify it.
you could easily get away with just breaking the bead and adding some more sealant and pumping it back up. after doing that a couple times, then i take the tire off and clean it all out and start over..
For beginner, they may not want to break the bead just because getting it seated again isn't always a guarantee without some decent manipulation that a beginner wouldn't know how to do. I would say The safest would be to use something to inject sealant into the valve after you remove the core. I actually use a setup from orange seal that effectively does the same thing.


But to each their own
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This is all you need (x2)

Liquid Bottle Fluid Bottle cap Plastic bottle


No syringe required, just remove the valve core and squeeze the whole bottle in.
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This is all you need (x2)

View attachment 1957028

No syringe required, just remove the valve core and squeeze the whole bottle in.
J.B. NAILED IT! (Once again.)

Buy one of these 2oz Stans sealant bottles plus another 16oz or 32oz bottle of the same stuff.
Use this 2oz-er to dispense the right amount through the valve (obviously remove the core first as J.B. said.)
But don't dispose of this valuable little bottle!
Keep it! Use it over and over again -- refilling it from your larger stash of Stans.
This method is simpler & easier than utilizing a more costly syringe.
The larger bottle of Stans will last you for months or years, depending on how many bikes you have and how much you ride.

Note: ALWAYS SHAKE THE STANS BOTTLE before dispensing.
The liquid inside the bottle is full of tiny coagulators and these need to be mixed thoroughly before pouring.
Otherwise they'll just settle to the bottom of the bottle and you won't receive their benefit.

I've never replaced my sealant, rather I add to.
No need to replace rim tape either, unless it's damaged.
=sParty
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This video should help:


You will need a valve core remover:

and sealant
This video should help:


You will need a valve core remover:

and sealant
I was able to do add the sealant without a core remover and just carefully used pliers to remove the core.
I just wait until I get a flat, then add the 2oz bottle of stans I carry everywhere. I recently got some goatheads that sealed right up and I haven't added any sealant in almost a year. But it depends on the tire and the sealant and the weather so I just add more when I actually need to.
J.B. NAILED IT! (Once again.)

Buy one of these 2oz Stans sealant bottles plus another 16oz or 32oz bottle of the same stuff.
Use this 2oz-er to dispense the right amount through the valve (obviously remove the core first as J.B. said.)
But don't dispose of this valuable little bottle!
Keep it! Use it over and over again -- refilling it from your larger stash of Stans.
This method is simpler & easier than utilizing a more costly syringe.
The larger bottle of Stans will last you for months or years, depending on how many bikes you have and how much you ride.

Note: ALWAYS SHAKE THE STANS BOTTLE before dispensing.
The liquid inside the bottle is full of tiny coagulators and these need to be mixed thoroughly before pouring.
Otherwise they'll just settle to the bottom of the bottle and you won't receive their benefit.

I've never replaced my sealant, rather I add to.
No need to replace rim tape either, unless it's damaged.
=sParty


Yep, even in a shop situation with access to any available method and where time is literally money we save and use those little bottles,

Good call on shaking the bulk bottle because the ingredients really settle and separate.
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I'll add one more recommendo about the little Stans 2oz bottles. I've shared this hack before on these forums.
I carry a used one (full of sealant) in my pack on rides -- I've had to add sealant during rides before.
Not very often, but it's happened.
Anyway once the seal on the 2oz bottle is broken, the only cap available appears to be the pointy nozzle/cone cap that comes with the bottle -- it includes a worthless little red snap cap.
That red snap cap won't seal -- it's nothing I'd trust in my repair kit at the bottom of my pack.
But I found something that does work perfectly.
My GF is addicted to a product called 5 Hour Energy -- she buys it by the case at Costco.
This 5 Hr Energy stuff comes in a little bottle of its own.
While the 5 Hr Energy bottle is garbage (hard plastic), the caps from those little 5 Hr Energy bottles screw onto the Stans 2oz bottles perfectly.
And they seal. Seal very well, in fact.
So I seal a full 2oz Stans bottle with a 5 Hr Energy cap and also carry the stock Stans nozzle cone separately in my pack so I can get the sealant into the tire through the valve.
Works a charm.
=sParty
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I'll add one more recommendo about the little Stans 2oz bottles. I've shared this hack before on these forums.
I carry a used one (full of sealant) in my pack on rides -- I've had to add sealant during rides before.
Not very often, but it's happened.
Anyway once the seal on the 2oz bottle is broken, the only cap available appears to be the pointy nozzle/cone cap that comes with the bottle -- it includes a worthless little red snap cap.
That red snap cap won't seal -- it's nothing I'd trust in my repair kit at the bottom of my pack.
But I found something that does work perfectly.
My GF is addicted to a product called 5 Hour Energy -- she buys it by the case at Costco.
This 5 Hr Energy stuff comes in a little bottle of its own.
While the 5 Hr Energy bottle is garbage (hard plastic), the caps from those little 5 Hr Energy bottles screw onto the Stans 2oz bottles perfectly.
And they seal. Seal very well, in fact.
So I seal a full 2oz Stans bottle with a 5 Hr Energy cap and also carry the stock Stans nozzle cone separately in my pack so I can get the sealant into the tire through the valve.
Works a charm.
=sParty
I am going to have to give this setup a try!
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IME the old sealant becomes more like a puddle of murky water. I remove this using a syringe with a small tube that fits through the valve prior to refilling using the same syringe/tube. Maybe in drier climates it just dries up...
I was able to do add the sealant without a core remover and just carefully used pliers to remove the core.
You got away with it this time, but a proper valve core remover is so much easier and less likely to trash the valve core. I have a valve cap that also fits the core, so I'm never without one.
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Yep, even in a shop situation with access to any available method and where time is literally money we save and use those little bottles,

Good call on shaking the bulk bottle because the ingredients really settle and separate.
yup. I worked in multiple shops that did it this way, too. I've received a bunch of those little bottles of stans as event freebies over the years so I seem to keep accumulating them. I keep one in each backpack, and I think I have one in a toolbox, too. They're brand new, never opened.

I bought a syringe a bunch of years ago that I usually use. but it's on its last legs because of sealant residue that won't clean off anymore. when it's completely gone, I'll just start repurposing the little bottles.
Had an opened 2 oz Stans bottle that I kept filled just in case I needed to fill a tire quickly. Kept it on the shelf and it was a while until I had to use it. Opened it up and it was black and moldy.
You got away with it this time, but a proper valve core remover is so much easier and less likely to trash the valve core. I have a valve cap that also fits the core, so I'm never without one.
I have a cap that looks like it should fit the core, however I could not figure it out. I will definitely buy a proper tool next time, or use the cap if I can.
Just to be clear there are 2 types of valves Presta (are far as I know only used on bikes) and Schrader every where else plus bike. Schrader valves need a valve core removal tool, Presta's you can remove with needle nose pliers.
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