removing tube patch

rparedes said:

what's the easiest way to remove a tube patch? I have two tubes I patched but they have leaks...
I guess I did not sand the tube ridge down enough...

Thanks!

Assuming they were rubber patches that you glued, you won't be able to remove them as the glue contains a vulcanizing agent. You can however patch the leak.....patch a patch.

alienator said:

Assuming they were rubber patches that you glued, you won't be able to remove them as the glue contains a vulcanizing agent. You can however patch the leak.....patch a patch.

After several tries on the web I found this:

"First: It is not true that the common patches vulcanize. If you want
to try it, just heat a patched tube by pressing the patch against a
fairly hot Teflon coated frying pan. This is the best method of
pulling off an old REMA patch. Vulcanized patches do not come off."
Auhtor: Jobst Brandt.

I will try this and see if it works...

interesting, please do post a follow up!

i have always retired tubes with leaky patch jobs...

curby said:

interesting, please do post a follow up!

i have always retired tubes with leaky patch jobs...

Yes; it works. I used a heat gun set to low heat, heated the patch until it was hot to the touch, pulled at the patch edge and... viola! the patch came right off. No damage to the tube. Sanded the area and re-patched it. Good as new.
Just when you think you know everything... you learn something...

Good to know!

Vulcanizing is for car and truck tubes and needs intense pressure and heat...not for repairing bike tubes while on the footpath. Preparation is 90% with glu-on patches.

I havent done the repair yet but the 2yr old slow leaking patch came right off!

brilliant~!

thanks again