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How to Fix a BMX Inner Tube

BMX bicycles can receive a lot of abuse. These types of bicycles are low to the ground, stretched out and often have accessories that make them perfect for doing bicycle tricks. Sometimes, the inner tubes located inside the tire get holes, which you can repair yourself. The inner tubes hold the air that keeps the tire inflated and when it gets a hole, your bike isn̵7;t going anywhere until you patch it.

Things You'll Need

Inner tube repair kit (Metal abrasive pad, rubber patch, rubber adhesive, alcohol swab)
Tire pump

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the valve stem cover from the valve stem, which protrudes from the tire rim. Push the valve stem down into the rim.
- 2
  Grip the tire on the rim and then roll the tire sideways so you can roll it off the rim. Pull the remaining part of the tire off the rest of the rim once you get a small part of the tire off the rim.
- 3
  Remove the rim from the tire and locate the puncture.
- 4
  Scuff the surface area around the puncture with the metal abrasive pad. This cleans the area and provides a textured surface for the rubber adhesive to stick.
- 5
  Wipe the surface of the inner tube with an alcohol swab to remove oil and dirt from the inner tube.
- 6
  Apply rubber adhesive to the back of the inner tube patch and to the scuffed surface of the inner tube. Place the patch onto the inner tube and place a heavy object onto the patch for 20 minutes.
- 7
  Place the inner tube back into the tire. With the tube in the tire, slide the valve stem through the hole in the rim.
- 8
  Position the portion of the tire that rests directly over the valve stem onto the tire rim and then slide the remaining portion of the tire onto the rim. Take caution not to pinch the tube while you reinstall the tire.
- 9
  Fill the tire with the specified amount of air with a tire pump. The amount of air required is printed on the side of the tire. The tire will require between 32 PSI and 42 PSI depending on the size of the BMX.

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