Can I Use Regular Rubber Cement to Fix an Inner Tube?

Anyone who rides a bike regularly knows that, at some point, you are going to get a flat tire. Sometimes the flat is caused by a slow leak or a loose air valve, but, more often than not, it's due to a puncture from a nail, glass or other sharp object. Unless you carry an extra inner tube with you, it becomes necessary to repair the existing tube with a repair kit. These kits usually contain contact cement, rubber patches and sandpaper. If you misplace or run out of the contact cement, alternatives must be sought to allow the patch to adhere to the inner tube. As long as you have the other materials in your patch kit, you can use regular rubber cement to fix a bicycle tire inner tube.

Things You'll Need

  • Tire pump
  • Sandpaper
  • Rubber cement
  • Rubber patches
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the tire from the rim and deflate the inner tube by depressing the valve stem. Remove the tire, making note of where the exterior puncture, if any, was located.

    • 2

      Pump up the inner tube slightly to locate the punctured area. Rough the area around the puncture slightly with sandpaper.

    • 3

      Spread one or two thin coats of regular rubber cement over the entire area you just roughed up. Allow the cement to dry before applying the patch.

    • 4

      Cut a rubber patch to fit the area you where you applied the rubber cement. Press down the patch securely and hold into place for a couple of minutes.

    • 5

      Refill the inner tube with air to verify that the patch is holding.