Author Topic: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?  (Read 19596 times)

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« on: 09 September, 2008, 09:46:17 pm »
These are the 700 x 25 version - the casing is so stiff and springy that I can't even get it started on the rim.  Either the other side slips over the edge or it pops straight out.  It actually seems to be a really loose fit, but compressing it sideways to try and get the bead into the rim is near-impossible.

Any tips?
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

JT

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #1 on: 09 September, 2008, 09:58:30 pm »
For me it's just a case of brute strength and a lot of swearing.
a great mind thinks alike

Craig

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #2 on: 09 September, 2008, 09:59:43 pm »
Get one of these tools: Simson Tyre Mate on ebay (Dotbike also sell these for a few quid more).
AFAICT this is the same as the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack, but the Kool Stop version isn't easily available in the UK.

This makes it much easier to fit the tyre, as it lifts the bead on, while keeping it in place on the opposite side.

And another tip: Use (reusable) zip ties to hold the tyre on, when you've fitted it one place. This stops it jumping back off as you work your way round.

gordon taylor

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #3 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:05:11 pm »
Zip ties and some fairy liquid or lubrication should do it.

eck

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #4 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:07:49 pm »
From The I've Said This Before And I'll Say It Again Department:
According to Richard Ballantine - never wonder whether the tyre will go on, decide that it will.
HTH.
It's a bit weird, but actually quite wonderful.

Basil

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #5 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:13:49 pm »
These are the 700 x 25 version -
Any tips?

That's what's on the back of my tourer/commute Mercian.

I seem to remember a scaff pole and a lump hammer.  >:(

But that was 25 months ago.  25 months of daily use - commuting, utilility riding, w/e pootling, long rides to West Wales and I haven't had to take it off yet.

Shhh!  Oh bugger!  I bet that's done it now.  :(
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rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #6 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:15:52 pm »
Lubrication won't help.  The tyre is a loose fit - it just won't stay in the rim!

I'm seriously going off the idea of these, as a p*nct*r* would be impossible to fix on the road without extra tools.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

andygates

  • Peroxide Viking
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #7 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:18:32 pm »
Kneel down with the bottom of the wheel on your thighs.  You've now got four contact points to hold the tyre in place, thighs and hands.  This helps.  So do slaves.
It takes blood and guts to be this cool but I'm still just a cliché.
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rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #8 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:22:21 pm »
Sod it, life's too short.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Biggsy

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #9 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:49:06 pm »
Use two ordinary tyre levers at the same time.
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andygates

  • Peroxide Viking
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #10 on: 09 September, 2008, 10:51:17 pm »
Sod it, life's too short.
It's not top of my "last night on Earth" list, that's for sure. 
It takes blood and guts to be this cool but I'm still just a cliché.
OpenStreetMap UK & IRL Streetmap & Topo: ravenfamily.org/andyg/maps updates weekly.

Gus

  • Loosing weight stone by stone
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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #11 on: 10 September, 2008, 02:49:34 am »
Use two ordinary tyre levers at the same time.

+1 and strong fingers

border-rider

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #12 on: 10 September, 2008, 02:54:12 am »
+1 to Cable/zip ties

The first time, I had to use these to get them to stay on.

After a few rides they become much more tractable.

vorsprung

  • Opposites Attract
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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #13 on: 10 September, 2008, 08:30:12 am »
I had no special difficulty putting 28mm ones on an open pro and a chrina ridgida
Sorry!

Paul Smith SRCC

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #14 on: 10 September, 2008, 08:46:00 am »
This has even mentioned this in the CTC Magazine (Note that article includes a tip to aid fitting)

Paul_Smith

toekneep

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #15 on: 10 September, 2008, 08:58:36 am »
I do sympathise Roger, its a mystery to me because I fumble around and like you, I'm convinced the tyre is too lose and then all of a sudden, it seems to fit. The very first time I fitted them I was convinced we had been sold the wrong sized tyres.

I think Andy's four points of contact goes a long way to solving though.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #16 on: 10 September, 2008, 10:49:14 am »
OK, so they're hard to put on, but if two staples embedded several mm into them won't cause a p*unct*re, then you aren't going to need to remove them until they're worn out.
Getting there...

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #17 on: 10 September, 2008, 10:56:50 am »
A friend had a puncture on her Marathon Pluses- she couldn't get the tyre off and had to abandon the ride.
This, and similar events to the one mentioned by RZ, has put me off them.


Oscar's dad

  • aka Septimus Fitzwilliam Beauregard Partridge
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #18 on: 10 September, 2008, 11:58:23 am »
I struggled to get a pair of 26" on my MTB, I kept pinching the tube.  In the end I bought some Schwalbe tyre levers which are very thin and with supreme care finished the job.

I am well pleased with the tyres.  They don't seem to be slow or heavy and no p-thingies yet (touching lots of wood)

Chris S

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #19 on: 10 September, 2008, 12:39:47 pm »
Firstly, you gotta look like this:



Then, get someone else who looks like that to help you. Whilst they hold one side of the tyre in the rim, you start at one side of the wheel, teasing the other side of the tyre into the rim. Get your helper to hold these in place.

Now work your way round the wheel. Get as far as you can by brute strength alone, but eventually you and your mate will be in a giggling fit, breaking wind through exertion, and looking like you are doing some dubious Twister variant. At this point, engage the use of a VAR lever to finish the job.

Simple - what's all the fuss about?  :)

fuzzy

Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #20 on: 10 September, 2008, 01:24:23 pm »
If reuseable zip ties are not available, I resort to using the velcro straps I got to stop the power lead twixt battery and smart light flapping about.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #21 on: 10 September, 2008, 01:41:38 pm »
I've used toestraps a few times.
Getting there...

Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #22 on: 10 September, 2008, 02:15:05 pm »
I must admit I don't really have a problem getting Marathon Pluses on...

...getting them off is another matter, as Notsototalnewbie will testify.  She and I spent about 20 minutes once trying to get one off after a puncture.  We broke two plastic tyre levers.  I now have levers that have a metal core.
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

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Regulator

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Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #23 on: 10 September, 2008, 02:16:17 pm »
Firstly, you gotta look like this:





Is it just me or is his physique rather revolting.  He has rather a nice face and then spolis it with that body...  :sick:
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

Green Party Councillor

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?
« Reply #24 on: 10 September, 2008, 02:17:21 pm »
Is that Rafael Nadal? ;D
Getting there...