Decided to go tubeless on the Dawg

[Justin B.]

I pulled the Junkyard Dawg out of mothballs a couple months ago and removed the Vapor speedo and analog oil pressure gauge and put the stock instruments and cowl back on.  While it was sitting there being worked on the rear tire went flat and when I removed the tube there were several circular worn spots and one hole on the rim-side of the tube!  For the life of me I couldn't find anything in there that could have rubbed these holes so I ordered a metal valve-stem.

I installed a 1 3/16" valve stem (still too short) and finally got the bead to pop and so far so good.  I know all of the past cussin' and discussin' that has went on about this so not trying to start anything but I will keep y'all informed on my results and experience.

[Tony Smith]

To my mind going tubeless on Snowflakes has never been a question of whether or not you could, merely a question of whether or not you should.


Given that a very large number of people run tubeless tyres on snowflakes and they do not regularly kill, maim or injure themselves as a result, I guess it is just fine.

My personal choice to date had been to run tubes, but I reckon that people are free to make their own decisions.

[mrclubike]

I used these. They have the widest grip range of the snap in type stems.
I could have used a metal screw in type but they did not allow space for the frame mounted  hand pump to work.  
I also used a rotary file mounted in a drill press to machine down a flat surface inside the rim to give the valve a flat surface to seat against and drill the hole out to 29/64
Best upgrade I ever did.


Xtra Seal - Tire Valves TR600HP
Line: XTS | Part # 15-4600

    

[Bob_Roller]

The LS version, has the ' composite ' wheels, not snowflake type wheels .

The bead area on the composite wheel is made more like a wheel for tubeless tires, more  so than a snowflake wheel .

[montmil]

Running tubeless Spitfires on my 1981 R65 for near eight years with zero issues. Surprisingly, the tubeless tires hold air where the tube-tired bikes leak down 1-2 psi every 7-10 days.

[mrclubike]

Running tubeless Spitfires on my 1981 R65 for near eight years with zero issues. Surprisingly, the tubeless tires hold air where the tube-tired bikes leak down 1-2 psi every 7-10 days.

Same here
I had to air up about every 2 weeks