Diagnosis and detecting the puncture
How to find the leak quickly.
Before grabbing your tools, it's worth making sure the problem is actually in the inner tube, not the valve or the rim. The simplest way is to pump the wheel up to the recommended pressure (usually 2.5–3.5 atmospheres) and listen carefully. The hiss of air will point to the location of the damage.
If there's no sound, but the wheel is still losing air, use a soapy solution. Apply it with a sponge to the surface of the tire and the valve. Characteristic bubbles will appear at the point of the leak. This method allows you to accurately pinpoint even micro-punctures that are invisible to the naked eye.
Once you've found the hole, mark it with chalk or a marker. This will make the subsequent repair much easier, as finding a microscopic puncture after removing the tube will be far more difficult.
Removing the wheel and taking out the inner tube
Step-by-step disassembly.
For this job, you'll need: a set of hex keys, tire levers (or two flat-head screwdrivers), a pump, and a repair kit for inner tubes. On electric scooters, the wheel may be secured with nuts or a quick-release skewer, so first, carefully inspect the axle.
Disconnect the wheel from the frame, first removing the brake caliper if it gets in the way. Next, fully deflate the inner tube by pressing on the valve core. After that, carefully pry the tire bead with a tire lever and gradually work it off the rim. Don't use excessive force — you could damage the rim or the tire itself.
Once the tire is off, pull out the inner tube. Inspect it all the way around, and also check the inside surface of the tire for any foreign objects. Often, a piece of glass remains in the rubber and immediately punctures a new tube after installation.
How to patch a scooter inner tube
Proper patching technique.
After locating the hole, the inner tube needs to be prepared for repair. Roughen the puncture area with sandpaper or the special scraper from the repair kit. This ensures better adhesion of the patch to the rubber.
