Stan's Tubeless Sealant Injector goes high volume and doesn't suck [Review] - Singletracks Mountain Bike News

Tubeless tire sealant is great. It can also turn your garage floor into a giant mess. Having a proper sealant injector makes the whole process of adding and transferring sealant much cleaner, but it’s still not without challenges. Stan’s recently updated their tubeless tire sealant injector with an easier to use design and larger capacity, and for such a simple and inexpensive tool, they clearly put a lot of thought into the refreshed design.

Over the years, I’ve alternated between using a squeeze bottle and a couple of different injectors for working with tubeless tire sealant. My 2oz Stan’s bottle, shown above, is about eight years old at this point and the nozzle is just the right size to fit inside a Presta valve with the core removed. It does tend to get clogged up, so I clean the nozzle periodically using a pick.

The injectors I’ve used — like the Milkit system I reviewed in 2018 — all have thin plastic needles designed to fit deep inside a tubeless valve stem. Over time, these thin needles get clogged up too, and because they’re so long, the clogs can be hard to reach and remove.

The Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector dispenses with the needle altogether, opting for a much thicker and more flexible tube instead. A press-on adapter at the end of the tube fits over a Presta or Schrader valve stem. I thought this might result in some leakage around the outside of the stem compared to a needle that goes inside the stem, but I’ve found it’s generally mess-free.

One of the advantages of a thinner, needle-like syringe is that it can be used to suck sealant out of a tire if necessary. I actually do this fairly often between tire and wheel tests, though it’s likely not a common scenario for most riders.

However, the Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector is designed to discourage sealant sucking. Because sealant settles over time, it’s important to mix before using, and pulling sealant from a container risks sucking just the stuff that’s settled to the bottom.

To use the Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector, remove the plunger and pour well-shaken sealant into the syringe. The Stan’s syringe has a patent-pending air-relief channel at the top, so the plunger can be seated without pushing any sealant out. Honestly, it’s surprising no one else has done this before, for sealant injectors or any liquid injector for that matter.

The previous Stan’s injector only held 2oz of sealant, and even the biggest injector I’ve tested only holds 100ml. The new Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector holds up to 5oz, which is the amount of milky goodness Stan’s recommends you use for a 29×2.6″ tire. Personally, I’ve found 3oz to work just fine for tires that size, but then again, I’m not in the business of selling tire sealant. For a 29×3.0 tire, the recommended amount is 7oz, so you’ll need to squirt two shots front and rear.

The valve stem adapter is designed to be drip-free until you push the plunger, and I’ve found it works as advertised. There’s a loud, high-pitched noise when you remove the plunger after filling a tire but the upshot is it’s easy to clear any leftover sealant to avoid clogs down the line. The injector comes with a plug that doubles as a hang tab for your tool board.

The Stan’s Tubeless Sealant Injector is a huge upgrade over tiny squeeze bottles and ensures you’re adding sealant to your tires properly and with minimal mess.