KOM Sealant Injector Reviewed

KOM Sealant Injector. (Tire levers and core remover are in foreground)

Note: As Mrs. Guitar Ted convalesces, and "other things" transpire, I will be rolling out some reviews and other pieces until I can resume a regular riding and cycling life schedule. For background on what is happening with Mrs. Guitar Ted see this post from Monday, October 14th

Recently I reviewed the KOM Cycling Sealant Injector System on Riding Gravel. This won't be a re-hash of that review, but I am going to give you an "extended viewpoint" since I posted that review and a bit of background. 

Sealant injectors are not anything new and I have used one in one form or another for......maybe ten years? I bet it's been that long. Early tubeless valve cores did not have removable cores in some cases, so sealant injectors weren't always applicable, but now a removable valve core had better be there, or your valve is last century technology. Once those became ubiquitous, I started using a plastic syringe and a piece of surgical tubing to suck sealant into the syringe, then by placing the tubing over the nipple of the syringe and the other end over the open valve, I could seamlessly inject sealant into a tire. Well.....theoretically, I could. 

Some times the sealant would back out of the syringe and dribble. Some times the tubing would pop off the valve or the syringe with the messy result of sealant spray all over the place. Some times none of those two things would happen. However, there might be times when air was trying to get out of the tire, since it was being displaced by sealant, and it would burp sealant back out of the tire once you removed the tubing from over the valve. Messy, messy, messy! 

 So, what is different with KOM's set up? Well, a couple of big things, but really simple things. First, they developed a petcock valve that sits in-line with the syringe tubing. This allows you to shut off any chances of back flow from the syringe tubing. Secondly, they developed screw on attachment points instead of friction fittings which can come off at inopportune times. Thirdly they made a smaller diameter tube which screws on to the petcock valve and this inserts into the valve instead of fitting over it. That's an important distinction since it allows for air to escape the tire as sealant is injected into it. Less chances for mess. 

The petcock valve in shut position. You won't drip a drop.

These are seemingly minute details, but maybe I am outside the norm, as I set up and maintenance tubeless tires far more than most. That said, this system sets up as a way to make life easier, less messy, and more successful. Who doesn't want that? I know that the system I had been using for a long time is now gathering dust, and I won't be digging it out anytime soon, that is, unless I need a back-up for some reason, or if I lend that old tool out. 

This KOM Sealant Injector is not going anywhere anytime soon. For more info, see their site.  

A word about that lever/core remover deal: KOM also sent me a lever set and a core remover. The core remover is every bit as effective as the Park Tools one, and it nests into the levers, which snap together themselves.  All in all a not-so-lightweight but effective set up that makes it really hard to misplace the core removal tool. I've seen a lot of nifty core removal tools but 90% of them are so tiny that they get sucked into the Swirling Vortex of Hell (SVoH) that is inside every bag on any bike. I cannot count the times I've emptied top tube bags, bar bags, and seat packs and said, "Oh! That's where that went!", and then proceeded to send that same item into another SVoH inside another bag only to be lost again. At least when three things band together, as with the KOM Cycling lever set, they have a fighting chance to survive. And, you know, the core remover is anodized red aluminum, which is basically Kryptonite for any SVoH situation. So, there is that. 

 NOTE: KOM Cycling sent these items reviewed here for test and review at no charge to Riding Gravel. We were not paid, nor bribed, for this review and we strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.