it's quite simple. First adjust your spokes so that there aren't any loose ones. Give them a ding test. Make sure they all sound nearly the same. Adjust the spokes for same tighteness.

Then Wire brush each spoke-nut. Blow each one with brake-clean afterward. Then squirt an 1.25" circle of Shoe Goo around and over the spoke-nut at about an 1/8 above the spoke nut. Do 4 of them at a time with the ones that you're doing horizontal.

In 10 minutes there will be a skin on the Shoe Goo that will keep it from slumping while you do the next 4 and so on. Lick your finger liberally if you want to smooth out the Shoe Goo. A few bubbles in your sealing job won't hurt.

Use a steel Valve stem from Napa Or???. You will have to drill the valve stem hole a little. I'm sure that there are valve stems that wouldn't require drilling. Make sure that there's a rubber washer on the inside of that valve stem at least and Shoe Goo over the top of the back side of that valve stem leaving a pathway for the air.

If you ever want to redo a rim, Shoe Goo will pull off easily if you get the rim with a propane torch up to 160 or 170 degrees. Voila tubeless!. I've never had any problems with not having a safety bead on my rims. I've also used tubetype tires running tubeless. They are looser on the rims but still seal, but I recommend tubeless tires.

You still have to carry a spare Tube just in a case of last resort.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VxXRiqRvKvbJDep49

An addendum: Since the Shoe Goo will run/slump if it's not level.... Sut some 3" pieces of duck tape that are wide enough to cover the rim's valley and go up the side a 1/16". After you squirt the Shoe Goo around and over the spoke nut, the then put one of those three inch pieces of duck tape over the Shoe Goo (very loosely) to hold it in place. Overlap of the tape won't hurt anything since you will remove the tape later...or maybe not. after the Shoo Goo has cured no tape is necessary to keep the Shoe Goo in. Centrifugal force will not disloge it.

Theoretically there should be no leaks out the spoke threads, but I've done 4 rims like this and I always had 4 or 5 spokes that leaked a a bubble every five seconds with a spit test.

After the tire is all mounted and aired up test the spoke threads for leaking. I found leaks. I put a cups worth of slime in my tires and that solved those leaks never to be heard from again even after putting on a new tire without using slime.

Comments