Valve Stem Failure....

[pauls1150]

Thank you All!
(dashing any hopes of a "quick'n'easy" way out...)

 

[PGlaves]

Hello friends
I think that some of this trouble with valve stems is man made due to some of the cleaning products we use today on our tires and wheels.
Just a thought
Take care my friends

I'm pretty sure you haven't seen my wheels lately.

 

[PGlaves]

In my case, the adherence of the rubber plug to the brass tube failed allowing air to leak out around the stem. When the SECOND one failed (high in the Rockies of Colorado) is was able to place a couple of small zip-ties around the plug, snug them up real good, inflate the tire to a safe ~ 30 psi and limp back into Gunnison (around 40 miles, as I recall). The tire seemed to lose no significant amount of air using that method. Ergo, zip-ties are ALWAYS in my emergency bag!

I tried that and it didn't work for me. But I think a small hose clamp would have worked.

 

[gsaddict]

Hello friends
I think that some of this trouble with valve stems is man made due to some of the cleaning products we use today on our tires and wheels.
Just a thought
Take care my friends

Not in a million years. Mine let go due to poor vulcanizing between the brass and the rubber. The only chemical the valve stem has ever seen is diluted sunlight soap.

 

[wuli959]

Nope you can't push it in from the outside. You have to break one of the beads on the tire & put it in from the inside.

Probably lots of variables but YES it can be done if necessary.

Helps to have three hands, several screw drivers and a low concern for scratching the wheel.

I had a failure on I-75 on top of Jellico mountain, at night, in the rain. Trucker stopped and had a couple of extra valves that he sold me.

I installed the valve from the outside, patiently working in the valve with a couple of screwdrivers andwith a little oil for lubricant.

Bike: '02 1150GS

 

[ragtoplvr]

The trouble with the valve stems is man made!

Greedy men sending production to china and not making sure the vendor did a good job. Heck they probably put lead in the rubber and cadmium on the brass, and some melamine on the outside for good measure. Now much labor to save is there in a valve stem, come on now.

Rod

 

[JimMoore]

I installed the valve from the outside, patiently working in the valve with a couple of screwdrivers andwith a little oil for lubricant.

Bike: '02 1150GS

Good job. I would have said it couldn't be done.

 

[kconant]

Be aware that using oil as lubricant on rubber can cause premature deterioration of the rubber.Soap or saliva are much better alteratives.


.

 

[wuli959]

Be aware that using oil as lubricant on rubber can cause premature deterioration of the rubber.Soap or saliva are much better alteratives.
.

frankly, I was more worried about cuts in the rubber from using the screwdrivers to leverage the air valve into the wheel.
Spit wasn't doing the job. Didn't have soap available on the bike. Using a touch of oil was a last resort for an emergency repair on the side of the hwy. I only need to last a couple hundred miles to where I replaced both valves with metal valves by "traditional" means.

 

[pauls1150]

If you carry the stuff, or you're close enough to a store, silicone lube (dielectric grease?) is probably a better choice for rubber. Works well for cable booties too. I used it to install a Bar Snake on another bike - made that job incredibly easy (after getting a "leader" wire thru the bars first).
When you're on the side of the road, ya do what works at the moment with whatever ya got.
Wuli - thanks for the info, there is hope! I now have two spares in the kit.

 

[piratetreasure]

Here is some better info on what looks to be the same product from the kurvygirl site. I'm not sure if you can order from this company anymore, as the owner died in a MC accident awhile back, but the website is still up. Hope this helps.

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm

 

[cjcs]

Tire Valve Stem

Checked tire pressure before taking a ride today and found this.
Tire pressure was OK.
I took a healthy pull on the stem and it broke in half.
My lucky day, sort of.

 

[happy wanderer]

Here is some better info on what looks to be the same product from the kurvygirl site. I'm not sure if you can order from this company anymore, as the owner died in a MC accident awhile back, but the website is still up. Hope this helps.

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm

This link takes you to the order page however I checked the Home page and found this so it looks like for now these valves are not available:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE:

Due the tragic and untimely passing of Marc Glasgow
(aka. the Cyberpoet), the owner and operator of this web-based business, orders in process may be delayed while we determine stock levels and a variety of other matters. New orders will not be accepted until further notice.
Please check back here for further updates
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[sdpc2]

Yes it does

but i went ahead and ordered a set from The Mrs, and got them about a month ago.

 

[mwieck]

I have a friend who lost a valve stem on his K1200 coming down Raton Pass in New Mexico on a Sunday afternoon. He was able to slow down and get stopped before anything serious happened, but it ruined his day. I may ire a few folks, but why would BMW be so cheap and put rubber stems on their cycles? I have a 1981 Yamaha XJ550 with over 100,000 miles that came from the factory with metal stems and I have never had a problem and I probably won't. I've owned a K75 now for 4 years and I put in metal stems the first time I changed tires.

1987 K75c 1981 Yamaha XJ550 1980 Yamaha XT500 1971 Honda Z50

 

[virginiapi]

This link takes you to the order page however I checked the Home page and found this so it looks like for now these valves are not available:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE:

Due the tragic and untimely passing of Marc Glasgow
(aka. the Cyberpoet), the owner and operator of this web-based business, orders in process may be delayed while we determine stock levels and a variety of other matters. New orders will not be accepted until further notice.
Please check back here for further updates
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ordered a set a couple of days ago from the web page and have recieved a shipping confirmation. Should be here in a day or two.

 

[brhartw]

That is quite a picture. I don't think I have ever seen a valve stem do that. But, good to know that it is capable of that. Will keep an eye on it with frequent pressure checks.

Nice to meet you and the wife at Seavers today. See you on the road soon.

Brad

 

[happy wanderer]

but i went ahead and ordered a set from The Mrs, and got them about a month ago.

I ordered a set a couple of days ago from the web page and have recieved a shipping confirmation. Should be here in a day or two.

Hey thanks for the updates guys. It appears the website is just not updated and they are still taking orders. I ordered a set for the new to me RT today.

I've never seen these installed. I am getting them because I find getting my tire gauge and tire hose onto my RT wheels, especially the two rotor front wheel is tough.

I have what is likely a silly question. Shameless fool that I am, I'll ask anyway...

Do you install them so they point in the same direction as the tire rotates or pointing out sideways? I am guessing sideways which would make everything much easier.

I am also guessing my plan to try out the Dyna Voodoo Beads might be more difficult if not impossible.