
Valve stem needles? Are they tight?
#1
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Posted November 22, 2011 - 11:06 PM
If you have a whole bunch of GTs, do you ever check ALL of them.
to be sure they're tight?
How often have you thought you had a flat, and went through all the
painfull stuff, only to find in the end, it was the valve needle?
They do come loose. Temperature fluctuations, vibration, age, and of course those
wacky pranksters (bless them) up to their tricks.
Maybe just something to put on the checklist.
- Bolens 1000, DH1, mjodrey and 8 others have said thanks
#2
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Posted November 23, 2011 - 06:34 AM
#3
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Posted November 23, 2011 - 07:03 AM

#4
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Posted November 23, 2011 - 07:13 AM
#5
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Posted November 23, 2011 - 07:29 AM
#6
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Posted November 23, 2011 - 07:49 AM
It makes sense to check them and also that a 40 yr old stem may leak just because of age. A new core in one could be a simple fix for a slow leak.
Just to add,they don't have to be 40 years old to leak around the bottom edge.I have seen valve stem just a couple years old ,leak that way.If you have a slow leak,and don't have a dunk tank,just take a squirt bottle ( Windex bottle, etc, ) and fill it with a water/dish detergent mix,and spray it around the valve stem,valve core,around the rim,or even the whole tire and you will find it.
#7
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 06:55 PM
#8
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 07:05 PM
#9
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 07:44 PM
#10
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 07:45 PM
#11
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 08:15 PM
If your filling a tire, a little spit on your finger wiped into the stem is an easy check.
They also make valve caps that are a valve core tool but that makes it easy for the pranksters if you have them around.

#12
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 08:20 PM
#13
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Posted November 25, 2011 - 09:38 PM
- mikebramel, IamSherwood and Michiganmobileman have said thanks
#14
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Posted November 26, 2011 - 05:37 AM
I've speced out air equipment used on my employer's manufactured machines and according to Shrader (manufacturer of valve stems) the cap is to be considered the primary seal, the valve stem is secondary, so buy decent caps. At work, we use gasketed metal caps to prevent air leakage from the air springs we use as a vibration isolater.
Thanks.
That's interesting
#15
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Posted November 26, 2011 - 05:38 AM
Edited by mjodrey, November 26, 2011 - 05:47 AM.
- mikebramel said thank you