Probably lucky to be alive-PLEASE READ!

[tonyfan70]

Went out for a ride over to a friends this afternoon. Made plans to return home, get my Pontiac and go to the stock car races.

On the way home I'm being tailgated by a tool in a BMW. I'm coming into some curves about 60 mph and figure I'll just drop the hammer and run away from him. Right as I'm doing so, I notice a feeling like I'm riding on a tar strip. Kind of a squirmy feeling and I know somethings amiss.

I'm hitting the first curve to the right and THE BIKE WONT STEER. I'm countersteering, leaning, and steadily heading for the centerline and beyond. I brake as gently as I can and manage to hit the shoulder before the guy behind me runs me over.

I had been warned by many, many people on here. Warned.

The front OEM valvestem snapped off. At 60 mph. I had a helmet on but no other safety gear.

Looks like I'll be spending some quality riding time pulling the front and rear wheels. AGAIN. The rear stem is the original as well. I'm hoping that I didn't ruin the front tire, but I will tell you what...that dude was HOT. Probably twice as hot as the rear. I won't know until I look inside but I am suspicious, tires don't like excessive heat.

Moral of the story?

We've all heard it. I've thought about it and blew it off. I could be REALLY REALLY regretting it right now.

CHANGE THE cursed OEM VALVE STEMS OUT IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY.

I beg you.


ps...anyone have a couple good replacements on hand I could buy?

[Karen]

Glad you rode it out safely and that both you and the bike are in one piece each. Can't imagine a sudden front deflation,  had a couple of slower rear flats, but nothing like what you experienced. You must be a very skilled rider, indeed. You should be able to find the stems on line.

[wiggydotcom]

Sorry you had to learn under those conditions, but thanks for having the fortitude to share your message. I have the metal stems already but appreciate your posting this. Glad it ddidn't turn out worse.  

[HayHauler]

Tony, PM me your address and I will send you 2 stems free of charge. 
Like my buddy Willow says...."friends shouldn't let friends ride with OEM valve stems". 

I will mail them Monday on my lunch hour. 

Really glad you made it out of this alive. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Pappy!]

Also happy you made it through that. Am hoping I never experience it.
What do you mean the guy behind you ran you over? Never explained that part??

[BF]

I've got some Patchboy stems ready to be put in the next time I get tires mounted. 

However, listening to your story, I'm thinkin' I shouldn't wait that long. 

[bogator]

WELL, if you read this----PLEASE------ by all means install the metal stems-----they are the best as for as I am concerned-----tires do not loose air like the rubber stems-----GOD BLESS----

[Thunderbolt]

Mine wasn't quite as bad, but happened just after getting off U.S. 129.  I was at the rear of the group and it got increasingly hard to steer.  Finally got everyone stopped at an intersection.  Stem was still there, but only had 13 lbs. air left.  My trusty little compressor got me in and super glue around the stem helped a little.  Had another OEM installed in Asheville at the Honda shop, but when I got home I replaced the stems on all the bikes with metal 90 degree Patchboy's.
Glad your story had a good ending.  Did yours have the plastic retainer?

[Chiefy]

Was the valvestem changed when the tire was last changed?  Just curious.

[Brian]

WOW! Your angel was definitely riding with you as well as your skill. I just replaced the original 97 OEM on my front with this last new tire. Unfortunately the dealer only had the rubber ones in stock. At least it is new along with the plastic support. Very good advice for all reading this as to replace those stems at regular intervals. I feel if using the OEM stems the plastic supports should be replaced with the stem. I lost one and didn't noticed it till I went to check the tire pressure. I now check the tire pressure once a week or sooner if going out two up.

So glad this story had a good ending.

I feel all bike shops should ask about replacing the stems at a tire change. At least it would make you think about it. The place where I take our cars for tires replaces stems as part of their mounting process. I have yet to have a stem problem on a car. This is probably why I overlooked my stems on the bike.
I just checked the Clymer and Honda service manuals, I can not find anything mentioned about stem and support replacement.

[JaysGone]

Tony
Glad your in one piece and safely stopped.
I used these in more then a few bikes.
Best value on Ebay.
Order them today you should have them by weeks end.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Tire-Wheel-Valve-Stems-90-Degree-Angle-Honda-Goldwing-/230951620393?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35c5ca0f29&vxp=mtr

[MP]

We preach change to steel valve stems, but you know who always jumps on, and says what just happened to you, does NOT happen!  Right!

Change to steel stems.  If not now, at least have them on hand, and change to them the very NEXT time you put a new tire on.

MP

[old2soon]

Year and a half two years ago I changed out the rubber O E M valve stems and was appalled at how easily they broke.  PLUS I have a really very bad habit-I do like the triple digits on the Phatt Ghurl.  I CAN imagine what would have happened after a RAPID air pressure loss at speeds in excess of 130 M P H indicated-ya'll would have been attending my funeral or sending condolences to the family.  Why ANYONE that has been on this board over 2 weeks is still running OLD O E M stems is beyond my comprehension level.  tonyfan70-i am happy/glad/relieved yer still amongst the living.  GOD had an Angel watching out fer ya.  RIDE SAFE.

[tonyfan70]

Hayhauler...you have a PM!

The shop that mounted the tires for me did NOT say anything about new stems. I don't blame them however, I have worked on and off in tire shops a great deal and ALWAYS replaced peoples cage stems without a second thought. Why I didn't follow this thought process with my own bike is odd.

I am adamant about not using tires over 6 years old on my car and truck and replace the stems each time. Never really gave the bikes much thought though. I don't see any plastic cage/holder on my rear...can't tell about the front as there is just a hole in the rim where the stem went. I suppose without the holder that stem has just been bending all around with the centrifugal force and just looking for the right time to fail.

Also...props to the Fulton County Sheriff Department. Officer stopped by while I was struggling to load my 700lb bike onto my snowmobile trailer. The tilt function of the trailer works great for sleds and 4wheelers, not so hot with Valks. Anyway the officer stopped to check my wellbeing and ran my plate to make sure I wasn't helping myself to someone elses bike. I was grateful for that...during the time it took to get home, get my truck and trailer and get back, I was really scared that someone would help themselves to MY BIKE!

I broke up with my g/f a couple months back. I guess another plus in that deal is if we were still together, I'd likely have been 2up and that might of been beyond my abilities to keep it rubber side down. I don't know.

What I meant by almost getting run over was the BMW was all over me and when I realized I had a problem I was hoping like hell he'd notice and let me get to the shoulder. I was afraid I'd dump it on the road and he wouldn't be able to stop in time.

old2soon...yeah, the ride I took the day before this one covered the triple digit speeds. Whew.

[old2soon]

Even if you don't believe in GOD take a moment to thank him anywho. I am sincerely glad you are still sucking wind here on planet Earth.  IF anybody out there is still on old O E M valve stems-listen heed and learn from tonyfan70 experience. IF yer STILL on OLD O E M stems your results could/can/will be DIFFERENT.  When I close with RIDE SAFE I mean it with all my heart. It's way easy to over look something and tell your self I can go a few more miles like it's been. It is WAY harder to give up a day or 2 of riding and get something repaired NOW and CORRECTLY so you can continue to RIDE SAFE.

[Brian]

Tonyfan70, You can buy the metal stems with the nut topside. They are about $2.00 each. At this price they can be changed with ever new tire. Get your self a dozen of them. I feel having the nut topside is a plus for a quick check to make sure it stays tight. So far so good with this metal stem.

[Jabba]

I have them in my drawer... but don't have them mounted on the STD... I will soon though. 

I need to pull the rear end and check on the pinion cup again anyhow.  The IS has metal stems on it already.

Jabba

[proimage1]

Reading this has convinced me it's something I need to do, so I just ordered 4 from Patch Boy - the total for 4 with shipping came to right at $22 -- shipping was $14 or so, but $22 is still cheap in my opinion to avoid what COULD happen !

Glad you're still here and sharing you're story !

[da prez]

  The stems can be changed without even removing the tires. If this is the only issue , a large C/clamp with Wood pads can make short work of it. I did it to mine in about a half hour.
 THE TIRES WERE NEW but the stems had been replaced with the oem and I did not want to take a chance.

                          da prez

[JC]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, FOLLOW THIS ADVICE!!!!!!

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago on I-40 at speed between two tractor-trailers, and am lucky to be here as well.

[HayHauler]

Mailed them priority mail through the USPS at lunch today.  They are the ones with the nuts on the top that can be tightened without removing the tire from the wheel.
I had bought a bunch of them to donate to the raffle at IZ in LaCrosse, but forgot to put them in the box that I mailed to the hotel...   

Ride safe brother,

Hay 
Jimmyt

[old2soon]

You a good guy Jimmyt.  I need to order some spares cause I gave some to my brother for his Valkyrie. I was going over mine before a P G R ride and the after check from coming home from LaCrosse and found the rear metal stem not only loose(NO air loss)but also missing that plastic valve stem keeper.  Went to my local Honda dealer and ordered the plastic keepers. I have a question-when i'm on the ground working on something-WHEN EXACTLY did down become so cursed far away?? RIDE SAFE.

[tonyfan70]

Thanks so much Jimmyt!

I guess I don't know, my bike doesn't have the plastic holder on the remaining stem. Do the new stems with the nuts need them?

[HayHauler]

I don't have them on mine.  But you can put them on for piece of mind. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

My OEM front stem broke off in BF, Alabama . I was doing about 45 / 50 through a town when mine let go. I'm sure glad it did'nt go while I was blastin' through the mountains... I've got the metal one's on all my bikes now and change them out every other tire change... I'll say this if you are ridin' a Valkyrie over 10 years old and we all are and still have the OEM stems... You are flirting with disaster.

[specialdose]

da prez , you say you can do this replacement wheels on the bike with clamps and wood. Rear also? 98 tourer 26k . I broke the clip on the front one back in March being nu to the world of fat gurls I did not know it would move when pressure applied. My life being precious, but even more so my 9yr grandson who rides with me a lot. I am ordering the ones on ebay as soon as I post this reply. I have the steel 90 degree on my 73 z1 kaw with Morris mags. Been running that type since putting the wheels on the ole girl in 78. Thanks for the heads up fellows.

[tonyfan70]

Well, got my new stems (thanks Jimmyt!) and took my wheels off and had them put in. The guy took a look at the amount of weights on the wheels and said there was no way they were in balance.  I bet him they were, we checked, they were.
I remember thinking that for new quality tires that they did take a lot of weight. He seems to think that my pressures are too high at 42, I don't know that's what I read on here. We set the front down to 38 to try to get a little wear other than right in the middle.

Bottom line...back on the road!

[HayHauler]

On the front, stick with the 42 psi.  The tire will start cupping and wear faster. 
Before I went darkside, I kept 45 psi in my rear Avon or it would start cupping and wear out in 8,000 miles. 
I don't know what front you are running, but this has worked the best for me. 

You're welcome for the stems. 

"Friends shouldn't let friends ride on OEM valve stems", so my buddy Willow always says. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[semper5]

After reading this, I will go check out my stems. But, how do you replace them? Are they press-in or threaded? Can you replace them without removing the entire wheel/tire?

[old2soon]

After reading this, I will go check out my stems. But, how do you replace them? Are they press-in or threaded? Can you replace them without removing the entire wheel/tire?

        Read ALL the replies. My brother(da prez)splains zackly how to duz what you asked.  And it is in this post above yer question.  RIDE SAFE.

[semper5]

      Read ALL the replies. My brother(da prez)splains zackly how to duz what you asked.  And it is in this post above yer question.  RIDE SAFE.

Listing the tools used in the process is not helping to explain 'how' to perform this.

I'm a newb, and looking for answers to more than just this. Anxious to learn, willing to search. Glad you found so much humor in your response. So, back to my original question, Does anyone want to take the time to explain to an old jarhead how to switch out valve stems?

[Valkpilot]

      Read ALL the replies. My brother(da prez)splains zackly how to duz what you asked.  And it is in this post above yer question.  RIDE SAFE.

Listing the tools used in the process is not helping to explain 'how' to perform this.

I'm a newb, and looking for answers to more than just this. Anxious to learn, willing to search. Glad you found so much humor in your response. So, back to my original question, Does anyone want to take the time to explain to an old jarhead how to switch out valve stems?

If you don't have tire changing equipment or a bead breaker, you can do it with the tires on or off the bike using a C-clamp:

Position the valve stem so that you can get to it easily.

Deflate the tire.

Use an 8" C-clamp and two small flat pieces of wood (I actually use a couple of 1/2 inch thick rubber pads.)  You can pinch the tire sidewall on both sides, but I think it works better to put one of the peices of wood (or rubber) on the edge of the rim with the other on the tire sidewall on the opposite side of the wheel.  Use the C-clamp to break the bead and squeeze the sidewalls together enough that you can get to the inside of the valve stem.

OEM stems, or automotive stems, are like plugs with a rubber base that pops into the hole in the rim.  They can be pulled out or cut at the base and pushed out.

Depending on the style of metal stems  you're installing, you will need to install it and tighten a nut from either the inside or the outside.  "Patchboy" types have the nut on the inside; "Jake Wilson" types have the nut on the outside.  Most consider the Jake Wilson stems preferrable because if you don't get it tight enough you can get to the nut without breaking the bead again.

[semper5]

Very cool, simple. I think I can handle that.

thanks much.

[jimmytee]

I believe these are what I put in  $2.00 a piece
http://www.jakewilson.com/p/54/-/346/753/-/19082/Myers-90%C2%B0-Tubeless-Chrome-Valve-Stem

[semper5]

I like the looks of those also.

[HayHauler]

Yes, the ones jimmytee posted the link to are the ones that tighten from outside the wheel.  No need to do this procedure again just to tighten the nut. 

Hay
Jimmyt