Valve Stem

[ColoValk]

Somewhat mechanically challenged, but how hard and what is involved in replacing the valve stem or more so the rubber boot/seal around it?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[hubcapsc]

It is possible to take a 6 or 8 inch C-clamp (or two) and break the bead at the valve
stem and replace the stem.



We've done it on the road...



Here's some good valve stems...



1 1/4" Chrome 90 degree bend Inner Mount Tire Valve, .453" rim hole

http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=17-562&Category_Code=6-3

-Mike

[dukesguy]

Remove the wheel, remove the tire,replace valve stem.

[Daniel Meyer]

Here's some good valve stems...



1 1/4" Chrome 90 degree bend Inner Mount Tire Valve, .453" rim hole

http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=17-562&Category_Code=6-3

-Mike

Yep, dump the oem's and use these.

[Promagnaman]

Here's some good valve stems...



1 1/4" Chrome 90 degree bend Inner Mount Tire Valve, .453" rim hole

http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=17-562&Category_Code=6-3

-Mike

Yep, dump the oem's and use these.



Do you still need to use the retainer/clip that held the old stem, or just mount the new valve stem without it?

[Jess from VA]

Do you still need to use the retainer/clip that held the old stem, or just mount the new valve stem without it?

No, yes.

[Sigrún]

Do you still need to use the retainer/clip that held the old stem, or just mount the new valve stem without it?

No, yes.

2nd that

Technically you CAN leave the retainer in place but it really serves no purpose any longer.....

[X Ring]

It is possible to take a 6 or 8 inch C-clamp (or two) and break the bead at the valve
stem and replace the stem.



We've done it on the road...



Here's some good valve stems...



1 1/4" Chrome 90 degree bend Inner Mount Tire Valve, .453" rim hole

http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=17-562&Category_Code=6-3

-Mike

If you buy them from Patch Boy's ebay store you won't be raped on shipping like you are if you order them from Patch Boy's website.  Their ebay shipping is $5.

Marty

[PhredValk]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems. However, I AM changing to the steel chrome ones now that I'm changing tires. The place that did my rear (spent 2 weeks trying to find a place that would install the car tire) swapped out the valve stem for a buck.

Changed the tire, the stem and did the DynaBeads (I supplied) for $31+tax.
Fred.

[hubcapsc]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems. However, I AM changing to the steel chrome ones now that I'm changing tires. The place that did my rear (spent 2 weeks trying to find a place that would install the car tire) swapped out the valve stem for a buck.

Changed the tire, the stem and did the DynaBeads (I supplied) for $31+tax.
Fred.

My buddy Henry's bike was a 97... his front OEM stem went bad on him on the way to Cheaha last
year... his was good for 14 years 

-Mike "just kidding..."

[Daniel Meyer]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems.

I disagree very strongly with this advice and I hope you are kidding..

If you run the OEM stems, they are a steel stem part with a rubber insert that holds it in. A rubber insert just like your car stems, and they should be changed with EVERY tire change.

However, not only are they rubber, they are crap as well. They are simply a bad design. They are subject to failures that result in rapid loss of air...ESPECIALLY at high speed They are dangerous. They suck. They blow. They should not even be on a riding lawn mower, much less a motorcycle.  (getting my point? ).

Friends don't let friends run OEM stems. If you have them, ditch them. If you've not changed them with every tire change or they are more than two years old, replace them now and don't ride till you do.

Clear yet? Change the damn stems. Single most dangerous part on your motorcycle.

[Cliff]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems.

I disagree very strongly with this advice and I hope you are kidding..

If you run the OEM stems, they are a steel stem part with a rubber insert that holds it in. A rubber insert just like your car stems, and they should be changed with EVERY tire change.

However, not only are they rubber, they are crap as well. They are simply a bad design. They are subject to failures that result in rapid loss of air...ESPECIALLY at high speed They are dangerous. They suck. They blow. They should not even be on a riding lawn mower, much less a motorcycle.  (getting my point? ).

Friends don't let friends run OEM stems. If you have them, ditch them. If you've not changed them with every tire change or they are more than two years old, replace them now and don't ride till you do.

Clear yet? Change the damn stems. Single most dangerous part on your motorcycle.

Hits the nail on the head!!!!!!!!  Couldn't have said it better myself,

[JC]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems.

I disagree very strongly with this advice and I hope you are kidding..

If you run the OEM stems, they are a steel stem part with a rubber insert that holds it in. A rubber insert just like your car stems, and they should be changed with EVERY tire change.

However, not only are they rubber, they are crap as well. They are simply a bad design. They are subject to failures that result in rapid loss of air...ESPECIALLY at high speed They are dangerous. They suck. They blow. They should not even be on a riding lawn mower, much less a motorcycle.  (getting my point? ).

Friends don't let friends run OEM stems. If you have them, ditch them. If you've not changed them with every tire change or they are more than two years old, replace them now and don't ride till you do.

Clear yet? Change the damn stems. Single most dangerous part on your motorcycle.

+1 on CHANGE THEM, NOW!!!!!!!! Last summer my OEM valve on the front failed me in between two tractor trailiers on I-40 @ 75MPH. Damn lucky I'm still here!

[Gerard irl]

 8)Have to Agree same thing for me on my to the Europen Inzane last
Year in France back wheel stem gave up lucky I had a spare with me
It started to leak bad lucky for me i was only 20 miles from Inzane made it their
And got it changed their

[art]

Boy did I get screwed.I just bought a new valve stem from honda for $15 an instaled it today.I did not see this post until 3 hours later .It figgers,Last week I had to travel round trip 200miles to get a plug for the rear drive unit an was down for two weeks waiting for replacement parts for my drive shaft an pinion cup.The only good thing was that it was raining during the down time.

[gordonv]

For $30 I bought a pair of billets, delivered. (price now is $33).
http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/tire_valves/index.htm

[Spirited-6]

ART, you need to VIST VRCC more. 

[roboto65]

Do you have the Ebay address for the valve stems tried searching and nothing..

[Hoser]

Get em here, buy a dozen and pass them around, shipping is the same for one or a dozen.  Hoser   
 http://www.shop.shinhopples.com/product.sc?productId=1129

[art]

I do log on every day but I needed the stem right away.The old on fell apart in my hands when I pulled it out.I was lucky I was in my garage.

[Thunderbolt]

a couple of years ago.  Got real hard to turn, it was the front.  I had my small compressor with me and was able to limp to the side of the road.  I aired it up several times that afternoon.  I put some super glue around the stem until I got one the next day in Asheville.  Every time you touched the stem air would leak out.  It cracked where it went through the rim.
I have the Patchboy stems now, no problems so far.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

Allen I haved 24 in the barn, stop by sometime !

[roboto65]

I will do that Wizard Thanks have to do the front tire when I get off next time along with some other stuff so I will get with you. I get off the boat the 17th 

[Tim H]

I found these guys on the bay today.  My Metzler ME880 Front just came in today.  I shopped around town for some stems, but came up with less than satisfactory ends.  I search online again and these turn up.  It's a set of 4, I hope they work out okay.  They look very similar to the patchboy.

90 DEGREE CHROME METAL VALVE STEMS 1.75" LONG SET OF 4

[tank_post142]

WILLOW SAYS: never ride on factory stems!!

[The Anvil]

I've got factory stems, no issues. In my opinion the factory stems are fine as long as you have the plastic holders still attached. But the last time I put air in Eddie's tires I noticed that the one on his rear had gone AWOL and once it does it is now free to rotate and sway back and forth with centrifugal forces. After a bit of this it will fail. So keep a close eye on that part.

[Hoser]

Unless you're having problems with the OEM stems, I'd leave them alone. Mine have been there 11 years now with no problems.

I disagree very strongly with this advice and I hope you are kidding..

If you run the OEM stems, they are a steel stem part with a rubber insert that holds it in. A rubber insert just like your car stems, and they should be changed with EVERY tire change.

However, not only are they rubber, they are crap as well. They are simply a bad design. They are subject to failures that result in rapid loss of air...ESPECIALLY at high speed They are dangerous. They suck. They blow. They should not even be on a riding lawn mower, much less a motorcycle.  (getting my point? ).

Friends don't let friends run OEM stems. If you have them, ditch them. If you've not changed them with every tire change or they are more than two years old, replace them now and don't ride till you do.

Clear yet? Change the damn stems. Single most dangerous part on your motorcycle.

+1 on CHANGE THEM, NOW!!!!!!!! Last summer my OEM valve on the front failed me in between two tractor trailiers on I-40 @ 75MPH. Damn lucky I'm still here!

+1 And they cost less.

[Hoser]

I've got factory stems, no issues. In my opinion the factory stems are fine as long as you have the plastic holders still attached. But the last time I put air in Eddie's tires I noticed that the one on his rear had gone AWOL and once it does it is now free to rotate and sway back and forth with centrifugal forces. After a bit of this it will fail. So keep a close eye on that part.

Any thing to disagee with the consensus, right Anvil?  Even with the most proven fault ever found on a Valkyrie.  You are a piece of work my friend.    Hoser

[Earl in Pensacola]

"TIM-H" the picture you posted of the metal valve stem looks like the one being sold at jackwilson.com  The best part is that the tightening nut is on the "outside" of the tire (!!) not on the inside like the Patchboy brand.  I'm sure that they are both good, but I'd rather have access to that retaining/tightening nut just in case it should start to loosen.  And yes I have had a couple of metal stem retaining nuts loosen.  I had to go buy nuts that have a plastic ring thing inside and that worked quite well.  And for those of us that still believe that the OEM stem is OK.  From experience, I can say that yes I had one fail. However, I'm positive that the loss of the plastic clip was the problem.  In-any-case, I started changing the stems with every new tire AND I use some very strong glue to insure that the plastic clip stays attached to the wheel.  It does and I haven't had another valve failure.   Not arguing--Just saying

[Tim H]

Jake Wilson?  I got a much different website when I copy and pasted jackwilson.com. 

We'll see when they arrive.  I guess they'll do what they're suppose to.

[Earl in Pensacola]

http://www.jakewilson.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&webTypeId=321&navTitle=Motorcycle+Tire+Accessories&webCatId=38&keyword=valve+stems&prodFamilyId=19082

Try this site-There is a picture and everything!

[art]

OK I'm convinced I just ordered a set. When I get them a get a chance to replace thim I will.I don't want to be worrying about something that is so easy to fix

[9Ball]

Boy did I get screwed.I just bought a new valve stem from honda for $15 an instaled it today.I did not see this post until 3 hours later .It figgers,Last week I had to travel round trip 200miles to get a plug for the rear drive unit an was down for two weeks waiting for replacement parts for my drive shaft an pinion cup.The only good thing was that it was raining during the down time.

Don't look at it that way.  a new OEM valve stem will more than do until you put the next set of tires on.  Just be sure the black plastic holder is not cracked or otherwise damaged and add to inspect these to your pre-ride checklist and you'll be fine.

I always carry spare stem and holder in my saddlebag road kit for peace of mind.  You can do the same until you eventually go with the patchboy stems.

Ride safe...

[Tim H]

I did a similar thing Art.  I ordered my tire from from Jake Wilson and didn't see the stems that I wanted.  I thought I would look around town for them, but didn't turn up the ones I wanted.  I missed out on the free shipping with my tire, they would have literally cost $2 each if I would have seen them before checkout.

I'll give a report for the ebay stems when I install them.  They look very similar, but the nuts seem like they are on from the inside.  I'm anxious to try them out.

[9Ball]

I'm not too sure you want the stems with the nuts on the inside.....there's no safe way to ensure they remain tight or in place and you might be creating a bigger hazard than staying with the stock setup....

[quexpress]

I'm not too sure you want the stems with the nuts on the inside.....there's no safe way to ensure they remain tight or in place and you might be creating a bigger hazard than staying with the stock setup....

Locktite is your friend! 
How many people have had failures with these valves? I doubt very MUCH that they are more than a very few .... but MANY of us have had those on our Valks for many years/miles/kilometers. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I've got factory stems, no issues. In my opinion the factory stems are fine as long as you have the plastic holders still attached. But the last time I put air in Eddie's tires I noticed that the one on his rear had gone AWOL and once it does it is now free to rotate and sway back and forth with centrifugal forces. After a bit of this it will fail. So keep a close eye on that part.

The factory stems are fine...until they break, then its not fun anymore.

[The Anvil]

I've got factory stems, no issues. In my opinion the factory stems are fine as long as you have the plastic holders still attached. But the last time I put air in Eddie's tires I noticed that the one on his rear had gone AWOL and once it does it is now free to rotate and sway back and forth with centrifugal forces. After a bit of this it will fail. So keep a close eye on that part.

Any thing to disagee with the consensus, right Anvil?  Even with the most proven fault ever found on a Valkyrie.  You are a piece of work my friend.    Hoser

I'm not saying that you shouldn't change them out. That plastic piece is a weak point and if you do change them out then it's one less thing you have to worry about. I'm just saying that if you keep an eye on the condition of the OEM stem and plastic brace then you can probably avoid major catastrophe until such time as you can swap them. In other words; I'd not put off a trip over it and I'd wait until the next tire swap.

[Ricky-D]

There have been no catastrophe reports relating to the stock Honda tire valve stem.

There have been a lot of "could have been a catastrophe" reports from a lot of faint hearts.

This is just another case of "crying wolf" from a lot of riders thinking they have found the holy grail of tire valve stems.

Just as threads posted would make you think "hydrolock" is a common and widespread occurrence, so is it with the "valve stem" instant death following.

I'm sure with a little prodding the "death wobble" faction along with the double rear wheel modification afficionado's can surely be enticed to join in the widespread condemnation of Honda's offering of a wonderfully engineered motorcycle being so poorly executed.

***

[Chrisj CMA]

There have been no catastrophe reports relating to the stock Honda tire valve stem.

There have been a lot of "could have been a catastrophe" reports from a lot of faint hearts.

This is just another case of "crying wolf" from a lot of riders thinking they have found the holy grail of tire valve stems.

Just as threads posted would make you think "hydrolock" is a common and widespread occurrence, so is it with the "valve stem" instant death following.

I'm sure with a little prodding the "death wobble" faction along with the double rear wheel modification afficionado's can surely be enticed to join in the widespread condemnation of Honda's offering of a wonderfully engineered motorcycle being so poorly executed.

***

I had a rear and then later a front valve stem fail.  While YES, you are right, it wasnt a catastrophe........(no burning death fireball)  Each time my ride was OVER for that day and I was not pushing distance to a shop or home so it meant getting a vehicle to transport my bike.  Not fun and well worth the $2 for an all metal valve stem.  I dont know why you have to be contrary to EVERYTHING, but I wish you would keep your bad advise to yourself.  The many good suggestions on this thread to keep Valkyrie riders safer are well advised and good to heed