valve stems?

[donaldcc]

Are Jake Wilsons the best ?

 don't know about best, but they are similar to other metal stems.  price you can not beat and they tighten on the outside not the inside of wheel.  i bought a dozen and gave them to friends.

[Patrick]

Pheww, 40 responses to valve stems, wow. And about tire valves stems no less.

[Brian]

Well, I couldn't get the c-clamps and wood blocks to cooperate so I ended up removing the rear tire taking it to the dealer to have the J/W stem installed. The mechanic that did the valve change has been there many years and no youngster. He is their valk mechanic and told me that there is nothing wrong with the J/W stems. He actually had nothing bad to say about the OEMs other than they do need changed periodically especially when they start to show signs of cracking.

They only charged me $10.50 for his time. Saturdays are free hot dog day at the dealership so two free dogs, talked a few minutes with two other valk owners that are members of the club and my tire was ready. All in all not bad day.

[hubcapsc]

Well, I couldn't get the c-clamps and wood blocks to cooperate

My first attempt: fail... I didn't care about the tire, and didn't know about the wood
blocks.... this thing never came off the bead.



Even this was "hard"... but a studly 8 inch clamp and good blocks can pop
at least one side of the bead off, and Joe did it in the parking lot
with a 6 inch clamp...



If your wheel is off and you're at home with your full complement of jury-rig
material at hand, a 2x4 and a stud wall are almost as good as the bead popper
at the tire store...



-Mike

[pancho]

I use a method similar to Mikes last picture to break the beads when changing tires at the house. It works well and is very fast and easy to break those beads.. With this,  rim protectors and some good tire irons and tire lubricant/soapy water, you can surprise yourself at how fast you can change a tire on a sunny day when the tires can be warmed in the sun.

[hubcapsc]

I use a method similar to Mikes last picture to break the beads when changing tires at the house. It works well and is very fast and easy to break those beads.. With this,  rim protectors and some good tire irons and tire lubricant/soapy water, you can surprise yourself at how fast you can change a tire on a sunny day when the tires can be warmed in the sun.

My car sits out in the sun, I put my last tire in there for a while before I put it on...

Car smelled like a tire factory for a day, though.

-Mike

[salty1]

I use a HB bead breaker, works well. Got it on sale for $25. There so called MC bead breaker is for scooter tires.
http://www.harborfreight.com/bead-breaker-92961.html

[t-man403]

Well I'm thankful for this thread as I know that my rear stem has no support at all.
The support is broken and probably was when I bought the bike. I didn't think anything of it really  ............. just support it when checking pressure.
Now that I have read this thread, I'll put in new stems asap.

[Brian]

Well, I couldn't get the c-clamps and wood blocks to cooperate

My first attempt: fail... I didn't care about the tire, and didn't know about the wood
blocks.... this thing never came off the bead.



Even this was "hard"... but a studly 8 inch clamp and good blocks can pop
at least one side of the bead off, and Joe did it in the parking lot
with a 6 inch clamp...



If your wheel is off and you're at home with your full complement of jury-rig
material at hand, a 2x4 and a stud wall are almost as good as the bead popper
at the tire store...



-Mike

I was trying the clamps and blocks like in picture number 2 with the wheel still on the bike. I thought about the 2x4 idea but since it was already noon and the shop closes at 2:30 I took it to them. I still have a lot of tread on this E3 and can't afford to buy a new one if this experiment failed.
The c-clamp kept walking off the wood blocks. I guess I could have used a flat wood bit to drill a slight hole in the blocks to hold the clamp bases in place?

[hubcapsc]

I was trying the clamps and blocks like in picture number 2

Did you have an 8 inch clamp? Six inch clamps only work if
your other choice is walking  ...

-Mike

[N0tac0p]

taking it all in.  wondering how sucessful id be breaking the bead and installing myself, vs waiting til next year, or so, when i change the tire over

[Farther]

If the support is still in place and you don't have any cracks in the rubber I would think you are good.  However if the valve stem is not one of your maintenance items then you might reconsider.

[Patrick]

51 responses and there still seems to be a question about changing a freaking 12 year old stem.

[t-man403]

Well I was going to change mine out, but they look brand new so I'll leave them and yes they're rubber. The rear support is broken, so I ordered 2 new ones at Honda .......... 5 bucks apiece, most likely worth more than the stems. New tires next year so I'll have them changed out then.

[Big Ed]

Heads up. I ordered some 90 degree and 45 degree stems.

The 45 degree stems still tighten from the inside.

[Farther]

Change out the double nut for a lock nut (aka: shake-proof nut; nyloc nut) and it should be fine.

[hubcapsc]

Change out the double nut for a lock nut (aka: shake-proof nut; nyloc nut) and it should be fine.

Dang, I wish I'd thought of that when I changed my front one last week.

I'll do that when I change the back one in  a few days...

Doesn't everyone else find it hard to hold the bottom nut while tightening
the top one against it?

-Mike

[whaler]

Thanks to the great northeast Pennsylvania Turnpike repair crews, I blew a fork seal and broke a front valve stem and brackets this past Sunday. Tire went flat at 70mph, some fun. We McGyvered it  back together enough to hold air and ran down the shoulder to Keystone Harley who replaced the 90 valve with a short straight one.  No more 90 for me.  $1.13 for valve and $79.00 for labor.  $2.50 for new underwear. Watch out for the right hand lane just south of Wilkes Barre!

[Brian]

I was trying the clamps and blocks like in picture number 2

Did you have an 8 inch clamp? Six inch clamps only work if
your other choice is walking  ...

-Mike

I tried the 8 inch clamps from Sears.

[Gryphon Rider]

Well I was going to change mine out, but they look brand new so I'll leave them and yes they're rubber. The rear support is broken, so I ordered 2 new ones at Honda .......... 5 bucks apiece, most likely worth more than the stems. New tires next year so I'll have them changed out then.

If you want valve stems similar to the picture below, I purchased them at Raynard Automotive Supply, 3209 9 St. SE Calgary, for certainly less than $5 each.  They might have the nut on the outside style too, but I didn't ask at the time.

[N0tac0p]

was it at least decided that we did NOT have to grind downt he TEE to get any of them on, especially teh "anchor"

[salty1]

51 responses and there still seems to be a question about changing a freaking 12 year old stem.

I'm with Patrick what else can be said about valve stems? 

[t-man403]

If you want valve stems similar to the picture below, I purchased them at Raynard Automotive Supply, 3209 9 St. SE Calgary, for certainly less than $5 each.  They might have the nut on the outside style too, but I didn't ask at the time.

Good info, thanks.
I am in that area often.

[Jess from VA]

....what else can be said about valve stems?


Ah, well .................... they come in colors.  (LOL)

[Willow]

was it at least decided that we did NOT have to grind downt he TEE to get any of them on, especially teh "anchor"

No, it wasn't.

You'll need a style that has enough vertical portion to clear the tee or you'll need to remove the tee.

Some do.  Some don't.  The anchor style definitely does not.

[Brian]

The 90 degree ones from Jake Wilson clear the tee and you can still use the plastic support.

[Jess from VA]

The flush mount Anchor stems require you to grind the T off if you want them aimed to the high side of the bike (hmmmmmmmm, the right).  It is no big deal on the front, but having them aimed to the low side of a tourer or IS under the bags on the rear is a PITA.  Of course I forgot to mention this at my first tire change, so they got ground off and turned around next time I needed a tire.

It's not like I'm ever going to change my mind and go back to OE stems.      

[N0tac0p]

i htink i asked this, but didn't see the answer.  (dumb question #17)

Are all valvel stem holes the same size.  seena lot of talk about them and various selelctions (some denoting hole dia), so I ask.

[Disco]

Are all valvel stem holes the same size[?]

Assuming you mean the holes in the wheels, on Valkyries, yes.  On everything else, no.

[N0tac0p]

so seeing DISCO's answer, what size (? DIA) valve stem would i need?  i didn't see one anywhere

[Willow]

so seeing DISCO's answer, what size (? DIA) valve stem would i need?  i didn't see one anywhere

.453 inch.  I believe that's what the great majority of valve stems offered will be.

[hubcapsc]

.453 inch.  I believe that's what the great majority of valve stems offered will be.

I ordered these and just received them today:

http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=44463&str=2&ID=333194016

The ones I got are different than the ones in the picture, they are the nut-on-the-outside kind. The HDL
ad sez they are for 453-.625 Rim Hole which seems like a wide range. I don't know what to think about
the ad-copy since the stems aren't what is shown in the ad... they'll probably work...

-Mike

[MarkT]

Over the last 16 years and a quarter million miles on Deerslayer and BlewByYou (GL1800), all but one of my air losses have been from leaking valve stems - always cracking rubber.  More recently I have gone to changing the stem every other tire.  Now I've ordered these high-quality stems from JW.  I'm hoping this will eliminate the problem.  Still gonna keep them in my road kit, though.  I went to Ride-On a couple years ago on both bikes for balancing, and preventing most puncture flats.

[Daddie O]

I appreciate the advise to go with the Jake Wilson's.  90 degree, metal (chromed), tighten from the outside, no grinding the T, can use the clip, and only cost $2 each.  I will be having my new tires and stems installed tomorrow.

[MP]

The greatest danger from using OEM wheel valves is, from the fire you will receive, from a lot of the contributors here on this forum.

***

Posted on VOAI Board today, by a long time member.  Please tell him how his only danger is from the fire he will receive from contributors.  Just because YOUR rubber stem has not blown out, does not mean it cannot happen.

"On July 31st went for a nice relaxing ride around both huge lakes in the area. Took some nice side roads, then only 5 miles or so from home, heard a loud POP then wild vibration from rear wheel. Was going about 40 and brought down to 10 or so before entering left ditch. Bike rolled over on its right side pinning my right leg briefly. Pulled the leg out, stood up and called Kathy with my location. Ankle area was pretty swollen.Had her take me to the local ER. X-rays showed that my right Tibia leg bone had a clean break a few inches above the ankle. In a walking boot for probably 8 weeks. Son-in-law picked up the bike later with my enclosed single trailer. The rear valve stem popped out, instant deflation. The rest of the bike is fine. Early next spring will order 2 new tires and valve stems, and a good time to order progressive fork springs too. Looking forward to alot of snowmobiling this coming winter!!!!!!!!!!!!    TrickyD"

[Gideon]

Are Jake Wilsons the best ?

 don't know about best, but they are similar to other metal stems.  price you can not beat and they tighten on the outside not the inside of wheel.  i bought a dozen and gave them to friends.

[whaler]

Thank you to all who responded, from this chat board I learned from and appreciated every ones knowledge and experiences and decided to go with the Jakes.  I responded long ago but I guess it never went through. Thanks once again.