baldo
Member
Posts: 6961
Youbetcha
Cape Cod, MA
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« on: November 06, 2016, 07:00:40 AM » |
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cookiedough
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« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2016, 07:24:49 AM » |
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Just a guess, but the valve stem was well past its prime useful life maybe even from the 1980's since is I think an 80's Wing?
Is valve stem failure going bad all of a sudden all that common?
I get mine replaced after each new tire every 4-6 years or so for a few bucks each. However, I noticed if I let my Valk sit for say 3-4 weeks not riding it in this colder 30-40 degree nighttime temps, I have been noticing my rear tire more so (the newer tire put on last year vs. 5 year old front tire) is loosing air pressure more so, down from say 44 psi to say 38 psi in only a few short weeks vs. the front tire down from say 40 psi to only 37 psi. It makes me wonder since the tire appears like new still, is it loosing air pressure from the valve stem or maybe around the rim???? Any ideas?
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15325
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2016, 07:56:23 AM » |
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I can't help but wonder why riders still use the OEM type of valve stem in place of the more reliable metal one. Replacing them every 4-6 years and feeling secure is pure folly, I've seen the OEM type fail in much less time. As for me, I'm allergic to pain, especially when it's brought on by myself and my foolish mistakes. Been using metal stems for decades without a failure, can't say the same for the rubbery OEM type.
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da prez
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« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2016, 08:18:38 AM » |
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I had a Valk come in Thursday for a check over and show the owner how to do a few things over winter. He had oem stems and I told him "friends do not let friends drive with oem valve stems"
( as per Carl ,aka,Willow) He said he did not have time to take it all apart for stems. I slightly moved them and saw the cracking start. How old? Last year on the rear , two years on the front.
Before I knew better , I had oem stems replaced in my bike with oem. (I just had surgery and had it done) They lasted about 9 months.
I changed both stems in about 20 minutes. I built a tool to do it. (ask Ted about it at IZ Woton and Biker girl and old2soon.) A few have asked me to make and sell the tool but I have not found the right size clamps as of yet.
da prez
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Beardo
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« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2016, 08:50:08 AM » |
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The thing I don't understand is how things that are common knowledge around here are so unknown by people who work on bikes for a living. I know 2 bike mechanics fairly well, one was a Honda dealer mechanic for 30 years, the other worked on everything. I took my rear wheel to one of them to change the tire, gave him a metal valve stem I bought online to put on. He asked why. Explained it to him. He says he's never heard of any problems with the stock ones. The other, the Honda mechanic, had never heard of loosening the 4 bolts to realign the rear end after a rear end disassembly.
I'm pretty sure there'd be a lot fewer Valkyries still on the road if not for this site.
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da prez
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« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2016, 10:29:36 AM » |
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Local Honda would not install non oem parts . The metal valve stem . We always cover our butts by putting customer furnished parts.
da prez
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LTD
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« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2016, 01:00:00 PM » |
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The only time I was ever stranded in nine years was a valve stem failure yes oem. went metal no problems.
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hukmut
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« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2016, 01:46:06 PM » |
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+1.  And thanks old2soon! Ride safe, y'all! |
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16769
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2016, 03:00:46 PM » |
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OEM rubber stems $11 each replaced every other tire change. Metal stems, $2.50 each replaced once every fifteen years. We used to call this a no brainer. I guess it's actually a minimal brainer. The no brainer would be continuing to use OEM stems.  |
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Pete
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« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2016, 03:43:22 PM » |
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All the failures I have seen on OEM stems were from the rubber dis-intergrating over time.
The metal stems are certainly an upgrade, but they still contain a sealing washer made from rubber or synthetic rubber and internal rings of similiar material and should be replaced.
When I worked at service station and did tire replacement we changed them at tire change, period, no questions ask. I do not know if they still do that now or not, but I would.
At $2.00 each just replace the whole stem at ever change or at least ever other change.
Come on guys do not be "pound wise and penny foolish".
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Misfit
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« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2016, 04:12:37 PM » |
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How in heck do you get a tire to last 5-6 years? Am I doing something wrong?
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough.  |
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16769
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2016, 05:13:45 PM » |
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All the failures I have seen on OEM stems were from the rubber dis-intergrating over time.
The metal stems are certainly an upgrade, but they still contain a sealing washer made from rubber or synthetic rubber and internal rings of similiar material and should be replaced.
When I worked at service station and did tire replacement we changed them at tire change, period, no questions ask. I do not know if they still do that now or not, but I would.
At $2.00 each just replace the whole stem at ever change or at least ever other change.
Come on guys do not be "pound wise and penny foolish".
Your experience is different than mine. The failures I've seen on Valkyries (not four wheeled cages) are more related to fatigue resulting from ninety degree pressure than by deteriorated rubber. The metal stems have no fatigue due to side pressure. You're right the metal seals will eventually deteriorate. That's the fifteen year estimate. If you want to be overly careful you can reduce that to ten. Where do you get $2 Valkyrie OEM stems? The OEMs are $11 each. The metals are closer to $2 plus shipping. In this case pound wise and penny wise are synonymous. |
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cookiedough
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« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2016, 05:17:53 PM » |
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How in heck do you get a tire to last 5-6 years? Am I doing something wrong?
2000 miles per riding season at 5 years is 10K miles for a rear tire, fairly common in the upper midwest since almost 6 months of the year cannot ride a cycle. I usually go 2-3500 miles per year best was 5000 miles one season. Now, a front tire can go say 15000 miles or so and that would be 6-7 years of riding give or take depending on mileage of course. My 2001 I/S has 34K miles on it so thus 15 years is under 3000 miles per year riding. So sad, I know, do not remind me...  If I keep that up, in another 20 years owning my I/S I might, if still around, be lucky to hit 100K being just broken in right?  Speaking of valve stems, I have metal valve stems but there is a rubber round seal between the metal stem and rim correct? |
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DK
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« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2016, 08:25:12 PM » |
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I had a Valk come in Thursday for a check over and show the owner how to do a few things over winter. He had oem stems and I told him "friends do not let friends drive with oem valve stems"
( as per Carl ,aka,Willow) He said he did not have time to take it all apart for stems. I slightly moved them and saw the cracking start. How old? Last year on the rear , two years on the front.
Before I knew better , I had oem stems replaced in my bike with oem. (I just had surgery and had it done) They lasted about 9 months.
I changed both stems in about 20 minutes. I built a tool to do it. (ask Ted about it at IZ Woton and Biker girl and old2soon.) A few have asked me to make and sell the tool but I have not found the right size clamps as of yet.
da prez
I gather from your post that you are replacing the stems without removing the wheel & breaking down the tire. How about some broad hints on doing this if it's not divulging trade secrets? |
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Machinery has a mysterious soul and a mind of its own.
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gordonv
Member
Posts: 5766
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
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« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2016, 08:38:09 PM » |
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Do a search for Clamp and Stem. Posts show up, but the pictures are missing. Don't know if we are still having problems with photobucket or not.
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1999 Black with custom paint IS   |
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Pete
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« Reply #15 on: November 07, 2016, 06:06:58 AM » |
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All the failures I have seen on OEM stems were from the rubber dis-intergrating over time.
The metal stems are certainly an upgrade, but they still contain a sealing washer made from rubber or synthetic rubber and internal rings of similiar material and should be replaced.
When I worked at service station and did tire replacement we changed them at tire change, period, no questions ask. I do not know if they still do that now or not, but I would.
At $2.00 each just replace the whole stem at ever change or at least ever other change.
Come on guys do not be "pound wise and penny foolish".
Your experience is different than mine. The failures I've seen on Valkyries (not four wheeled cages) are more related to fatigue resulting from ninety degree pressure than by deteriorated rubber. The metal stems have no fatigue due to side pressure. You're right the metal seals will eventually deteriorate. That's the fifteen year estimate. If you want to be overly careful you can reduce that to ten. Where do you get $2 Valkyrie OEM stems? The OEMs are $11 each. The metals are closer to $2 plus shipping. In this case pound wise and penny wise are synonymous. Metal stems were $2.00 including shipping at tire wholesaler, I usually order 10 at a time. I do not use the OEM at all. The cracking is brought on by environmental exposure and exposure to soap/water from washing that causes the ultimate failure. The same cracking and failures happen on straight stems in car tires when left in service to long. I have replaced many stems on automobiles left in service to long. Running any stem on any vehicle for 15 years seems to me to be asking for a failure. But it is your vehicle and your choice. I do not do that nor do I recommend it. |
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da prez
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« Reply #16 on: November 07, 2016, 06:53:31 AM » |
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DK , I built a tool that will change stems on the bike (must be parked , not on the fly) and used it at IZ16. I will duplicate it and make it available when I find all the pieces. It is a one piece adjustable clamp. It works well on several sizes of tires. I am not trying to hide anything , just trying to improve it.
da prez
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