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Post by walterwhite on May 6, 2014 12:40:57 GMT -5
Hi is it true that if you have a tubeless tire you HAVE to use the valve stem with the rubber base? The reason why i ask is cause i was gonna buy one of those all metal valve stems without the rubber base. But the shady, money hungry, scooter dealer told me that the rubber base (the one he sells) is what holds the air? Seems kind of suspect to me, so then why would they sell all metal valve stems and the details says: for tubeless tires.  VS.  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 6, 2014 14:10:11 GMT -5
Walterwhite,
On my 150, I replaced my original stems (like the brass and rubber one in your post) with the metal ones (like the blue ones in your post). The black rubber/neoprene washer on the metal ones seals the rim for tubeless tires.
Personally, I think the metal "screw-down-with-a-nut" type like those blue ones are much safer and more reliable than the rubber/brass ones. The "press-through" rubber and brass ones can be fine, but sometimes Chinese, original-equipment ones (like my scooter had) are poor-quality. Mine began to come apart and I was able to pull the brass part OUT of the rubber base!!!
Some riders have had this happen while riding, potentially duplicating a dangerous blow-out. That is why I upgraded mine, and when I was able to pull the brass part out with my fingers, I realized how much better solid metal ones are.
You can change them yourself without removing the tires from the rims, by deflating the tires, and squeezing the tire with a BIG C-clamp and boards to protect the tire. I think there are "how-to" posts on the site, and if not, you can find videos on the Internet to see how to do it. (If I can do it, ANYONE can do it... LOL!).
Just be sure your rim is clean and smooth at the hole, to allow a good seal for the new valve-stem...
Hope this helps,
Leo in Texas
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Post by earlylight160 on May 6, 2014 14:49:12 GMT -5
I would steer clear of that shop. He is only interested in selling you what he has in stock. Just wants your money, pure and simple. 
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Post by walterwhite on May 6, 2014 15:08:31 GMT -5
I would steer clear of that shop. He is only interested in selling you what he has in stock. Just wants your money, pure and simple. u are right, i stay clear from him as much as possible, i even found a motorcycle shop that works on gy6's & is 10 mins from my house instead of going to him |
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Post by walterwhite on May 6, 2014 21:59:51 GMT -5
@chopperguy
i have changed my own valve before but i just wanted to put that guy on blast and wanted to make sure what he said was false
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Post by rockynv on May 7, 2014 4:34:39 GMT -5
Bad shop to deal with as the screw on are the safer of the two which is why they are used on high pressure truck tires. Just be mindfull that you don't want the ones that will put copper or brass in close proximity with your aluminum wheels or you could have a corrosive reaction as brass and aluminum will develop an electric charge and start a galvanic reaction when wet or damp.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 7, 2014 12:39:29 GMT -5
Bad shop to deal with as the screw on are the safer of the two which is why they are used on high pressure truck tires. Just be mindfull that you don't wand the ones that will put copper or brass in close proximity with your aluminum wheels or you could have a corrosive reaction as brass and aluminum will develop an electric charge and start a galvanic reaction when wet or damp.
Rockynv,
VERY good point! I used stainless-steel ones on my old scoot. The reason for the color-anodizing on the aluminum stems is not just for cosmetics. The anodized surface won't conduct electricity, so it prevents the galvanic reaction. But... If you scratch through the anodize while installing them, you will still make electric contact with the rim. Sometimes we forget that aluminum is NOT "rust-proof" but will definitely corrode under the right circumstances. Thanks for posting! Leo in Texas |
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Post by earlwb on May 8, 2014 13:03:27 GMT -5
Those rubber base tire valves are dangerous. The rubber tends to deteriorate rapidly and the brass valve stem tends to pop out. It does tend to happen when you are zipping along at a fair clip too. It makes for some exciting saves on the scooter when you have the tire suddenly go flat on you too. What happens, if you could observe the tire valve at speed, is that the valve stem flexes back and forth as the wheel rotates and up and down some too. That flexing causes the stem to come loose in the rubber and come out or pop out. That causes rapid air loss. I would suggest replacing the tire valves as soon as possible with better quality tire valves. You can see where the valve stem started to come out of the rubber base on this one here:  The metal valve stem really has nothing to help hold it in the rubber either.  I used a straight and a angled metal base valve stem to replace the rubber ones on my scooter. I would use some non-permanent threadlocker on the double nuts inside the wheel so they are less likely to come loose on you too.   |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 9, 2014 2:14:36 GMT -5
Earlwb,
GREAT POST! That's EXACTLY how my factory stems were. I could easily pull them out with my fingers!!! TERRIBLE to say the least!
As you said, NOTHING holds them together but quickly rotting rubber.
Thanks for the illustration,
Leo (in your home town) Texas!
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Post by walterwhite on May 9, 2014 11:14:24 GMT -5
i just bought the blue all metal valve stems now...better safe than sorry
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 9, 2014 12:51:19 GMT -5
i just bought the blue all metal valve stems now...better safe than sorry Leo |
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Post by Jarlaxle on May 9, 2014 15:06:19 GMT -5
Note: using  ° angled stems can make checking the tire pressure MUCH easier, especially if you have dual front rotors. |
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Post by earlwb on May 9, 2014 22:36:59 GMT -5
You are welcome. I think that the only rubber tire valves I might trust are the ones you see on the Honda Motorcyles and scooters. Those would likely hold up well. I also noticed on some large V twin Honda motorcycles that they had a brace on the angled tire valve to help prevent it from moving around at speed too. If I remember right the small hole sized straight rubber tire valve stems as used on some trailer wheels might be Ok too. The valve stems we normally see come in two hole sizes. But really, there are so many shoddy and defective parts coming out of China, that it isn't good anymore. A few years ago some importer or Chinese tire valve stems wound up with a disaster when the government forced a recall on all the defective tire valves they were selling to everyone. Several million tire valve stems too. reference www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2008/06/recall-of-faulty-tire-valve-stems-expanded/index.htmThis is that lousy rubber material that they use, it literally starts to fall apart as soon as you open the package. |
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Post by walterwhite on May 10, 2014 10:41:04 GMT -5
Ill tell you a story how i found out that china tire valves are no good. One day when i came out of work, i usually tie my front wheel with a metal chain link around a sign post but that day without me noticing, i tied the chain right next to the valve stem so when i was unlocking my scooter, i hit the stem with my chain and i heard air pressure release, it wasnt much force. the tire lost alittle air but i could drive home, i live 10 mins away from my job. Ever since that day i said, i gotta change these stems as soon as possible. Thank god this didnt happen to me while riding.  |
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Post by spandi on May 10, 2014 11:02:42 GMT -5
Ill tell you a story how i found out that china tire valves are no good. One day when i came out of work, i usually tie my front wheel with a metal chain link around a sign post but that day without me noticing, i tied the chain right next to the valve stem so when i was unlocking my scooter, i hit the stem with my chain and i heard air pressure release, it wasnt much force. the tire lost alittle air but i could drive home, i live 10 mins away from my job. Ever since that day i said, i gotta change these stems as soon as possible. Thank god this didnt happen to me while riding. Good. As I have read reports where people have been KILLED due to "catastrophic deflation" when those press fit valves gave way under speed. |
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° angled stems can make checking the tire pressure MUCH easier, especially if you have dual front rotors.