Hi,
9 years ago, when I mounted the new Firestones to my freshly restored '21 tourer, the tubes I used, unfortunately, had rubber valve stems and over the years have de-laminated from the inner metal valve tube. Going from memory and not fancying the job, I've been putting off replacing them, even though I've had 5 new metal stemmed tubes and the correct hardware for quite a while.
WELL, tomorrow's the big day. I think I've got my head around it and as I said earlier, the unpleasantness of the task is fairly fresh in my memory, hence the delay.
The Firestones will be harder and unforgiving and my back is older, but I must have done something right back then, because I've never had a flat.
So, even though I haven't posted on here for a LONG while, please wish me luck.....I feel like I'm gonna need it.
Cheers,
Rob
Gidday Rob,
I wondered where you went! I mounted my first set of tyres a year or so ago, T-Drivers, and did the 4th one in about 10 mins, the 1st, 2 hrs ! Baby powder, warm day and plenty of stretching first...
Anyway, enough rabbiting on,
GOOD LUCK MATE!
Regards,
Bede
And easier with flaps too; (you don't have to worry about pinching the tube.)
Gavin
Thanks for answering Gents.
Gavin, you're preaching to the converted, as I do use flaps.
Bede, I lost track of you when you were in Europe. How many years ago is that?
Last January I visited NZ for the 1st time. I experienced the coldest mid summers day of my life in Dunedin. 21st January and I swear it was sleeting.
Married life treating you well?
Again, thanks for answering.
Cheers,
Rob
Rob, you will find the tyres a lot easier to remove and replace now they have been on the rims, it takes a lot of the initial tension of the rubber out, often they become so stretched and soft to work with you can take them of and put them on with your hands something Royce was always willing to show us here on the forum.
If you want to put it off longer, you might be able to buy yourself a little time and save your tube. About 16 years ago, in 1995, my valve did that and I took the tire off, took it down to a tire repair place and they repaired the tube while it was still inside the tire. They removed the valve, spread some hot vulcanizing tube repair cement on the insert and the inside of the valve tube and hot vulcanized the valve insert to the valve sleeve. The tube still holds air fine. This was before the internet, but now, both hot vulkanizing and cold vulcanizing glue can be purchased online, if you prefer to do it yourself. I'll bet solvent based contact cement spread on both surfaces, inserted while still wet, taped up tight and allowed to cure out, would work too. Jim Patrick
Once I put a small hose clamp on such a leaking rubber valve stem - it held air fine until that tire was worn out.
Rob,
I struggled for days when replacing a tube in a tire that had been on a T that had been stored fro 45 years.
Heating the tire in the sun did the trick for me.
Fred
Rob
If all you have is leakage around the valve core please try this first.
Wrap the valve stem with a piece of safety wire. 3 of my tires had the brass stems come loose from the rubber tubes. I wrapped them with safety wire, twisted tight, bent the excess safety wire (1/2") parallel to the stem, and it cut off the leakage permanently.
If your fussy about looks, put a piece of heatshrink tubing over the stem and safety wire and shrink w/ heatgun or hair dryer.
There is a post about this on the forum somewhere.
Cheers
schuh
I have one of those elephantitus valve stems on a demountable rim that is now my spare. I had to let the air out to remove it from the car.
I'll have to try some of those tricks until I get a new tube.. or tire!
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the tips.
The stems are beyond repair. They have not only delaminated but have perished to the 'not worth it' stage.
Strangely, all of them are still holding air, due to the fact that I have been driving around with small banjo clamps on each wheel.
BUT, I just don't have peace of mind while driving anymore. And as I mentioned earlier, I have already invested in new tubes and hardware.....might just as well 'bite the bullet' and go for it. Starting in a couple of hours from now.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Rob
Rob,
Good luck!
Well, I spent the whole day changing out inner tubes. My back aches and my hands are sore...but I was surprised, because it went pretty smoothly.
I did all 4 road wheels and have the spare to do tomorrow. I inflated them all to 65psi and will check tomorrow morning to see if I've pinched any. If I have then I'll be toiling over more than just the spare tomorrow. Once the task is finished then I'm gonna need to spend some time detailing the rims again. They lost a lot of paint.
I've included a pic of the offending delaminated and perished valve stems, along with some cobwebs. Can you tell I drive her a lot?
That's why I always get brass stemmed tubes.
I just changed out a tube on my '17 Torpedo today. The Wards Riverside tire was just falling apart.
Dad bought the set of 5 tires and tubes and mounted them in 1952. Three are still OK. No flaps were used. The tube still looks OK but I hesitate to re - use a 60 year old tube. Too bad because they have the original style 5/16" metal stems.
Of course Ford never used any flaps either, in any Model T. I can't see that they make any difference except to make your wallet lighter. They sure would not have helped these tires last any longer.
Royce,
I would use a 60 year old tube if it looks good and shows no sign of cracking. It is probably better made from better materials than anything you can buy today. If left out of a tire, they will crack in a very short time. As long as they are inside a tire, and aired up, they could make it to 100 years.
About the destructing rubber valve stems. I often tightly wrap electrical tape around the stems from top to bottom. The tape keeps air and UV light from the stem so they last much (much) longer. By going from top to bottom, the loose end of the tape can be left under the rim. That way it is less likely to come loose, and it helps protect the stem from the rim.
As to tying some wire around stems to stop a leak. My old '65 Ford had the two piece split rims, therefore, tubes. I went fifteen years, 300K miles, and about five new tires on one tube after I put wire around a leaking stem. They used to make tubes better. I did go to a good (?) tire shop to buy a new tube. I took one look at what they wanted to sell me and said " I will keep using the one I had".
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Rob,
they do call Dunedin the Edinburgh of the South !
Emma and I got back to NZ in 2008, married life is wonderful and we are expecting our first little one in September. Question is, which one will be RUNNING first... the first little one or the first T ?
I've only just dragged all my T bits out of storage over the last year and a half and am slowly trying to get all enthusiastic again... but am probably spending too much time on here than out in the shed with wire brush in hand !
Regards,
Bede