Valve stem caps

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Valve stem caps
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 12:00 am:

Does anyone know what sort of valve stem caps (not valve stem covers) would have been used on an early T ? My '12 Touring has 3 very nice looking brass caps, but I don't have a fourth nor do I know if the three that I have are original type. No sense looking for a 4th to complete the set if they aren't the correct type.

The suppliers typically offer only the later style nickel plated caps that have the little tool on one end for removing the valve stem core. But since they are nickel plated, I'm guessing that they aren't appropriate for a brass era car.

Thanks in advance,

Dick Fischer


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Brownsburg,In. on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 12:03 am:

Post a picture of yours . Perhaps some one will have a match.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 12:09 am:

I was afraid somebody would say that. Never posted a picture here before. But I'll take a pic tomorrow and try to post it.

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 07:07 am:

The suppliers offer the correct appearing early original all brass covers. Originals are not hard to find either, I may have some extras.

Look here:
http://www.modeltford.com/item/DC1.aspx


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 09:25 am:

"...valve stem caps (not valve stem covers)... "


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 11:24 am:

I believe what you are looking for is called a DUST COVER. If you have the correct ones, the one you will need is knurled. There are two different lengths of those, so you need to find whatever the other three are. I have an article coming out in the Model T Times next issue on the subject.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 06:37 pm:

Jack was right -- I should have posted a picture in the first place. Problem is, I can't figure out how to attach the image. I see where the button is to upload attachment, but don't see the browse button that I'm told to select.

My computer is a MAC with Safari browser. Could that be the problem ?

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 06:43 pm:

OK, here's another attempt at posting pictures of the valve stem cap.

Dickvalve stem capvlve stem cap


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 06:47 pm:

If all else fails, that should be an easy lathe project except for the text/markings around the band.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 08:12 pm:

".....that should be an easy lathe project......" (quote)

Yes, I'm prepared to do that. But before going to the trouble to make another one I'd like to be sure it's the correct part. I've never even seen documentation of what the original part might look like.

Anybody have something similar (or different) on their brass era car?

Thanks again,

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 01:11 am:

Dick-
The 1912 would have had a valve stem cover like Royce showed. I have some that the base "nut" screws onto the threaded metal stem of the inner tube. This nut has threads on the top of it. The stem cover threads onto the threads on the base nut. Kind of like this:



Do your inner tubes have metal or rubber stems?
The valve caps are cool, but not original.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 01:31 am:

This is the type I have, used on later cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 06:59 am:

Dick,

That is a standard post - WWII aircraft valve cap. I have a hundred of them in a box in my garage. They are solid brass, typically painted orange. We throw one in the trash every time we overhaul an aircraft wheel. You can buy those at any aircraft supply for about $1.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MNToys on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 11:02 am:

http://www.modeltford.com/item/DC-RSBR.aspx

These look just like the originals but screw on rubber stemmed tubes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William L Vanderburg on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 12:59 pm:

I am amazed how many posts referred to the actual dust covers and NOT the cap that goes on the end of the stem itself......


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 02:51 pm:

Well, it looks like Royce put his finger on it. I checked my Aircraft Spruce catalog and found them, new manufacture.

So, the question remains: What would an original valve stem cap look like ? Surely there was a cap installed. There are threads for it on the end of the valve stem.

I, too, was a little surprised at how many people mistook my original question to be about the dust covers. Guess I just wasn't clear enough in my original post.

Dick
ACS catalog


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 03:59 pm:

Model A's had the type you mentioned in paragraph 2 of your original post. I'm sorry I don't know what an early T had, but if you find it is a brass cap similar to that, I'm sure you could get the nickel off of those.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, June 02, 2012 - 11:05 am:

Here is the correct dust cover for a brass T.valve stems


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Saturday, June 02, 2012 - 07:07 pm:

Dick

Hal, my GA neighbor, has it right, the more correct valve cap would be the Schrader cap with the little tool on top. That domed head cap is a modern.

You can find original Schrader valve caps at swap meets, or if you want, modern version that look like are at your local bike shop.


1913 National Auto Supply Co, Newark, NJ catalog , page 71.



Original Schrader cap with tool end in center, modern tool caps around it.

The tool cap is most handy too, as you need to remove and deflate your T tire tubes every year and remove the Schrader valve completely, clean it with WD-40 to remove moisture related crud for the air compressor air, as a tube valve can easily stick and allow the tube to defate and that can cause real trouble with 65psi clincher tires that have to have the air up to stay on :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Saturday, June 02, 2012 - 10:41 pm:

Thanks, Dan.

That 1913 catalog really sorta cinches it. My only concern with removing the Schrader valve every year is that you might lose the original 1913 air. Does anyone have a work-around for this regrettable loss of originality ? (smile)

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 09:51 am:

Ron Patterson informed me once, that I had Ford Script air in my tires.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 10:34 am:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 11:48 am:

My gosh, Jay. You must have at least one each of every style cap ever made ! But do you have 4 alike of any style ?

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 12:00 pm:

Dick, Actually those are old photos. I've added another 100 or so since then. Here's what the lot looks like today.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy Driscoll on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 02:28 pm:

It appears most, if not all, early valve caps were machined thick brass versus thin formed metal. Did the thinner caps come about the same time as rubber stems and when was that?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Davidson, Southern Nevada on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 02:35 pm:

Royce They are still used today, just painted yellow. Every aircraft I know big or small uses them. Struts too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 05:52 pm:

Scott,

I know, I throw away several every week at work. Once I had a big box of them why save more?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stephen D Heatherly on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 10:41 pm:

I always though the threads at the end of the metal stems was to attach the hose of a tire pump.

Stephen


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 12:00 am:

Why is it when I see your collection Jay, I think of Steve Jelf?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 10:12 am:

The Model A boys have valve stems, caps, and dust covers down to a science. They have done complete articles on them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 11:15 am:

Larry: I like that "Model A boys".


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince M on Monday, June 04, 2012 - 03:33 pm:

I have 8 Red Crown Caps. Anyone know when they came out?

Vince


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