Leaking tube: whatever shall I do?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Leaking tube: whatever shall I do?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 12:47 pm:


When the new tire wouldn't hold pressure I was afraid I had pinched a hole in the tube during mounting. But it turns out the leak is from the base of the valve stem. What's the best method of repair? I think the last time I repaired a tube it was on a bike about fifty years ago, and that wasn't at the stem.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 12:58 pm:

I'd like to see a picture of it out of the water. Is it leaking through a hole in the brass stem or where the stem goes down into the tube? If it were leaking through a hole in the brass, I would repair it with Aluminum Devcon putty pressed into the threads and deep into the hole then spread over the hole on the inside of the stem with a toothpick, then recut the threads with the proper die. If it is leaking where the stem enters the rubber tube, I would try a thick application of "The Right Stuff" pressed down into the joint where they meet and builtup into a mound around the joint. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 01:07 pm:

Steve -- Have you considered getting air with larger atoms so they don't fit thru the hole?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 01:12 pm:

Isn't there supposed to be a nut & washer on the stem in order to clamp the tube rubber between it and the bottom stem flange? In other words, I don't think the stems are vulcanized into the tubes but instead, fastened in place with the nut & washer. As pictured, I don't believe it's supposed to hold air.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 01:15 pm:

It's leaking out between the stem and the rubber. At current temperatures, I think the atoms are about as big as they're going to get.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 01:18 pm:

Yes, there's a bridge washer and a nut to hold it on. Maybe I didn't have it tight enough.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 02:05 pm:

Steve: Is that the tube the was left after the tire blow out in the wheat field?

Bill D

oh how is the roof job doing. I have not looked on GOOGLE to see if the blue tarp is still on the roof!!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 02:37 pm:

Looks like Jerry wins the prize, whatever it is. I tightened down on the nut for the bridge washer and got no more bubbles. Problem solved.

Bill, here's the tube from the blowout.


The one I'm dealing with today is one of the Michelin tubes from France that I got from Ed Emerson. I wondered if the 760 x 90 European tubes would work in the American sized tires. So far so good. The ones that are on the car seem to be doing OK.

It's too danged hot to get up on that roof. I'll deal with that after things cool down a little.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Noel D. Chicoine, MD, Pierre, SD on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 03:01 pm:

Steve,OT, many years ago my brother-in-law and I embarked on a life raft race down the Missouri river from Yankton to Sioux City. There was significant money in the purse so we thought we'd be smart. We inflated the raft with Helium to lighten the load. We had to keep our gear in it before we took off as it would lift off empty!
The helium atoms are smaller than the nitrogen/oxygen atoms of atmospheric air, and we continued to lose pressure in the raft throughout the day. We had to take turns pumping up the raft to stay rigid and continue paddling. We still did well and in the money for a few hundred, but learned about rubber and helium! BTW, we would come up behind a raft we were trying to pass and ask the occupants for the time. As they broke cadence with their paddling to look at their watches, we'd pass them and thank them for the time!
Noel


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, August 02, 2012 - 12:49 am:

Steve,
I could patch that tube. Of course, the patches may cost more than a new tube would.

Noel D C,
I am still laughing! Thank you for a great tale!

Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Thursday, August 02, 2012 - 12:22 pm:

Noel - What a trick! Was that your idea?

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, August 02, 2012 - 10:49 pm:

Wayne,
Yep, a box of hot vulcanizing patches would do the job! (oh, and a few matchbooks to light them)
:-)
T'
David D.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, August 03, 2012 - 11:46 am:

It sure doesn't look like there is a bridge washer and nut in that photo! If there was, it wouldn't be leaking. After cutting off the old rubber stem, just sand off the remaining old part of the stem so it is smooth, and insert the brass stem into the tube. Use the small diameter valve stems, not the larger incorrect stems.


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