Like many of you, I have also been aggravated with leaking valve stems (rubber).
Buying new tubes is not the answer, they work for a while then they slowly start leaking and seem to increasingly get worse. Has anyone had any luck with finding any quality tubes, and if so, where at?
I had my LF went nearly flat yesterday while driving which looked fine when i left the house and was aired up the day before. It was really blowing lots of air out between the rubber and the metal stem. I wrapped some wire around and twisted it, aired it up to get home. The leak seemed to stop but this morning it has lost 10 Lbs.
Thanks
Roger
The new silicon rubber tubes with rubber stems don't hold up well. The only solution I know of is to cut off the rubber stems and install metal stems. Original ones can be found on eBay pretty cheap usually.
Royce, could you please show how to install a metal stem in a tube?
Stephen
Please see if this helps: http://www.sheepisland.com/cars/tech/metal_stems/
John
This seems like the best long term solution. The rubber comes unbonded from the stem and leaks, so you remove the offending part, simple when you think about it. Also, the venders have the tube with the metal stem in it.
That's great John!
Thanks,
Stephen
I see that the stems that Langs sells have to be vulcanized to the tube. So I guess there are no reproductions of the original stems?
Stephen
I haven't had any trouble with my tubes, they are 3 years old.
Nice link John! It shows just how to do it.
If yer tubes are leaking, the filaments aren't going to last long!
(Yes, there are many radio collectors on this forum).
Regards,
Garnet
Dang, there goes another #80 duo-diode!
Note: Fer the English English speaking folks, we are talking about valves.
T'
David D.
I've forgotten: what's the diff between an 80, and a 5Z3?
Isn't the 5Z3 a shorter tube? 5Y3 is supposed to be a direct replacement I think!
You're as bad off as me, David. The 5Z3 is same envelope as the 80. The 5Y3 is smaller.
When I went back to College, the class right after mine was an electronics course. I put a tube diagram on the board before they came in. NO ONE knew what it was, including the instructor. This was about 1989.
PS Hmm, the online chart I found was apparently wrong! Or I misread it (very likely!)
I took the easy road and wrapped three turns of 17 gauge alumnimum wire around the valve stems, twisted tight and covered them up with heat shrink.
After spending a lot of time searching the archives, this seemed to be what most people were doing. As far as I can tell now, they are holding air well. A few days will tell for sure.
When I replace the tires, I plan to install metal valve stems which seems to be the better more permanent fix.
Thanks to this great organization for the help.
How long should the stem be when used with demountable split rims?
Thanks,
Stephen
Ford apparently used more than one supplier. Schrader made a model #777 that has a stem measuring 4". There is also an identical stem made by Dill with P/N VS 74 that is also 4", and was perhaps also supplied as OEM equipment at Ford.