Evening All,

Anyone else had problems getting the rubber stems through the holes in the wheels. I have tried everything I (my friends actually) can think of but the stem usually stops 2 or so inches before completely seating. This cannot be good. I am thinking I am going to bite the bullet and invest in the brass stem tubes.

Thanks!

Patrick

Patrick, If your tubes are sound otherwise, you can fit brass stems from old tubes. I pick them up at swap meets whenever I see one with good threads and bridge washer. I just cut off the rubber stem flush with the tube, smooth the cut on my linishing belt, and put the replacement stem in.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

I got a razor blade n trimmed the stem down so it would fit. Not real elegant but it did the trick. There is a lot of extra rubber on those stems.

Thanks Allan and Dave. Allan, how are things down under?
Patrick

Here is another approach:

http://www.sheepisland.com/cars/tech/metal_stems/

I have had good luck with a little tire lube and pull the stem up or wiggle it up into the hole.

Thanks Mark. I have a good tube with a hole in the stem that I was going to cut up into bands. Tube is too good for that though so I'll try putting in a metal stem per your instructions.
Gary

Coker and others have been advised of the problem numerious times, and have chosen to ignore the problem. I have even supplied them with the original Schrader part number on the stem. They don't care!
The only real solution is to use original brass valve stems. The ones that are new, and vulcanized to the tubes are incorrect too.

Awesome thread, Thanks!

A bit of work with a Dremel or similar die grinder will make short work of that problem. I thought the vendors had addressed this problem some time ago, or are these older tubes being reused? Dave

I just use a single edge razor blade and trim them.
http://www.sheepisland.com/cars/tech/metal_stems/

Well that worked fine except it revealed another hole in the tube near the thickened area for the stem. Tube had been in a car for years and suddenly developed two leaks. No evidence of cause, nails etc., so kinda weird. Oh well.