Bridge Washers
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Topic author - Posts: 3804
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Bridge Washers
The current bridge washer offerings are not made correctly. They got the thickness and shape correct, but didn't do the stamping correctly. Why? There is a round stamping around the stem hole to help the bridge washer seat on the tube. Is there anyone anywhere, that is capable of doing this?
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Re: Bridge Washers
Simple..., use a correct piece of round stock, a correct "catch" at the bottom and do it in a hydraulic press!
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Re: Bridge Washers
Then watch them collect dust on a shelf!
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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Re: Bridge Washers
There are plenty good used originals available for much less than a good reproduction would cost even if it was available. If you buy four you have a lifetime supply so why should anyone make them?
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Re: Bridge Washers
My take.Original Smith wrote: ↑Sat Oct 04, 2025 6:57 pmThe current bridge washer offerings are not made correctly. They got the thickness and shape correct, but didn't do the stamping correctly. Why? There is a round stamping around the stem hole to help the bridge washer seat on the tube. Is there anyone anywhere, that is capable of doing this?
Originally the groves in the bridge washer clamped the tube stem together to hold the stem & be leak proof. Very effective.
Today the metal stems are vulcanized to piece of rubber & vulcanized or glued to the tube. The bridge washers no longer has to function to seal. No need for the circular groves to clamp the tube to the stem.
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Re: Bridge Washers
What Adam said. There are good originals still around. It should be pretty easy to find a few without spending a fortune. A WTB ad or two should do it.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
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Re: Bridge Washers
The Model A bridge washers available from the vendors have the proper stamping, but the wrong outer shape. They can be cut down and de-burred to match the shape of Model T bridge washers. Why a supplier can't do the last step to get the proper outer shape is a mystery. 

Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
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Re: Bridge Washers
You will need to match the hole to the size of the valve stems. The smaller holes to suit the smaller stems on T tubes are more scarce.
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
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Topic author - Posts: 3804
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Re: Bridge Washers
My point is, if you are going to reproduce part, do it correctly!
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Re: Bridge Washers
Larry,
It is not that they are reproducing the bridge washers wrong, it is that those bridge washers are made for modern truck tire inner tubes, not Model A's or Model T's. They may be similar, but they are not the same, and as people are finding, they do not fit the original clamp on style metal stems or tires.
It is not that they are reproducing the bridge washers wrong, it is that those bridge washers are made for modern truck tire inner tubes, not Model A's or Model T's. They may be similar, but they are not the same, and as people are finding, they do not fit the original clamp on style metal stems or tires.