MTFCA Forum

I want to buy some 30 x 3.5 inch tubes with brass stems. I called Universal and they have no idea when they'll have them back in stock. I also wanted to buy an additional Universal T Driver tire for a spare and they're out of stock also with no idea when they'll get them in. I called Coker and they said supposedly the 2nd week of August for the tubes.

Geez! Anybody know where I could at least find some brass-stemmed tubes?

Snyder's website says they have them. Doesn't mention being out of stock or anything of the sort.

I had to look all over and finally found some in stock at Chaffin's Garage in California.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:43 pm

You could try Blockley. I buy rubber stem tubes, cut off the stems, and install old metal stems picked up cheap at swap meets. Saves about $15 a tube. I've found Hartford tubes satisfactory, but after bad experience with Custom Classic I steer clear of that brand.

Steve. Where do you get your Hartford rubber stem tubes from. Do you know if that is the brand universal sells?

Both Coker and Universal sell Hartford.

One of our T Model Owners has two Hartford 30 x 3 1/2 Tubes fitted to his 1915 and claims the pressure drop
is minimal compared to other lighter / cheaper brands. Strange thing is, they look identical to some unbranded Tubes
except for the Hartford name painted on in white. From my investigations, they seem mid range in “feel” but much lighter
in weight than Blockley. The Michelin is even heavier again and claims they are good to cover three different Tyre sizes.
As a result, our choice moving forward are Blockley. A shame Michelin aren’t manufactured solely for 30 x 3 1/2!!
Alan in Western Australia

Oldav8tor wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:51 pm

Both Coker and Universal sell Hartford.

Thank you sir!

I currently have two Universal T Drivers and three rubber stem tubes on back order with Universal. I guess I'll keep running my current nearly bald tires for a little while longer.

Blockleys are available, and come with a brass stem, the same size as the larger Schraeder stems. Excellent quality and really thick.

Allan from down under.

Lucas Tires.

I checked Lucas, they were pricey compared to the other vendors...I'm currently in communication with Blockley to see what it would cost for a set shipped to me in Michigan. They say they have plenty in stock.

Tim let is know the price

OK, I dropped the hammer and ordered five 30 x 3.5 tubes from Blockley - this is the quote I received:
Description Price Qty Net Tax Postage Gross
30x3.5 Inner Tube £29.00 5 £145.00 £0.0 £52 £197.00

Works out to $289.88 USD by today's exchange rate, or $57.98 per tube. - they accept and prefer payment by paypal.

The tubes come with an inner and outer nut and Blockley says they do not use bridge washers. If they are as good as claimed I hopefully won't need new tubes for a long time.

Pricey? Yeah. Universal and Coker if they had them sell them for a little under $40. Lang's & Snyders $49.95, couldn't find one at Lucas. None of these prices include shipping costs.

I'm comfortable with my decision unless experience shows me otherwise. I'll report again after I receive them and get them installed.

This is the brass stem used on the Blockley tires

I wonder what the part of the Blockley stem that's inside the rubber looks like.

Here's a metal stem from a modern tube (I don't remember what brand) on the left and a T era Schrader #725 stem on the right. The main reason I buy rubber stem tubes and install old metal stems in them is the price difference of $15 a tube. But it doesn't hurt that the old stem has a wider base. Of course, that may be apples and oranges. The T era stems clamp the rubber and the modern ones are vulcanized into it, so maybe even with the smaller base they're just as good.

I intend to go with Blockleys for my next tyres, but I expect I'll keep the Hartford tubes with old Schrader stems in them. So far they have been OK.

FWIW I was talking with Lang's today on another matter and asked them whether they had brass-stemmed tubes available. Their answer was that they didn't have any tubes and expected not to get any until mid-August at the earliest. Mid-August also came up in my discussion with Coker so I think the problem is widespread.

I admire Steve's process in converting rubber stemmed tubes to brass stems with early style stems. If I had any, I'd try the same thing. I haven't been in the hobby long enough to have built up a stash of brass stems and they're getting scarce as others recognize their value like Steve has. I'll have four Hartfords left over when I install the Blockleys which I'll hold onto in the hopes that I can get my hands on some old-style stems and parts later on.

So Blockleys and their nice stems for $57.98 or Lang's/Snyders offerings for $49.95 PLUS freight, looks like a no brainer to me.

Allan from down under.

I've been talking with Lee at Blockleys about tube installation. He said their tubes are not intended to be used with a bridge washer. Apparently the nut with the serrated edge goes against the inside of the rim and the conventional nut on the outside. Does anyone see why that would be a problem with our demountable clincher rims?

Weight is the issue. Use originals.

What is the issue with weight? Those two nuts are not likely to weigh more than an original nut and steel bridge washer. Am I missing something?

Allan from down under.

FWIW - I put balance beads in my tubes to balance my tires. I'm not too worried about the imbalance caused by the brass stem and nuts. Many of you run heavy dust covers over the stems, imagine what they do to the balance

I do not see what weight would have to do with anything. I would be more concerned with the size of the nut and the hole in the rim. If the hole in your rim is too large, do you need to find a washer to place between the hole and the nut? A rubberized washer?

David, if that is a problem, it would probably be OK to leave the Blockley nut in place, fit a bridge washer and then run the second not up to hold it in place. Even the junk bridge wsahers without the ridge would work. The fitting would then be like normal.
Allan from down under.