MTFCA Forum

My new inner tubes have a valve stem that is larger than the hole in the rim?
Should I drill it larger or just use them as is.
I thing that the old tubes had the same problem but were installed that way.

Never mind. The advice that works for me may not work for you.

I've mentioned that problem to all the major tire companies that sell tubes. The bottom line is they don't care. The tubes we used to buy from Wards and Firestone back in the '60s all worked, and they had real Schrader valve stems vulcanized to them too. I even saved an old stem with the Schrader number on it for reference. A friend of mine files down the stem until it fits. I cut off the stems and put original ones on.

The valve stem that Steve used in his illustrations is incorrect. It works of course, but it's not what Ford used. I posted a photo of the correct rim nut on the forum last week. There is no sense in using the incorrect valve stem, when there are plenty of originals around. The late rim nuts are easy to find, but the early ones are difficult to find. The correct valve stem for a T is a Schrader 777, or 888. Of course, they use a different bridge washer too.

I've done the whittle the rubber thing, I've done the forcefit thing, I even tried an oversized motorcycle tube - in EVERY case, the rubber stem failed, bubbling around the felloe hole and then popping, usually somewhere where changing that tube wasn't very fun at all!

I think part of the problem is they're just not made to hold 60-70 PSI... although semi tubes (which are getting rare) seemed to handle 110 PSI fine. So it takes me to the other part of the problem - they're not very well made, and whoever is making these things are slapping them out in small batches as cheap as possible...

I eventually decided that it was worth the hassle to go with the correct(ish) metal stems, and other than a slow leak on one (probably from my pinching the tube, darnit!) haven't had a problem.

My only concern is the age of the tubes we get - how long have they been sitting on the shelf, in a warehouse, etc? I got one batch (quite a few years back now) that were obviously old - so much so when I got them out to use them they got used holding down trash instead. I still worry - if I plunk down $$ for a tube, will they be fresh, or will they be just shy of age cracking?

Several years ago I ran into this problem with new tubes. I called Lucas and was told I was the only one who complained and that I must be doing something wrong. I did like what was suggested and went for the metal valve and got the problem solved.. However the issue of aged tubes is another matter. Several years ago, maybe 20-25, I bought a 1924 T that had been in a barn forever. The deal was I was to clean out the barn with all the T parts on the shelves. I found two sealed boxes of tubes that had been on the shelf for years with paper wrapped around them. There were at least twelve. I am still using them as they hold air on two Ts that I have and probably on two Ts I have sold. I have not had the same result with "NEW" tubes. Dick C.

Larry is correct. I'm using the Schrader 824 and 825 stems. Why? Because that's what the covers I'm using are made to fit. The covers were given to me as a freebee, so would I use the oversize stems just to fit them? Damn right. And why are the new covers made to fit the 824 and 825 stems? Because that's the size used on the new metal stem tubes. And why is that size used on the tubes? You got me there. I have no clue.

The photo that Steve posted above looks correct to me, but is impossible to tell if it has the correct rim nut without removing the dust cover. Great photo Steve of an early correct looking dust cover and rim nut.