Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Need new tires soon and thinking about switching to metal bolt in valve stems, what do you think ?
What kind of valve stems ?
- Thread starter Cycledude
- Start date
Bolted in ones can and will come loose. There iis no reason not to use the standard short rubber stems.
Don in Lodi
Well-Known Member
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About the only real reason to go metal is so you can get angled stems... so that when you're changing pressures up and down daily while riding the TAT it's less of a hassle. ::26::
RhodeTrip
Member
I have a Doran TPMS that I had on last bike, it requires metal stems to avoid failure of the valve stem. If this is your reason for changing, Doran actually supplies them with the unit.
Jim
Jim
hojo in sc
Member
I use a tire sensor and requires a metal stem, never a problem and would never use a rubber stem with tire sensor. If your not going to use a tire sensor there really isn't a need to use metal unless you want the ease of a 90 degree stem.
patrickg450
Well-Known Member
I have metal right angled stems, get ones with a rubber bushing vice hard mounted.
R
RonH
Guest
Anybody that doesn't know about cycledude, he has a GL1800 with about 450,000 miles on it, more or less. Those Patchboy stems used on the Goldwing could be fitted?
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Currently 465,000 ! kinda surprised my identity has been revealed LOLRonH said:
I have used metal bolt in 90 degree stems trouble free for about 300,000 miles and highly prefer them.
But for the Tenere I'm considering 45 degree stems, not sure what I'm going to use yet.
once a good metal stem is installed properly it's a pretty much forget about it for the life of the bike, yes I changed them in the wing once but after seeing that the used seals looked like new I ain't going to bother changing them again unless I'm still riding the thing in another twenty years.
Do a search from he Tire / Wheel / Disc sub-forum with the terms
valve stems
You should get 13 threads, including this one. In those are the collective experience.
valve stems
You should get 13 threads, including this one. In those are the collective experience.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the tip ! I did that and got pretty much the same thing as in this thread, the few folks that are actually using metal stems never say exactly what stem size they are using, I will probably buy some 45 degree stems on eBay and hope they fit. If they do fit I will let everyone know exactly which ones they are. I hate checking the air with the goofy Yamaha setup.Checkswrecks said:
The valve stem hole is standard .453". I sell MC tires for a living and my opinion is to stay with the bullet proof rubber stems and spend money on a good air pressure gauge with a flexible rubber hose. The S10 valve stems are easy to get too. A lot of people use the bolt in stems with no trouble and a lot more end up with air leaks. If you go with a bolt in stem, make sure it is large enough for the hole and the nut is on the outside. JMHO.Cycledude said:
On the road you can run into a lot of problems trying to put air in your tires because of the different kinds of air chucks you will find at different stations. Here's a hose I made up when I had a Goldwing because it was so hard to get to the rear valve stem. The red hose is about 30" long, attaches to the valve stem and makes it easy to put air in.
On the S10, under the seat I carry a small 90* adapter and a short hose that screws on the valve stem for easy access. The hose is available from about any Harley dealer for about $10. Works great.
In the shop I use a Motion Pro digital gauge with a rubber hose that will reach into about any small area.
On the S10, under the seat I carry a small 90* adapter and a short hose that screws on the valve stem for easy access. The hose is available from about any Harley dealer for about $10. Works great.
In the shop I use a Motion Pro digital gauge with a rubber hose that will reach into about any small area.
Attachments
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Changed tires and valve stems today, here are the 45 degree metal stems I used, so far they are working great and should last the life of the bike.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141545376006?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141545376006?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I have the metal ones but mine are straight. We have had a few instances of the rubber ones getting cut by rocks and such when riding off road.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Took my rims to local dealer to have a set of Mitas Dakar’s mounted last week, when I got home the rear tire was flat so I pumped it up, well a couple hours later it was flat again so then I notice it’s leaking around the metal valve stem, took it Back to dealer the next day and they installed a new rubber stem for free, I suspect the tire changer had somehow caught and damaged the metal stem, anyway I’m glad it leaked at home and before it was mounted on the bike.
richarddacat
Well-Known Member
I've got a set coming based on your above thread.
Did you inspect the stem for cracks or do you think they loosened it somehow?
R
RonH
Guest
I like to mount my own tires. Keeps these problems from happening. When you trust someone else to do anything in this world, you are always going to have problems.
Wife has a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, we took it in for tires. I told them specifically "DON''T CHANGE THE STEMS". Of course the morons replaced the $20 Jeep stems with $1.50 Chinese crap, and now we have to worry of stem failure til next tire change, and for eternity there after.
Wife has a 2014 Jeep Wrangler, we took it in for tires. I told them specifically "DON''T CHANGE THE STEMS". Of course the morons replaced the $20 Jeep stems with $1.50 Chinese crap, and now we have to worry of stem failure til next tire change, and for eternity there after.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Well a bolt in metal valve stem sticks inside the rim quite a ways so I kinda suspect it probably got caught by the tire bead and the powerful automatic tire changer, I know the second time I pumped up the flat tire I noticed that if I wiggled the stem it would leak. No I didn’t inspect the rim but I now have about 1800 miles on the new rubber valve stem without any issues.
I have been using metal stems in my Goldwing for a few hundred thousand miles and never experienced any issues but I always change those tires myself.
Xclimation
Well-Known Member
I went around to about 4 shops today 1 auto shop and could not find one of those 90degree adapters. I got the extension hose from the Harley dealer. Where did you get that 90degree adapter? Thank You in advance!