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presta valve screws out

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Cycling Equipment
Published
12 September 2004
Last activity
13 September 2004
Original author
Paul Nevai
Posts
16
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  1. Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one of my
    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap from
    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that on
    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I tried
    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am not
    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

  2. "Paul Nevai" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one of


    my

    Quoted message said:

    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap


    from

    Quoted message said:

    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that


    on

    Quoted message said:

    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I


    tried

    Quoted message said:

    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am


    not

    Quoted message said:

    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

    I don't have any answers for you, but I share your frustration. I don't
    know why some are made this way and some aren't. I suspect Jobst will chime
    in and clarify this. Anyway, bonehead me left on a long ride a few weeks
    back and had only one CO2 cartridge in my seat bag. I got a flat. I
    changed it out. My wheels have deepish, semi-aero rims and I have to use a
    valve extender to pump them up. So I've used my last CO2 cartridge to fill
    the repaired tire and I go to remove the valve extender. The core of the
    new tube unscrews with the valve extender and there I am ... stranded. I
    live in a very rural area. I had a very long walk to get to where I had a
    cell phone signal to be able to call home. I spent a lot of that time
    wondering what possible reason there could be for the core of a valve to
    unscrew like that. Never came up with one.

    Bob C.

  3. "Paul Nevai" wrote ...

    Quoted message said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one of


    my

    Quoted message said:

    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap


    from

    Quoted message said:

    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that


    on

    Quoted message said:

    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    I discovered the same thing about a spare tube I was installing the other
    day. The tube had an extra long valve stem to fit an aero or semi-aero rim.
    I suspect that the removable valve lets the manufacturer install valves in
    stems of varying lengths, according to consumer demand.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Mine seems to be about the same quality as the valves on the other tubes I
    buy.

    Quoted message said:


    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I


    tried

    Quoted message said:

    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am


    not

    Quoted message said:

    sure it worked.

    I suspect that this would distort the valve or strip the threads, making the
    whole thing useless. I got mine as tight as I could with my fingers, left it
    at that, and made a note not to buy that brand of tube again.
    --
    mark

  4. I believe the reason is, if you bend the valve, you can replace it. As for
    tubulars, you can unscrew the valve, install an extension, and then screw
    the valve into the extension piece. It makes for a far far better seal then
    using the valve extenders that screw on over the valve fitting. Its a great
    feature.

    David

  5. On 12 Sep 2004 13:44:43 GMT, [email hidden] (Paul

    Nevai) said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one of my
    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap from
    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that on
    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I tried
    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am not
    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

    Dear Paul,

    Sealant tubes use this design to allow pumping goo into the
    tube.

    If you're screwing a plastic cap onto a Presta valve so hard
    that it unscrews a metal fitting, you may be using
    considerablly more force than necessary.

    I'm not recommending a torque wrench for valve caps, but
    using two fingers and a lighter grip may help.

    Carl Fogel

  6. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On 12 Sep 2004 13:44:43 GMT, [email hidden] (Paul

    Nevai) said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one


    of my

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that


    on

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I


    tried

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am


    not

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

    Dear Paul,

    Sealant tubes use this design to allow pumping goo into the
    tube.

    If you're screwing a plastic cap onto a Presta valve so hard
    that it unscrews a metal fitting, you may be using
    considerablly more force than necessary.

    I'm not recommending a torque wrench for valve caps, but
    using two fingers and a lighter grip may help.

    Carl Fogel

    Carl,

    If you've ever used a valve extender, you know that you sometimes have to
    screw them on pretty tightly to avoid having more of the air you pump in
    exit via the threads instead of going into the tube. It can be a real trick
    to screw them on tight enough for inflation, but loose enough that they can
    be removed without coring the valve.

    FYI,
    Bob C.

  7. psycholist said:


    <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On 12 Sep 2004 13:44:43 GMT, [email hidden] (Paul

    Nevai) said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one


    of my

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap


    from

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that


    on

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I


    tried

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am


    not

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

    Dear Paul,

    Sealant tubes use this design to allow pumping goo into the
    tube.

    If you're screwing a plastic cap onto a Presta valve so hard
    that it unscrews a metal fitting, you may be using
    considerablly more force than necessary.

    I'm not recommending a torque wrench for valve caps, but
    using two fingers and a lighter grip may help.

    Carl Fogel

    Carl,

    If you've ever used a valve extender, you know that you sometimes have to
    screw them on pretty tightly to avoid having more of the air you pump in
    exit via the threads instead of going into the tube. It can be a real trick
    to screw them on tight enough for inflation, but loose enough that they can
    be removed without coring the valve.

    FYI,
    Bob C.

    Dear Bob,

    True, but the original post specifically complains about
    plastic valve caps, not extenders.

    As for valve extenders, I found them so annoying that I
    switched to long valve stems after fooling around with
    teflon tape to seal the threads.

    Another problem is that the extender is just a hollow shell
    that fits down over the real Presta valve, whose lock-nut
    must be left unscrewed, leaving nothing but air-pressure to
    seal the valve.

    In addition to the obvious problem of losing air-pressure
    without a lock-nut, the extender makes it hard to break a
    stuck valve free.

    This can cause two problems. First, you can't pump the tube
    any further if the valve sticks on a mostly-filled tube.
    Second, you can't let the air out to collapse a slow-leak
    flat to remove the tire.

    So you have to remove and replace the extender, an awkward
    job, or else carry something to poke down into it to free
    the hidden Presta valve.

    In general, most small adaptors, extenders, and adjustable
    devices fail to work as well as the real things whose
    specific purpose they are meant to imitate.

    Carl Fogel

  8. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    .....
    As for valve extenders, I found them so annoying that I
    switched to long valve stems after fooling around with
    teflon tape to seal the threads.

    Another problem is that the extender is just a hollow shell
    that fits down over the real Presta valve, whose lock-nut
    must be left unscrewed, leaving nothing but air-pressure to
    seal the valve.

    In addition to the obvious problem of losing air-pressure
    without a lock-nut, the extender makes it hard to break a
    stuck valve free.

    This can cause two problems. First, you can't pump the tube
    any further if the valve sticks on a mostly-filled tube.
    Second, you can't let the air out to collapse a slow-leak
    flat to remove the tire.

    So you have to remove and replace the extender, an awkward
    job, or else carry something to poke down into it to free
    the hidden Presta valve.

    In general, most small adaptors, extenders, and adjustable
    devices fail to work as well as the real things whose
    specific purpose they are meant to imitate.

    Carl Fogel

    If you use an extender such as:

    http://www.worldclasscycles.com/valve_extension_tube.htm

    you'll find that they have a valve control that allows you to open and close
    the valve. The metal extenders do need an O-ring or Teflon tape for a good
    seal on the valve, but plastic versions of this type of extender will seal
    as is.

    Chuck Davis

  9. On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 13:44:10 -0400, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    If you've ever used a valve extender, you know that you sometimes have to
    screw them on pretty tightly to avoid having more of the air you pump in
    exit via the threads instead of going into the tube. It can be a real trick
    to screw them on tight enough for inflation, but loose enough that they can
    be removed without coring the valve.

    If you put some teflon tape on the valve stem, the extenders work
    fine. You can also put a piece of teflon into your patch kit.

  10. [email hidden] (Paul Nevai) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Another day, another surprise. I found out that the presta valve on one of my
    tubes screws out. In fact, it screws out and the tube loses pressure
    appr. one out of ten times when I screw of the little plastic valve cap from
    it. I never knew that those cores can be screwed out and it appears that on
    all but one of my tubes it can't be screwed out, and are in fact not even
    separate pieces but are part of the valve stem.

    Let me try to specify. It's not the "core" what screws out but the thing
    which holds the core and which itself is screwed into the valve stem.

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I tried
    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am not
    sure it worked.

    Thanks, Paul

    Hi Paul, Were these tubes that have "slime" (Flat sealer) already
    applies to them? I know with these type tubes they generally have to
    have a means to be able to insert the sealer compound, and therefore,
    the Presta Valve screws apart to do this. perhaps to prevent them
    from coming apart ever again, apply some Loctite thread locking
    compound on the threads, and let it dry for a good 42 hours before
    refilling with air, and using. Mark

  11. Chuck Davis said:


    <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    .....
    As for valve extenders, I found them so annoying that I
    switched to long valve stems after fooling around with
    teflon tape to seal the threads.

    Another problem is that the extender is just a hollow shell
    that fits down over the real Presta valve, whose lock-nut
    must be left unscrewed, leaving nothing but air-pressure to
    seal the valve.

    In addition to the obvious problem of losing air-pressure
    without a lock-nut, the extender makes it hard to break a
    stuck valve free.

    This can cause two problems. First, you can't pump the tube
    any further if the valve sticks on a mostly-filled tube.
    Second, you can't let the air out to collapse a slow-leak
    flat to remove the tire.

    So you have to remove and replace the extender, an awkward
    job, or else carry something to poke down into it to free
    the hidden Presta valve.

    In general, most small adaptors, extenders, and adjustable
    devices fail to work as well as the real things whose
    specific purpose they are meant to imitate.

    Carl Fogel

    If you use an extender such as:

    http://www.worldclasscycles.com/valve_extension_tube.htm

    you'll find that they have a valve control that allows you to open and close
    the valve. The metal extenders do need an O-ring or Teflon tape for a good
    seal on the valve, but plastic versions of this type of extender will seal
    as is.

    Chuck Davis

    Dear Chuck,

    Assuming that they work, those valve extenders add a nice
    feature, but at $26 plus shipping for a pair of 50 mm
    extenders, I'd be looking for tubulars with long stems if I
    used tubulars.

    If you know where to find the easier-sealing plastic version
    of these valve-extenders with valve-controls, I imagine that
    some tubular enthusiasts reading this thread would be
    pleased to see the link.

    Carl Fogel

  12. Tufo tubulars don't come with long valves. They have the removal valve nut,
    and you remove that, put their extender in there via screwing in using the
    valve threads on the inside of the tube valve and screw the presta valve
    insert into the top of the extension. works marvelously - no teflon tape
    required.

    david

  13. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:59:30 -0400, "Chuck Davis"
    <[email hidden]> wrote:
    ........

    Quoted message said:

    If you use an extender such as:

    http://www.worldclasscycles.com/valve_extension_tube.htm

    you'll find that they have a valve control that allows you to open and
    close
    the valve. The metal extenders do need an O-ring or Teflon tape for a
    good
    seal on the valve, but plastic versions of this type of extender will seal
    as is.

    Chuck Davis

    Dear Chuck,

    Assuming that they work, those valve extenders add a nice
    feature, but at $26 plus shipping for a pair of 50 mm
    extenders, I'd be looking for tubulars with long stems if I
    used tubulars.

    If you know where to find the easier-sealing plastic version
    of these valve-extenders with valve-controls, I imagine that
    some tubular enthusiasts reading this thread would be
    pleased to see the link.

    Carl Fogel

    Carl,

    You can find the plastic version on one of my rear wheels. The only link
    pointing to it is part of my chain. 8) I bought the extender in 1997 when
    I bought a Spinergy wheel. I looked for plastic extenders again lately and
    was only able to find metal extenders (with the core I mentioned.) Yes, they
    do work and they work quite well. I found them at Nashbar for $9 each, but
    they're not listed there anymore.

    I ran across this interesting tip at
    http://www.bookcase.com/faq/bicycles-faq/part3:

    "Another tip.For those with deep dish rims requiring valve extenders, place
    a small amount of loctite on the tube valve stem threads and then screw the
    valve extender on. This will prevent any leaking at that junction once the
    tire is glued on."

    As I think about it, it seems that a little Loctite on each valve would be
    enough to get a seal for each tire or tube that you have. If you want to
    save money, you could get ONE metal extender with the core and a plastic one
    without. Use the plastic one to inflate the tire and use the metal one to
    close the valve. In that case, you won't need any seal for the metal
    extender.

    Chuck Davis

  14. [email hidden] (Mark) aszonygya:
    :Hi Paul, Were these tubes that have "slime" (Flat sealer) already
    :applies to them? I know with these type tubes they generally have to
    :have a means to be able to insert the sealer compound, and therefore,
    :the Presta Valve screws apart to do this. perhaps to prevent them
    :from coming apart ever again, apply some Loctite thread locking
    :compound on the threads, and let it dry for a good 42 hours before
    :refilling with air, and using. Mark

    Nope. Plain vanilla 700 mm 19-25 mm tubes. Loctite? Great idea. I happen to
    have a small tube of it. Best regards, Paul

  15. (Paul Nevai) said:

    So when this thingie can be screwed out, is this a "lower" or "higher"
    quality indicator.

    It's a difference, and some people like and/or need them, but unless
    you have a use for the feature, it's not an advantage.

    Quoted message said:

    Also, how can I screw it in so it would never ever screw out again, I tried
    to wrap a rubber piece around it and then use a wise grip plier but I am not
    sure it worked.

    I'd just put a drop of Loctite on it.
    --
    Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
    Some gardening required to reply via email.
    Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

  16. Chuck Davis said:


    <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:59:30 -0400, "Chuck Davis"
    <[email hidden]> wrote:
    ........

    Quoted message said:

    If you use an extender such as:

    http://www.worldclasscycles.com/valve_extension_tube.htm

    you'll find that they have a valve control that allows you to open and
    close
    the valve. The metal extenders do need an O-ring or Teflon tape for a
    good
    seal on the valve, but plastic versions of this type of extender will seal
    as is.

    Chuck Davis

    Dear Chuck,

    Assuming that they work, those valve extenders add a nice
    feature, but at $26 plus shipping for a pair of 50 mm
    extenders, I'd be looking for tubulars with long stems if I
    used tubulars.

    If you know where to find the easier-sealing plastic version
    of these valve-extenders with valve-controls, I imagine that
    some tubular enthusiasts reading this thread would be
    pleased to see the link.

    Carl Fogel

    Carl,

    You can find the plastic version on one of my rear wheels. The only link
    pointing to it is part of my chain. 8) I bought the extender in 1997 when
    I bought a Spinergy wheel. I looked for plastic extenders again lately and
    was only able to find metal extenders (with the core I mentioned.) Yes, they
    do work and they work quite well. I found them at Nashbar for $9 each, but
    they're not listed there anymore.

    I ran across this interesting tip at
    http://www.bookcase.com/faq/bicycles-faq/part3:

    "Another tip.For those with deep dish rims requiring valve extenders, place
    a small amount of loctite on the tube valve stem threads and then screw the
    valve extender on. This will prevent any leaking at that junction once the
    tire is glued on."

    As I think about it, it seems that a little Loctite on each valve would be
    enough to get a seal for each tire or tube that you have. If you want to
    save money, you could get ONE metal extender with the core and a plastic one
    without. Use the plastic one to inflate the tire and use the metal one to
    close the valve. In that case, you won't need any seal for the metal
    extender.

    Chuck Davis

    Dear Chuck,

    This is probably not the best time to mention that I have
    for years harvested nice metal Schrader valve caps with the
    built-in valve-core wrench from a friend's motorcycle, often
    right in front of him when we're checking motorcycle tire
    pressures with the machines on the trailer. (The caps come
    off quit easily and look much better on my tubes than on
    his.)

    Let's hope that no one admires your 1997 plastic extenders
    enough to follow my evil example.

    Carl Fogel

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