rec.sport.unicycling archive · Public discussion

Tire Valve Extenders

John_childs · 2004-04-02T11:55:25+00:00

I was at my local NAPA auto parts store and saw some tire valve extenders on the display rack. Ah, that's just what I needed. The tire valve on my new Coker with an Airfoil rim gets all sucked up inside the rim when the tire is deflated. It makes it hard to reach the valve when inflating the tire. I have the same problem on my trials uni with a Monty rim. Quite inconvenient. The tire valve extenders solve that problem by extending the length of the valve. They screw on the valve and add an additional 3/4" to 1" of length. Perfect. I have also found the valve extenders to be very useful for filling up my air seats. The valve on my air seats is next to the rear bumper and there isn't a lot of room there to fit a tire pump on there. The small emergency pump that I carry with me on the trail is especially difficult to fit on the air seat valve. Put the valve extender on the air seat valve and the problem is solved. I now carry a valve extender in my little bag of tools that I take with me when I ride. Next time I get an air seat flat on the trail it will be easier to inflate. The valve extenders are about $5 for four at my local auto parts store. They fit Schrader valves (the normal valves on cars and unicycles). Bike shops carry valve extenders for Presta valves. They're the perfect thing for unicycles with deep section rims like the Coker Airfoil rim or the Monty trials rim. Also handy for making it easier to pump up an air seat. Handy little things. I give them a 5 out of 5 for being so useful. I'll attach a picture to show what they look like. If you have an Airfoil rim, Monty rim, or an air seat, pick up some valve extenders. You'll love them. +------------------------------------------------------- ---------+ | Attachment filename: tirevalveextender.jpg | |Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/183900| +------------------------------------------------------- ---------+ -- john_childs - Guinness Mojo john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com Gallery: '' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/john_childs) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ john_childs's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/449 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/29816

Started by John_childs · 2 April 2004 · Last activity 2 April 2004 · 15 posts · 1,148 views

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01 / Original postTire Valve ExtendersJohn_childs · 2 Apr 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–15Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #15Krashin'Kenny · 2 Apr 2004

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Original section: rec.sport.unicycling archive
Published: 2 April 2004
Last activity: 2 April 2004
Original author: John_childs
Posts: 15
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,148
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Inner tubes Rim depth and aero

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Original post
John_childs
Archived post

2 April 2004, 11:55 UTC #1

I was at my local NAPA auto parts store and saw some
tire valve extenders on the display rack. Ah, that's
just what I needed.
The tire valve on my new Coker with an Airfoil rim gets all
sucked up inside the rim when the tire is deflated. It makes
it hard to reach the valve when inflating the tire. I have
the same problem on my trials uni with a Monty rim. Quite
inconvenient. The tire valve extenders solve that problem by
extending the length of the valve. They screw on the valve
and add an additional 3/4" to 1" of length. Perfect.
I have also found the valve extenders to be very useful for
filling up my air seats. The valve on my air seats is next
to the rear bumper and there isn't a lot of room there to
fit a tire pump on there. The small emergency pump that I
carry with me on the trail is especially difficult to fit on
the air seat valve. Put the valve extender on the air seat
valve and the problem is solved. I now carry a valve
extender in my little bag of tools that I take with me when
I ride. Next time I get an air seat flat on the trail it
will be easier to inflate.
The valve extenders are about $5 for four at my local auto
parts store. They fit Schrader valves (the normal valves
on cars and unicycles). Bike shops carry valve extenders
for Presta valves. They're the perfect thing for unicycles
with deep section rims like the Coker Airfoil rim or the
Monty trials rim. Also handy for making it easier to pump
up an air seat.
Handy little things. I give them a 5 out of 5 for being so
useful. I'll attach a picture to show what they look like.
If you have an Airfoil rim, Monty rim, or an air seat, pick
up some valve extenders. You'll love them.
+-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
| Attachment filename: tirevalveextender.jpg |
|Download attachment:
unicyclist.com183900| +-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
--
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john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
Gallery: '' (unicyclist.comjohn childs)
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:55 UTC #2

That's an excellent idea for air saddles 🙂 I just changed
the design on my air saddle and built another one yesterday.
This one has the valve stem stickiing out through the bottom
of the seat base and it a difficult to get a pump on it.
Instead of using a "free-floating" air pillow, I fabricated
a foam base/cushion that the inner tube is nestled inside.
This gets rid of that "wiggly" feeling than some air saddles
exhibit, If you're interested in seeing my new design, I'll
post a few pictures of it after I get off work this
afternoon.
--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested
If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!
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Monociclos
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2 April 2004, 11:56 UTC #3

Any of you have instructions to buil a homemaid air saddle??
Either pillow and cover, measures, advices...
Thanks!!
Graphical answers would be higly appreciated!! such scale
draws and photos of the cover/pillow dismounted.
--
monociclos - Buying a 24' Muni!!!!
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:56 UTC #4

monociclos,
I made an inexpensive air saddle conversion just a few days ago. The
only problem with this one was that it was a viscount-type saddle
without a handle. I'll post some pictures (after I get home from work)
of the updated Miyata air saddle that I converted.
Here's the link to my first "quick fix":
 
Warning: mysql_connect(): Can't connect to local
MySQL server through socket
'/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (11) in
<c>/home/sites/site15/web/db_connect.php on line
3 
<d>Fatal error: Call to undefined function:
mysqlerror() in
<e>/home/sites/site15/web/db_connect.php on line
3 
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If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!
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U-Turn
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2 April 2004, 11:56 UTC #5

Nice, John. I have some on my latest bike parts order, but I
didn't know they were available at NAPA!
--
U-Turn - There has got to be a better way...
Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(unicyclist.comalbup39)
'Unatics Website' (newyorkunicycle.comnewyorkunicycle.com)
-- Dave Stockton
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John_childs
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #6

monociclos said:
*Any of you have instructions to buil a homemaid air
saddle??
Either pillow and cover, measures, advices...
Thanks!!
Graphical answers would be higly appreciated!! such scale
draws and photos of the cover/pillow dismounted. *
I have a gallery that shows how I make my air seats: 'Air
Seat Gallery' (unicyclist.comAirseat)
I don't have any patterns for the seat cover or air pillow.
The seat cover came from unicycle.com. The air pillow was
something I made myself by tracing around the foam from a
Miyata saddle.
--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo
john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
Gallery: '' (unicyclist.comjohn childs)
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John_childs
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #7

Krashin'Kenny said:
*That's an excellent idea for air saddles 🙂 I just
changed the design on my air saddle and built another one
yesterday. This one has the valve stem stickiing out
through the bottom of the seat base and it a difficult to
get a pump on it. Instead of using a "free-floating" air
pillow, I fabricated a foam base/cushion that the inner
tube is nestled inside. This gets rid of that "wiggly"
feeling than some air saddles exhibit, If you're
interested in seeing my new design, I'll post a few
pictures of it after I get off work this afternoon. *
Yes, post more pictures of your new setup. The more ideas we
get for different air saddle designs the better air saddles
can be. My air seat design isn't perfect and can use some
improvement, I just don't know what or how to improve it
now. I need ideas.
I don't leave the valve extender on the air seat valve. That
would make the valve more vulnerable to damage or
catastrophic failure due to the valve breaking off. I just
carry the valve extender with me in my tool bag so I'll have
it if I need it.
--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo
john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
Gallery: '' (unicyclist.comjohn childs)
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #8

I used a piece of 3" thick EVA foam and traced a pattern
using the original Miyata cushion as a pattern
+-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
| Attachment filename: cushion top.jpg |
|Download attachment:
unicyclist.com184036| +-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #9

Next, I removed 2" of the foam to make a "cavern" for the
inner tube to set in. This prevents the "wiggly" feeling
that is very evident in some air saddles
+-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
| Attachment filename: cushion bottom.jpg |
|Download attachment:
unicyclist.com184037| +-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
--
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #10

To finish the assembly, I drilled a hole in the base of the saddle and
installed my "homemade" (by a friend) cover using the original Miyata
cover retaining clips. The best part of this design is that the tube
doesn't move on the saddle base. Here's the finished product:
+-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
| Attachment filename: air miyata.jpg |
|Download attachment:
unicyclist.com184038| +-------------------------------------------------------
---------+
--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested
If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!
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U-Turn
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #11

What an incredible idea, Krashin. Is it easy to locate this
foam; what is the official name for it?
--
U-Turn - There has got to be a better way...
Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(unicyclist.comalbup39)
'Unatics Website' (newyorkunicycle.comnewyorkunicycle.com)
-- Dave Stockton
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #12

It's referred to as EVA foam. I found it at a foam
fabricating company here in San Antonio. Basically, it just
has to be a very dense but flexible product. Before I
hollowed this piece out, I could only compress it about 3/4
of an inch with my fingers. You may start looking in the
phone book under "foam products"
--
Krashin'Kenny - Crash Tested
If you ain't crashing, you ain't going fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #13

John- sorry 'bout hijacking your thread 😉
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John_childs
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #14

Krashin'Kenny said:
*John- sorry 'bout hijacking your thread 😉 *
No harm. I like the extra traffic. 🙂 You might want to copy
the pictures to your "KK Miyata saddle" thread so they don't
get lost or ignored.
--
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john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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Krashin'Kenny
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2 April 2004, 11:57 UTC #15

john_childs said:
* No harm. I like the extra traffic. 🙂 You might want to
copy the pictures to your "KK Miyata saddle" thread so
they don't get lost or ignored. *
Thanks john, I posted the pictures on my other thread ,
hopefully your thread can get back on track now
--
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