Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

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Steampunk
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby Steampunk » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:43 am

Just a quick tip to check the valve-stem nut on your wheels.
One of my tyres was losing 1psi every 48hours. Took off the wheel to check the valve and it was fine.
Checked every millimeter of the tyre and seam; everything fine.
Checked the wheel for cracks; integrity fine.

Took a spanner to the nut where the valve mounts onto the wheel and it was very loose. I could have removed it with just my fingers. :|

After tightening it properly and checking the pressure every 12hours, for the last few days, BINGO! Leak stopped.

most wheels have the valve stem nuts on the inside of the wheel, thus you can't check it without removing the tyre, so remember to do it next tyre change.

Safe motoring 8)

Andrew
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Hellmun
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby Hellmun » Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:35 am

I recently was on the dummy grid of Oran Park and it turned out one of my tyres was on 20psi when I went to do my initial tyre pressures. I have 949's which have the dual valves and when I undid my second one the valve core hadn't been tightened and was leaking from when my new tyres were fitted. Luckily someone at the track had one of these and I borrowed a air pump off Ian which fixed me up. Very good thing to keep in your tool kit for the race track but couldn't hurt for the road. It was $5 from a 4WD store.
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Steampunk
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby Steampunk » Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:38 pm

What does it do/how do you use it?

What is it called?, so I can buy one :)
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AJ
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby AJ » Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:07 pm

it's a valve tool & it undoes/does up valve centres (the bit that lets air in but not out) if I had one I'd certainly keep it, but I wouldn't run out to BUY one :wink:
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Hellmun
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby Hellmun » Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:08 pm

It also has a tap and die on it so it can fix a thread. It triples as a tyre valve cap too if you have nowhere else to keep it.

project.r.racing
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby project.r.racing » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:31 pm

i replace mine every 2 set of tyres. for the cost of $1 each. it's $4 well spent. never had this problem.

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Okibi
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Slow air leak fixed (loose valve stem nut on wheel)

Postby Okibi » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:49 pm

One of the tyre places I went to recently used go cart valves, they're shorter than the standard valves and look nicer.. perhaps Wun can get some to save weight.
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.


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