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I finally got my tires and tubes and flaps. I had an old rim tool but it was way too big for these rims. So I made a tool that works so far. (See pic) I have mounted 2 tires. I am a little concerned about the valve stems. They are fatter than the originals so they only stick out a short amount. I can get air in them so I think they will be ok. I was told recently I should have reamed out the holes in the splits. It’s a bit late for that now. I had a few issues with the mounting. I dusted the tires and flaps with tire talc. The flaps are a challenge to get in but I believe they are installed properly.
1. The splits rack a bit during the process. I assumed this would happen. Once they are locked again and mounted to the centers they seem ok. Is this normal?
2. It’s hard to keep the valve stems straight as I expand the rim. Im using a screw jack and block to expand and lock the rim. That may also contribute to some of the racking I’m seeing. To keep the valve stem straight I have to hammer on the lock in the direction the rim must move to keep the valve straight. I just don't want to damage anything.
3. One of my rims is slightly different. It is the same size and shape but there is no lever to lock the rim out like the other 3. also the hole for the valve stems is larger. It seems to be exactly the same as the others beside those 2 points.
Should I be concerned about the racking or the valve stem seating like this? Although it was not a fun job it really wasn't that bad to mount these.
Valve stem is short but can take air.
My home made rim compressor
First tire mounted
Thanks
Rich
@stovebolt-6 Ole, I always think that the valve stem, properly seated into its hole, is what locates the tube for a "relaxed" fit. Did you try any lubricant on the base of the stem to help get it in place? I think WD-40 or Vaseline might be helpful. If you deflate the tube and push the stem in a little, you might be able squirt some lube in there then pull it back in place. If you have one of those chain style tools for pulling the stem, it might be helpful.
Mike
Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat
Hi Mike, you may have addressed the wrong "stovebolt" 🙂, but yes, I wouldn't mount a tire if the valve stem wasn't fully seated in it's place with a valve stem "fishing tool", or what ever you call it, attached.
Usually I see the opposite problem that Rich has.
Most agricultural rims use a TR15 stem and automotive stems don't fill and center in the hole properly.
PS
For me it's standard procedure to inflate to seat the beads, then nearly fully deflate and inflate again to get the "relaxed fit" you speak of.
Ole S Olson
Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
1946 DR 3/4 ton stake
1139 old site posts
Hello Stovebolt 6,
If you are mounting four or five new tires and tubes and flaps, you may want to start all over and measure why the valve stems are so short or that the rims valve stem holes are restricting the stem from fully seating through flap hole and rim hole. If you find out that the valve stems are just short, there are screw on extenders to make it easier to service air when finding air chucks that might be to bulky to go onto the short stems.
Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat
@harry-truppner Harry. I can get air in and out of the tire with the air tool I have. I think my issue is the holes in the rims are smaller than the valve stem diameter. The stems seem long enough but i think I’m losing about .5 inches where the stem comes through the hole in the split. I don't think its a lot as one of my rims had a larger hole and that stem only protrudes about 1/4 to 3/8 further that the others with the smaller hole. I should have hogged put the holes but this is a first time for me mounting splits. The stems are straight. I’m just concerned they didn’t seat fully in the rim. I did use flaps which were quite heavy duty.
Hello Stovebolt 6,
I hear what you say concerning stems not fully seating due to differences in diameters: stems, rim holes and maybe flap holes. Having dealt with tube tires that go low on pressure and driving unaware, the stems and tube tend to rotate within the tire and the stems either cock sideways, get cut or disappear inside the rim, (even with stems that ARE fully seated if low on pressure.) I'm imagining a rim having a short shaft that tube stems would slide thru to provide more stem support, not just relying on the rims hole thickness.
@harry-truppner Harry, I may be being dense but I don't understand your last sentence in your post.
(I'm imagining a rim having a short shaft that tube stems would slide thru to provide more stem support, not just relying on the rims hole thickness.)
Can you explain what you mean, please?
Hello Stovebolt 6,
What I'm picturing/imagining in my mind is a welded on short collar to the outside of the rim stem hole to make the rim hole thicker giving added support to the base area of the rubber tube stem. Other styles of valve stems like threaded metal use nuts to lock stem to rim, and tubeless valve stems fit like grommets around rim holes. So why shouldn't rubber tube stems be accorded some support also, and not just wallow around a thin (and possibly sharp) metal rim hole if low on tire pressure? Hope this makes the idea come across more clearly.