Loosen your valve nuts if you haven't in a while...

[Michael]

Occasionally my bike's tube valve nuts get stuck on my Velocity Synergy and Twin Holla' rims and cannot be removed by hand.

Don't know why this happens, but they cannot be turned without pliers/wrench to get them off. Once the initial turn is made, they spin free on the stem - no problem,

Somehow they are getting stuck onto the rim surface. Once they had green patina under them. Today it didn't.

This has never happened to me on non-Velocity rims.

I'd hate to get caught out on the road with a flat and get stuck walking home because the valve nut is stuck onto the rim and cannot be turned by hand. I do have a pliers on my leatherman that I keep in my repair kit, so I guess that would work. Thought I'd alert y'all here in case you didn't.

So if you haven't had a flat in a while, check your stem nuts today. Give them a whirl and free them up.

[Eric Norris]

First thing I do when I take a new tube out of the box is throw away the valve nut. It has no purpose other than to hold the valve in place for the first few pump strokes, after which air pressure in the tube takes over. I use my finger to hold the valve for those first few seconds.

Or, I suppose you could put the nut on, pump up the tire, and then take it off.

Either way, once there’s air in the tube, the nut just sits there … or, as you note, sometimes lodges there. 

--Eric Norris
Email: campyo...@me.com
Web: www.campyonly.com
Blog: http://campyonlyguy.blogspot.com
Twitter: @CampyOnlyGuy
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/campyonlyguy

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[Michael Hechmer]

I don't concur with those who toss out the valve nut.  It helps to keep the tube in place, especially at the low pressure most on this list prefer.  The nuts don't need to be tight because they aren't holding anything down or keeping something from rattling, but just stopping a bit of side movement that can overflex the stem.  I spin my down and when the tube inflates the nut moves away from the rim. Just spin it back down again and let it be; it will do it's job.

Michael

[naw...@comcast.net]

Throw it away gets my vote.

Dave Nawrocki

Ft. Collins, CO

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From: "Eric Norris" <campyo...@me.com>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2013 11:09:31 PM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Loosen your valve nuts if you haven't in a while...

[Tony McG]

Rule #60

// Ditch the washer-nut and valve-stem cap.

You are not, under any circumstances, to employ the use of the washer-nut and valve-stem cap that come with your inner-tubes or tubulars. They are only supplied to meet shipping regulations. They are useless when it comes to tubes and tires.

Copied from:  http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

The nuts on my valve stems are usually loose, and I just spin them down finger-tight when I check my tire pressure before a ride.  I rarely follow "The Rules of the Road".

[Addison Wilhite]

On occasion I've used them as spacers/washers on a bike I'm putting a bottle cage on.  

I'm curious, I think the Specialized airlock tubes I use on my cross bike don't have a fully threaded valve stem but the regular ones do.  I'm wondering why that is?  Maybe there is some really logical reason I'm not thinking of right now?

Regards,

Addison Wilhite, M.A. 

Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology 

“Blazing the Trail to College and Career Success”

Educator: Professional Portfolio

Blogger: Reno Rambler 

Bicycle Advocate: Regional Transportation Commission, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee

--

[Clayton]

Throw them away. They are not needed. Schrader tubes don't have lock nuts. If the tube is low and you are having difficulty getting your pump head on because the tube "retreats" into the rim, hold it in place with your thumb on the outside of the tire. As a bike mechanic, I have seen tubes torn off the valve stem because the tires have rotated on the rim, taking the tube with them. Without the nut, the stem will "tilt" on rotation, giving you a visual clue to fix the problem. This is another reason to talc your tires. Less pull on the tube.

[Ron Mc]

I drank the latex koolaid and buy up all the Challenge and Vittoria large-sized latex tubes I can find/afford on sale.  Enough to keep spares on every bike, which gives me a stash when I need one.  They have slick valve stems, so no nuts to fret over - probably an ADHD thing, but I hate the feel of a threaded stem.  They do patch well, with a piece of a dead tube and a touch of tubie mastic.  

[Roy Drinkwater]

On Velocity and other peaked rims I use a rubber grommet between the rim and the presta nut. To me, peaked rims have the nessitity to use the nut. On regular rims, they're not needed. The nuts have many uses elsewhere, spacers for bolt and nuts, racks and lights. Also you can put several together on your buddy's valve and tighten down tightly. ;<)

Roy H. Drinkwater
"I've never did that..."
Lititz, PA

[Philip Williamson]

Interesting. I started using the nuts a couple years ago when I had two tubes on my mountain bike develop unpatchable leaks at the stem from tilting over. 

Maybe I'll start talcing instead (never done it in 28 years of riding a bike). 

Philip

www.biketinker.com

[Michael Hechmer]

.Skip the talc.  I did it for years and finally concluded it offered no real benefit.  Using the lock nut, lightly, will prevent the tube from shifting and cracking at the base of the stem.   I have a garden cart with 26" schraeder tubes which have repeatedly cracked at the stem.  I have cracked bike tubes without a nut but never one with a nut.

Michael

[Clayton]

Tubeless with these!

Claytonious Q
http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/11/17/found-speed-evolution-lightweight-alloy-tubeless-valve-stems/

[Daniel D.]

I don't use them. didn't see the need and save the time unscrewing them on and off every time I mess with a tube.  Haven't had a problem with leaking stems and don't use talc.

[hsmitham]

I'm in agreement with Michael H. never had a stem break or crack using a lock nut, have though had the nut get stuck probably because I tightened it too much! User error. Now I lightly as Michael says thread it...never ever used talc never needed to. Besides thought that talc was used for tubulars?

I think a more important thing to check is that the presta valve core is secure in the stem. I recently had a a specialized brand presta tube valve core fly out to parts unknown when I released the pump head from the valve! I surmised that the core had not been secure in the valve body...I'm sure some already know this but cores are not interchangeable, found that out the hard way in the outback..

~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipedemusings.blogspot.com/

On Monday, December 23, 2013 10:00:24 PM UTC-8, Michael wrote:

[Ron Mc]

very good point - be careful about how tight you tighten the cap unless you're sure of the stem.  make sure you have some of these around http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/tufo-valve-tool