presta valve core failures

I've been having problems with the presta valve cores failing. Usually
the bike is just sitting home when it happens. Sometimes the tire goes
flat sitting over night, sometimes it goes right after pumping up the
tire. A couple times the rubber at the base of the stem tears, but
usually it is the valve itself. I've checked by putting a little air in
and holding it under water and watch the bubbles.

I used to use Continental tubes, which have a removable core. All of
them have eventually failed, usually lasting about 1 year. My last one
failed a couple days ago.

I got 2 Trek/Bontrager tubes (with removable cores). The first I tried
was bad out of the box, the 2nd was ok.

I have 2 Salsa tubes, which don't have removable cores, they have been
ok so far. one has been on the bike since about early spring, the other
is still in the box.

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Thanks.

Mark Heiple wrote:
I've been having problems with the presta valve cores failing. Usually
the bike is just sitting home when it happens. Sometimes the tire goes
flat sitting over night, sometimes it goes right after pumping up the
tire. A couple times the rubber at the base of the stem tears, but
usually it is the valve itself. I've checked by putting a little air in
and holding it under water and watch the bubbles.

I used to use Continental tubes, which have a removable core. All of
them have eventually failed, usually lasting about 1 year. My last one
failed a couple days ago.

I got 2 Trek/Bontrager tubes (with removable cores). The first I tried
was bad out of the box, the 2nd was ok.

I have 2 Salsa tubes, which don't have removable cores, they have been
ok so far. one has been on the bike since about early spring, the other
is still in the box.

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Thanks.


Wow! I've never had a valve fail and I don't buy new tubes, I just
patch and reuse the old ones other people leave on the side of the road
-- pet peeve of mine. Some of my tubes are 5 years old now.

You don't oil the valve cores do you?

-Nate

"Llatikcuf" wrote:

Mark Heiple wrote:

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Wow! I've never had a valve fail and I don't buy new tubes, I just
patch and reuse the old ones other people leave on the side of the road
-- pet peeve of mine. Some of my tubes are 5 years old now.

You don't oil the valve cores do you?

That's likely, I think... he's gotta be doing SOMETHING different than
I am. I've gone through hundreds of tubes over the years, and can't
remember more than one or two valve cores failing (if that...).

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

"Mark Heiple" wrote in message
...
I've been having problems with the presta valve cores failing. Usually
the bike is just sitting home when it happens. Sometimes the tire goes
flat sitting over night, sometimes it goes right after pumping up the
tire. A couple times the rubber at the base of the stem tears, but
usually it is the valve itself. I've checked by putting a little air in
and holding it under water and watch the bubbles.

I used to use Continental tubes, which have a removable core. All of
them have eventually failed, usually lasting about 1 year. My last one
failed a couple days ago.

I got 2 Trek/Bontrager tubes (with removable cores). The first I tried
was bad out of the box, the 2nd was ok.

I have 2 Salsa tubes, which don't have removable cores, they have been
ok so far. one has been on the bike since about early spring, the other
is still in the box.

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Thanks.


What do you see when you remove the cores? Is the little plastic seat
broken? I've had tubes with removable cores leak at the valve, but it has
usually been due to the core being a bit loose - easily fixed by tightening
it slightly. Occasionally, I've had the valve seat crack and then the core
is junk.

Cal

Now we are getting down to it. Why is it that the most complicated part of
bike maintained is blowing up the damn tires. I bought a cheap floor pump,
hassles, bought an expensive floor pump, hassles. I mean I have this 70
dollar pump and I have to hold the coupling on with one hand and pump with
the other, otherwise bend that little thingy. Put it in too far, don't put
it in enough. Jesus, I have a wife who will give me a commentary on that.
What I do in the privacy of my own garage, how do you keep a valve stem
happy? Ricardo
"Mark Hickey" wrote in message
...
"Llatikcuf" wrote:

Mark Heiple wrote:

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Wow! I've never had a valve fail and I don't buy new tubes, I just
patch and reuse the old ones other people leave on the side of the road
-- pet peeve of mine. Some of my tubes are 5 years old now.

You don't oil the valve cores do you?

That's likely, I think... he's gotta be doing SOMETHING different than
I am. I've gone through hundreds of tubes over the years, and can't
remember more than one or two valve cores failing (if that...).

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

Mark Heiple wrote:

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

I use the Conti removable core tubes myself w/o a single failure of the
core. I get a lot of flats, tho. What is occuring or failing here? Are
you tearing the valve from the tube body or what?

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 04:40:14 GMT, "Ricardo"
wrote:

Now we are getting down to it. Why is it that the most complicated part of
bike maintained is blowing up the damn tires. I bought a cheap floor pump,
hassles, bought an expensive floor pump, hassles. I mean I have this 70
dollar pump and I have to hold the coupling on with one hand and pump with
the other, otherwise bend that little thingy. Put it in too far, don't put
it in enough. Jesus, I have a wife who will give me a commentary on that.
What I do in the privacy of my own garage, how do you keep a valve stem
happy? Ricardo

I don't understand, do you and the OP have problems with all things
mechanical?

I check and when necessary, which is every few days, pump up my tires.
It takes, maybe two minutes.

I use a Topeak digital gauge to accurately test pressure.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...tId=3037307 2


Although the nut that comes with threaded presta valve stems isn't
necessary and shouldn't be tightened down, I do use them. Before
putting the pump or gauge on, I thread it down to the rim. When done,
I snug it against the valve cap. By having it up against the rim, I
can push straight down, without fear of doing any damage, by pushing
the valve inward.

I use a Topeak Joe Blow Sport Pump, it has two heads, push on, turn
lever 90 degrees, and pump.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...tId=3915883 4

The o-ring in the lever, will wear out, on the two sided pump head.
Although I found it easy to replace, I upgraded the head to Topeak's
Smarthead. Put it on, pull up lever and pump. Very simple.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4363

The Smarthead hose kit, should work on most brands of pump.

I have yet to have a valve stem fail. I have over 8000 miles on my
current bike, which gets the tires checked regularly.

Maintaining your tires is really very simple.


Life is Good!
Jeff

In article ,
Paul Cassel wrote:

Mark Heiple wrote:

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

I use the Conti removable core tubes myself w/o a single failure of the
core. I get a lot of flats, tho. What is occuring or failing here? Are
you tearing the valve from the tube body or what?

Most of the failures have been with the valve core. I had a couple
stems tear at the base, but I started putting an extra piece of Velox
over the stem, and I haven't had that problem since.

When the core fails, it seems like the core isn't making an air tight
seal, maybe it unscrews a little. I've tried tightening it, but it has
never helped. Once it starts leaking, it won't hold air any more. I
will pump the tire up to 120 psi, it will hold for a few minutes, but
then it all leaks out again.

In article ,
"CEarly" wrote:

"Mark Heiple" wrote in message
...
I've been having problems with the presta valve cores failing. Usually
the bike is just sitting home when it happens. Sometimes the tire goes
flat sitting over night, sometimes it goes right after pumping up the
tire. A couple times the rubber at the base of the stem tears, but
usually it is the valve itself. I've checked by putting a little air in
and holding it under water and watch the bubbles.

I used to use Continental tubes, which have a removable core. All of
them have eventually failed, usually lasting about 1 year. My last one
failed a couple days ago.

I got 2 Trek/Bontrager tubes (with removable cores). The first I tried
was bad out of the box, the 2nd was ok.

I have 2 Salsa tubes, which don't have removable cores, they have been
ok so far. one has been on the bike since about early spring, the other
is still in the box.

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Thanks.


What do you see when you remove the cores? Is the little plastic seat
broken? I've had tubes with removable cores leak at the valve, but it has
usually been due to the core being a bit loose - easily fixed by tightening
it slightly. Occasionally, I've had the valve seat crack and then the core
is junk.

Cal

I haven't seen anything that looked obviously broken. I've tried
tightening the cores, but they seem to never hold air again. I'll pump
up the tire, it will hold for a few minutes, then go flat again.

In article .com,
"Llatikcuf" wrote:

Mark Heiple wrote:
I've been having problems with the presta valve cores failing. Usually
the bike is just sitting home when it happens. Sometimes the tire goes
flat sitting over night, sometimes it goes right after pumping up the
tire. A couple times the rubber at the base of the stem tears, but
usually it is the valve itself. I've checked by putting a little air in
and holding it under water and watch the bubbles.

I used to use Continental tubes, which have a removable core. All of
them have eventually failed, usually lasting about 1 year. My last one
failed a couple days ago.

I got 2 Trek/Bontrager tubes (with removable cores). The first I tried
was bad out of the box, the 2nd was ok.

I have 2 Salsa tubes, which don't have removable cores, they have been
ok so far. one has been on the bike since about early spring, the other
is still in the box.

So far my score for flats is:

Running over something pointy: 0
Spokes puncturing from the inside: 1
Valve stem tearing: 2 or 3
Valve cores failing: too many to count

Any suggestions for a reliable tube?

Thanks.


Wow! I've never had a valve fail and I don't buy new tubes, I just
patch and reuse the old ones other people leave on the side of the road
-- pet peeve of mine. Some of my tubes are 5 years old now.

You don't oil the valve cores do you?

-Nate

Nope, no oil.