Turbocharger Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I tried to remove the valve stem from my spare wheel today because it's leaking around the base (tubeless). I know how they go in, nice and easy for the Kwikfit crew with their threaded pull-tool that screws on to the valve cap threads, but I've only ever seen them cut the old one off. I don't have a replacement stem, so I thought I'd try to 'help' it back through with the aid of a couple of screwdrivers. Since all four screwdrivers punctured the rubber, I'll be buying a new stem anyway. Can someone ease my mind and tell me it's not possible to remove it without damaging it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxtherotti Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 you can if your ultra carefull but as they cost pence its not worth the effort to try to remove them to re use (they perish the same as tyres so will give grief further along the line) just cut them off on inside bead and bin them rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon White Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I've only ever cut them off. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 Ta - they may only be pence, but when you're out in the countryside and it's a Sunday evening, that doesn't really matter... At least I know that I went down the hard route and lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 You can work them through to the outside with screwdrivers and lube but it isn't really worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diff Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I agree, very difficult to do and you need some old blunt screwdrivers with no sharp edges. Incidently, I notice from your pic that you have a 'tube type' wheel without an innertube. You shouldn't run these wheels 'tubeless' even if you are using tubeless tyres. If you have a blowout related accident, there may be some very awkward questions! Regards, Diff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Ta - it's only the spare, so I'm hppy with it as a 'get home' option. As an aside, I got a new stem today but couldn't pull it through to seat it. I decided to let the air pressure push it home as it seated the tyre bead, but I was struggling to make it seal enough to build any pressure. Then I fiddled with the air line to get a better purchase and fired the stem into the tyre carcass at Mach 1. I've given it to the professionals to fix now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 For removal I use a pair of mole grips clamped onto the stem and sort of pull and twist. they normally pop out fairly easily. I'm not sure I'd want to reuse it afterwards but they do normally come out in one piece so if you were really stuck... For fitting I do something similar but more gently as it doesn't normally take much to pop them in As with all tyre related operations and some others I am told, lubrication is your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 I just use one of the four-way valve tools to pull them through, its a bit hard on the fingers but can do it with a bit of lube, fairy liquid is as good as any if you don't have proper bead paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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