Check your metal valve stems!

[Nogrey]

Check your valve stems! Let me explain. I had pulled out of a campsite and moved my GD 351M to another site about a mile away. Got out of the truck and heard air escaping from a tire on the trailer. I thought I had a puncture and watched as the tire quickly deflated. I removed the tire and inspected it and could find no puncture. I began re-inflating it and pouring water over it to find the hole. I found the leak at the valve stem. The nut had come loose. I tightened the nut and re-inflated the tire and it was fine. 2019 Grand Design 351M, Westlake ST 235/80R16 G rated tires (which have performed flawlessly over the thousands of miles I've put on them). TST 507 TPMS with flow through sensors designed for metal valve stems (which I hadn't turned on because I was moving such a short distance IDIOT!). Argggh. Those shortcuts will cost you! Anyway, thanks if you've read this far and please check those valve stems. I suppose the sensors could have contributed to the issue. 3 out of the 4 tires had loose valve stem nuts. I place the blame solely on myself. I never thought to check them. I always check lug torque, tire pressure and tire condition before each trip and during travel. Just never thought about the valve stems.

 

[DECelt]

Check your valve stems! Let me explain. I had pulled out of a campsite and moved my GD 351M to another site about a mile away. Got out of the truck and heard air escaping from a tire on the trailer. I thought I had a puncture and watched as the tire quickly deflated. I removed the tire and inspected it and could find no puncture. I began re-inflating it and pouring water over it to find the hole. I found the leak at the valve stem. The nut had come loose. I tightened the nut and re-inflated the tire and it was fine. 2019 Grand Design 351M, Westlake ST 235/80R16 G rated tires (which have performed flawlessly over the thousands of miles I've put on them). TST 507 TPMS with flow through sensors designed for metal valve stems (which I hadn't turned on because I was moving such a short distance IDIOT!). Argggh. Those shortcuts will cost you! Anyway, thanks if you've read this far and please check those valve stems. I suppose the sensors could have contributed to the issue. 3 out of the 4 tires had loose valve stem nuts. I place the blame solely on myself. I never thought to check them. I always check lug torque, tire pressure and tire condition before each trip and during travel. Just never thought about the valve stems.View attachment 36608View attachment 36603View attachment 36606View attachment 36605View attachment 36607

Somewhere a long time ago I actually saw a torque spec for these...but you are right, they loosen and leak. A good solution is to add a second nut as a lock nut. I've always suspected this as a cause for many tire failures.


Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[Calbar]

Check your valve stems! Let me explain. I had pulled out of a campsite and moved my GD 351M to another site about a mile away. Got out of the truck and heard air escaping from a tire on the trailer. I thought I had a puncture and watched as the tire quickly deflated. I removed the tire and inspected it and could find no puncture. I began re-inflating it and pouring water over it to find the hole. I found the leak at the valve stem. The nut had come loose. I tightened the nut and re-inflated the tire and it was fine. 2019 Grand Design 351M, Westlake ST 235/80R16 G rated tires (which have performed flawlessly over the thousands of miles I've put on them). TST 507 TPMS with flow through sensors designed for metal valve stems (which I hadn't turned on because I was moving such a short distance IDIOT!). Argggh. Those shortcuts will cost you! Anyway, thanks if you've read this far and please check those valve stems. I suppose the sensors could have contributed to the issue. 3 out of the 4 tires had loose valve stem nuts. I place the blame solely on myself. I never thought to check them. I always check lug torque, tire pressure and tire condition before each trip and during travel. Just never thought about the valve stems.View attachment 36608View attachment 36603View attachment 36606View attachment 36605View attachment 36607

Thanks for the heads up. I just had metal stems put on when I bought new tires. One more thing to add to the list of things to check each trip or several times during the trip.

Anyone know what the torque spec is or the thread size so I can get 4 nuts and lock them?

Rob

 

[KY Gentleman Farmer]

Check your valve stems! Let me explain. I had pulled out of a campsite and moved my GD 351M to another site about a mile away. Got out of the truck and heard air escaping from a tire on the trailer. I thought I had a puncture and watched as the tire quickly deflated. I removed the tire and inspected it and could find no puncture. I began re-inflating it and pouring water over it to find the hole. I found the leak at the valve stem. The nut had come loose. I tightened the nut and re-inflated the tire and it was fine. 2019 Grand Design 351M, Westlake ST 235/80R16 G rated tires (which have performed flawlessly over the thousands of miles I've put on them). TST 507 TPMS with flow through sensors designed for metal valve stems (which I hadn't turned on because I was moving such a short distance IDIOT!). Argggh. Those shortcuts will cost you! Anyway, thanks if you've read this far and please check those valve stems. I suppose the sensors could have contributed to the issue. 3 out of the 4 tires had loose valve stem nuts. I place the blame solely on myself. I never thought to check them. I always check lug torque, tire pressure and tire condition before each trip and during travel. Just never thought about the valve stems.View attachment 36608View attachment 36603View attachment 36606View attachment 36605View attachment 36607

Good info NoGrey; thanks for the heads up. Had an issue myself with loose lug nuts recently and getting pretty anal about tires and wheels!

 

[Nogrey]

I am as well. Lug nuts, tire pressure, tpms alarms, now valve stems, along with a myriad of other things an old fart like me needs to remember!

 

[Nogrey]

Good info NoGrey; thanks for the heads up. Had an issue myself with loose lug nuts recently and getting pretty anal about tires and wheels!

As am I! Just hoping to help.

 

[Nogrey]

So, it turns out that I have the wrong size (from the manufacturer). I'm going to change them out asap.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

How did you determine they were the wrong size?

 

[Nogrey]

How did you determine they were the wrong size?

I have posted this on many different forums as I don't want my fellow RV'ers to have a bad experience. One of the folks I talked to had experienced this exact same issue right after delivery of their unit and called for warranty work. A tech came out and checked things out and discovered, as well as disclosed, that the original wheel manufacturer had installed the incorrect size valve stems. They will work, but not nearly as well as the ones the wheels were designed for (as shown in the photo). That's how I found out.

 

[DECelt]

I have posted this on many different forums as I don't want my fellow RV'ers to have a bad experience. One of the folks I talked to had experienced this exact same issue right after delivery of their unit and called for warranty work. A tech came out and checked things out and discovered, as well as disclosed, that the original wheel manufacturer had installed the incorrect size valve stems. They will work, but not nearly as well as the ones the wheels were designed for (as shown in the photo). That's how I found out.

I have had a couple of good experiences with Lions head tire and wheel, and I have had about zero good experiences with RV techs. Just saying.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[Nogrey]

Thanks for the heads up. I just had metal stems put on when I bought new tires. One more thing to add to the list of things to check each trip or several times during the trip.

Anyone know what the torque spec is or the thread size so I can get 4 nuts and lock them?

Rob

From tirereview.com "aluminum wheel valve stems present definite problems when they are improperly torqued. If the valve stem is loose, the assembly leaks. If it is too tight, corrosion will begin to form around the valve stem and a leak will soon follow. The recommended torque for standard aluminum wheel valve stems is 7 to 11 ft/lbs or 80 to 125 in/lbs."

 

[Calbar]

From tirereview.com "aluminum wheel valve stems present definite problems when they are improperly torqued. If the valve stem is loose, the assembly leaks. If it is too tight, corrosion will begin to form around the valve stem and a leak will soon follow. The recommended torque for standard aluminum wheel valve stems is 7 to 11 ft/lbs or 80 to 125 in/lbs."

Thanks for the info. I will need to check mine now that I have a range.

Rob

 

[more tired since retired]

Any ideas about using something like Loctite Blue to lock the nuts in place. Blue is removable. I use it for things like the screws on the ear bows on glasses and nuts that see a lot of vibration.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

You could, but it really shouldn't be necessary. There's no real forces trying to rotate the nut, and if they keep coming loose after torquing to proper setting, it might be time to check for issues
with the nut seating area.

 

[Nogrey]

Any ideas about using something like Loctite Blue to lock the nuts in place. Blue is removable. I use it for things like the screws on the ear bows on glasses and nuts that see a lot of vibration.

I worked on diagnostic imaging systems for 35 years. I have been trained in the use of all types of anaerobic media and their application. . In the case of these valve stems and the massive amount of vibration they receive, loctite 242 is certainly appropriate and is what I will apply before my next trip.

 

[RV Tech]

Thanks for the info....sure enough 3 of my 6 were not tightened correctly!

Mark

 

[MattShan]

Awesome information. Looking at all my stem nuts right now. That’s why I love this forum.

 

[Bradnailer]

Not only should you check the valve stem nuts but also the valve stem cores. Over time, they loosen and the seals become brittle to the point of needing replacement.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

JMO but messing about with things like valve stem cores is a good lesson in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". In umpteen years of having vehicles with inflatable tires I've never had
a valve stem core come loose. But loosening a valve stem core to check it, or simply checking to see if it's tight can cause a leak by breaking a good seal. And they may develop
a leak after checking. JMO of course.

 

[Bradnailer]

JMO but messing about with things like valve stem cores is a good lesson in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". In umpteen years of having vehicles with inflatable tires I've never had
a valve stem core come loose. But loosening a valve stem core to check it, or simply checking to see if it's tight can cause a leak by breaking a good seal. And they may develop
a leak after checking. JMO of course.

All I am saying is, if your tire is losing air, the core is another place to check.