specific multi tool re valve stem nut

[wolfracesonic]

Having just had a mardy half hour trudge back home following a puncture and not being able to undo the nut on the presta valve stem, can anyone recommend a cycling multi tool with pliers or some attachment to undo them. I don't know why it wouldn't come undone as I would have only done it up finger tight the last time it was off: are there any hints and tips for them or should I just accept I've got the finger strength of a five year old girl?

[Watchman]

Found the same problem recently on a group (family) ride where a couple of people had turned up and started the ride with flat tyres (which meant we were away from my toolkit back at the car).

We tried pinching the lock nut with a pair of lollipop sticks but it turns out nothing short of pliers would shift the presta lock nut so the owner had to do the ride on a flat tyre.

I do have some small pliers but I've stopped taking tools on rides with me these days. All of our bikes have puncture resistant tyres and are well maintained so we can do without tools on our rides now. Friends though...

[donfisher]

I had this problem as well recently. I've never had this with the Continental tubes I've been running for the last few years (on those the core just randomly comes loose but hey ho). My bike came with some ditchfinder like tubes and this happened a couple of times before they got swapped out. I also had to resort to using some pliers. Maybe they used a softer metal or something.

Rather than finding a new multitool maybe try checking they'll undo at home with access to the pliers before you set off - hopefully they'd still be able to be undone later on the ride.

[ShortShift811]

Can't help, but I feel your pain! Puncture just stopped play on my early morning ride too

As I'm quite new to this cycling lark, the front wheel's off and will be taken to my LBS on Monday to sort. Then it's going to be a winter of practising replacing the tube from the comfort of my sofa, so I can do it without thinking at the roadside from next Spring...

[gazza285]

Oil them?

[Herman Toothrot]

ShortShift811 said:

Can't help, but I feel your pain! Puncture just stopped play on my early morning ride too

As I'm quite new to this cycling lark, the front wheel's off and will be taken to my LBS on Monday to sort. Then it's going to be a winter of practising replacing the tube from the comfort of my sofa, so I can do it without thinking at the roadside from next Spring...

If you can put a plaster on your finger if you cut it you can fix a puncture

[Dammit]

The lock nuts (and valve caps) that new tubes come with are a test - the correct response, when you get the tube out of the box, is to throw both lock nut and valve cap straight into the bin, then fit the tube.

Only when using tubeless tyres should a valve lock-nut be used, in every other situation they are simply a potential problem waiting to frustrate you.

Oh, and pliers to get the buggers off, if they are already on the bike, then into the bin with them.

[wolfracesonic]

Just sorted the puncture, undid the offending nut with pliers. The nut on the front wheel that wasn't punctured came undone as easy as anything Was thinking though, what does the nut actually do? There is plenty of valve stem sticking out so it didn't disappear into the wheel rim when I inflated it, there being plenty to grab hold of when I put the pump on it. Can you manage without them and avoid this mornings type of farce?

ETA must have been reading my mind Dammit, thanks for the replies

Edited by wolfracesonic on Saturday 1st November 12:37

Edited by wolfracesonic on Saturday 1st November 12:38

[Watchman]

gazza285 said:

Oil them?

Probably a sensible suggestion. Might drop a touch of oil onto mine, however...

Dammit said:

The lock nuts (and valve caps) that new tubes come with are a test - the correct response, when you get the tube out of the box, is to throw both lock nut and valve cap straight into the bin, then fit the tube.

Only when using tubeless tyres should a valve lock-nut be used, in every other situation they are simply a potential problem waiting to frustrate you.

Oh, and pliers to get the buggers off, if they are already on the bike, then into the bin with them.

I never considered the valve cap nut might not be required. Potentially awkward if you want to deliberately deflate the tyre but you can probably stick something into the valve neck to accomplish that. Under all other circumstances, sounds quite sensible to ditch them.