Presta Valves - grrrr!

[jcwuk]

Keep having problems with the Presta valve's on our Bikes.

Have had different Dealers fit new inner tubes and yet the damn Tubes pack up always around the neck of the Valve.

It seems the slightest movement around the neck causes the problem even when the washer is tightened.


Does anyone else have this problem and whats the best solution next to changing the style of Valves which means we will have to change rims to accomodate the new width of the valves.

Thanks for any help.

[Gooby]

Loose the tube - go tubeless

[BOR]

It's not clear what you mean. Do you mean the rubber part, the tube itself, fails where the rubber meets the metal valve ?

The valve hole in the wheel(or the rim tape) may have a sharp edge which cuts into the rubber and causes a leak.

If this is what it is, then a solution I use, is to cut a square of rubber out of an old tube, cut a hole in it, and push it over the valve, to protect the tube from the sharp edges of the valve hole.

[Nick_F]

Like BOR says, or de-burr the hole, or be generous with the rim tape.

Problem might go away if you use a track pump, too - less heaving back and forth on the valve than with a hand pump.

[jcwuk]

BOR said:

It's not clear what you mean. Do you mean the rubber part, the tube itself, fails where the rubber meets the metal valve ?

The valve hole in the wheel(or the rim tape) may have a sharp edge which cuts into the rubber and causes a leak.

If this is what it is, then a solution I use, is to cut a square of rubber out of an old tube, cut a hole in it, and push it over the valve, to protect the tube from the sharp edges of the valve hole.

Thanks for your reply BOR (-:

Its always the same problem :

The base of the Valve where it meets the rubber keeps splitting.
Is this a common problem for these type of Valves ?

[AyBee]

Never heard of or had a problem with Presta tubes and I've got them on my roadie and mtb as well as doing a fair bit of cycling with people also using them. I suggest you take a look at the rim for sharp edges and the like....

[jcwuk]

AyBee said:

Never heard of or had a problem with Presta tubes and I've got them on my roadie and mtb as well as doing a fair bit of cycling with people also using them. I suggest you take a look at the rim for sharp edges and the like....

Thanks AyBee
Interestin comments.
I never had a problem until recently.
I will double check the edges tomorrow.
Thanks for your info (-:

[mk1fan]

Could be a bur in the rim. Get in there with a small rat tail file.

Could be that the rims have been drilled out for the large schreder valve. In which case you'll need a small plastic insert - Mavic rims have them but I don't know if you can get them separately.

The tip of using an old bit of tube is simple genius and worth ago.

Finally, the lock ring on the valve shouldn't be tightened too much. It's only purpose is to hold the valve in place whilst you pump it up. They should be done up to a light finger tightness.

[Ghisallo]

I used to have this problem with vittoria tubes in a set of FIR rims I was using. During inflation the valves would break off where it met the tube. To solve I would put the little ring nut on the valve and thread it almost down to the tube. Then fit the tube to the trye and place a second ring nut on the valve and inflate as normal. The first and second nuts acting on both sides of the rim prevented the valve from being pulled hard into the hole in the rim and casuing the valve to shear.

But as has been suggested, I reckon a track pump would also help alleviate the problem as it eases all the pulling and hauling on the valve.

[Maris]

Road or MTB ? Every MTB I've had I've drilled the rims to enlarge the hole and fitted schraeder valve tubes.

[bennyboysvuk]

Do you wheelie it a lot? I tend to have issues where the constant landing of wheelies drags the tyre and tube around the rim and eventually end up with the valve coming out of the wheel at a 45 degree angle. It's never caused a puncture though.

[John D9395]

Just got my 1st bike with Presta valves.

1st time out got a puncher, and a kind rider stopped to help me as I was having trouble getting the tyre off (I had never come accross the tyres that lock to the rims before, now after a second puncher I am getting the hang of them!).

I mentioned the Presta valves (I can't see the point of them on MTB's as the rims are wide enough to take Shrader valves, Shrader valves would mean that you wouldn't need the Shrada - Presta adaptor), he said he had gone through several tubes over a period of time, and put it down to the movement he created to the tube / wheel using a hand pump, which to me seemed a logical explanation.

Moral of the story, don't use a hand pump!

[Buzz word]

If all the deburring and pump suggestions dont work try a tube from a different place. The only time I have had multiple tubes fail like this one after the other they were a set of about 5 and I had left sitting in the shed until I needed them. As soon as they exploded one after the other I went and got a new one from a different brand and no problem. I was never sure if I got a bad batch and it took that long to become apparent or if they just don't store well. If bad batches exist you may just be working your way through the local shops bad batch.

[jcwuk]

bennyboysvuk said:

Do you wheelie it a lot? I tend to have issues where the constant landing of wheelies drags the tyre and tube around the rim and eventually end up with the valve coming out of the wheel at a 45 degree angle. It's never caused a puncture though.

No not at all.
The damage to the valves always seems to happen when im well into a journey.
I think I will fit different tubes now.