Rusted Valve Caps

[akaRob]

So my valve caps are rusted on, I've spent a good few hours now trying to get them off but no joy I'm an idiot.

Kwik Fit are the only people who can get me in today but they have told me that they may need to puncture all 4 of my tyres to replace them. Is this true? I have rang 3 places now and none of them have said they would need to damage the tyre itself.

[Pints]

I had this happen a while ago. Have you tried heating the valve cap and then using a pair of pliers to get it off?

[HustleRussell]

Absolutely not. Kwik Fit are being morons. You just need to cut the valve stem off and pop the outer tyre bead off the rim, insert the new valve and re-inflate the tyre. Less than 5 mins work per wheel.

[Pints]

Oh, and next time try a very small drop of oil in the cap. I've not had an issue since.

[philmh]

If the caps are plastic, can't see how they've rusted on? If they're metal caps, can't you use pliers on them to remove them?

Edited by philmh on Sunday 9th December 15:48

[HustleRussell]

P.S. you could use two pairs of pliers as suggested above, or cut a slot into the caps with a dremel tool or something. But if all else fails you only need to damage the valve.

[johnnyBv8]

I can't believe Kwik fit said you'd have to puncture the tyres - ridiculous!

[cuprabob]

This happens a lot with metal caps due to the reaction between disimilar metals.

In future stick to plastic ones.

I bit of heat and 2 sets of pliers as said above but be careful not to damage the valve unless you are in a position to replace it.

[cuprabob]

Just use a flame from a lighter or pour boiling hot water over them to apply heat. You just need it to expand slightly and break the bomd.

[iva cosworth]

cuprabob said:

This happens a lot with metal caps due to the reaction between disimilar metals.

In future stick to plastic ones.

This...........After having stuck caps ,i binned all the fancy ones and returned to plastic.

[johnnyBv8]

You dont really want to defalte the tyres until you're at a tyre place anyway presumably, but all you need to do is get some mole grips and twist the valve cap...it'll either come off or, more likely, snap the top off the valve. You'll then be able to unscrew the valve mechanism inside (the tyre place will have something to do this). Then tyre will deflate, can be taken off the rim and a new set of valves put in.

Happened to me previously. A bit of copper ease in the cap should stop it happening again, but I just reverted to plastic caps!

[akaRob]

Thanks everyone. I'll leave it until next week when I can go somewhere that know what they're doing.

[thecurleyone]

No need to remove old caps at all. When at tyre shop/garage of your choice just cut old valve stem to deflate (puncture Tyre,ridiculous!!) Then as said above just need to push Tyre off bead to allow new valve to be popped in,shouldn't even need to rebalance. New valves will even come with new plastic caps,or if you want another set of metal ones then a dab of copper grease will prevent it happening again.