Well I was headed to Coushata RV park at the casino the other day and went through all my checks. Started filling up tires to the proper pressure and the left rear outside tire would not stay over 60 lbs. Got to poking around with a cup of water/dish soap and when I hit the valve stem a big old bubble popped up. I was out of time and did not want to risk driving the 20 miles to the truck stop to get it fixed so we had to leave the bus at home. Sleeping in a hotel is not my idea of traveling anymore. I like my own bed, my TV while in bed and my own shower. Hotels or rather what is in them gives me the creeps.
Good for you for catching it!
Brian
Quote from: wal1809 on February 08, 2011, 10:42:49 AM
. . . . Hotels or rather what is in them gives me the creeps.
Hey, hey, now, I wasn't in that hotel! ;D ::)
You are so right about your own bed being better than renting one. . . .
Glad you caught the bum tire valve at home vs on the road with the issues associated with that hassle. . . .
Hope you enjoy your trip as well as one can without without their bus! ;D
I am glad we caught it too. My wife was bummed out and my response was be glad we were not downtown Houston when the flat tire came to pieces.
Wal,
I've had many, many valve cores fail on my 4104 in the past five years.
Really can't figure this out because years ago valve cores almost never failed. I think maybe one problem is that auto valve cores are not suitable for bus tires because of the much greater pressures, at least I have been told this. So, you probably shouldn't use auto tire cores from your friendly auto supply store or WM on buses.
Gus you are 100% correct go by and visit a friendly big rig tire shop and they'll most like give you a handful of heavy duty cores for free or at most a buck or two! BTDT!
;D BK ;D
Im with everyone else here........ Thank God you found it ahead of time!!! Pre trip inspections are Very Important!! Good for you! I am glad to be reading that you had to go to a hotel instead of something horrible happening with your bus and/or family and you and/or other people!!
Funny, had similar thing happen a couple weeks back. Gave the valve a twist and it quit losing air. Been fine since so chalked it up to vandalism (my bike tire was flat too.) But after reading Gus's post not so sure. Hmmmm.
Nellie
The actual core of the valve is good. It is the rubber gromett (sp) that seats into the rim that is leaking. I could move it a little and the leak would stop, but i wasn't about to run down the road on a valve stem that could let air out.
Quote from: wal1809 on February 09, 2011, 05:54:25 AM
The actual core of the valve is good. It is the rubber gromett (sp) that seats into the rim that is leaking. I could move it a little and the leak would stop, but i wasn't about to run down the road on a valve stem that could let air out.
Walt probably just needs the nut tightened up.
But it's best just to have it replaced and be done with it!
;D BK ;D
If it's an outer rear, they can change the valve stem without taking the wheel off the bus. I know, 'cause I seen them change tires with the wheel on the vehicle on the Internet... ;D
If you use the METAL valve stem caps, they will work as a temp fix until you can get it fixed. They will seal it completely, just don't forget to really get the fix done.
Brian best I remember he said it was the inside dual.
And yes your right some show off tire jockeys can/do change the tire still on the vehicle. To rush onto the next one!
But all the "professionals" I know prefer to remove it so they can look things over to see what else might need repaired in the name of safety.
;D BK ;D
Quote from: somewhereinusa on February 09, 2011, 06:54:41 AM
If you use the METAL valve stem caps, they will work as a temp fix until you can get it fixed. They will seal it completely, just don't forget to really get the fix done.
A cap ain't gonna fix a leak where it comes out of the wheel.
Sorry don't mean to be harsh, but reading is required before solving the issue.
Now if it were a leaking core the metal cap can SOMETIMES get you to a place of repair, but not always.
And welcome to the board!
;D BK ;D
[/quote]
Sorry don't mean to be harsh, but reading is required before solving the issue.
[/quote]
Sorry for existing, I admit I misread the OP and some later ones that were talking about valve cores.
Not to worry, I'll NEVER bother you again.
Quote from: somewhereinusa
Sorry for existing, I admit I misread the OP and some later ones that were talking about valve cores.
Not to worry, I'll NEVER bother you again.
See now you took it wrong, I merely pointed out that you didn't read all of it and were incorrect in your statement.
I even said I didn't mean to be harsh!
But hey it's yer choice you can stay and play or not!
Have a great day! (and if you decide to stay and play I think you will find that most on here are not assholes like me!)
;D BK ;D
yup, that's the first of the 12 steps. ::)
I never made it any further, let me know what comes next?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: somewhereinusa on February 09, 2011, 07:06:50 AM
Sorry for existing, I admit I misread the OP and some later ones that were talking about valve cores.
Not to worry, I'll NEVER bother you again.
Come on, pal. You are new on here. You got to take things nice and easy. You might be the owner of MCI. However, we would learn that over time.
This is a board to share ideas. I can tell you, it doesn't look good on here when you get upset at a long standing member, on your third post. In fact, it kinda reminds us of some others that we would all like to forget (right papa BK?). So just take five, and don't let your ire up. You will be fine, if you want to be....
FWIW
God bless,
John
But welcome aboard and don't mind BK. He's actually our welcoming committee... ;D ;D And for what it's worth from me, seems like a pretty good hearted guy.....
I'll admit that I misunderstood the OP, but I'm not the only one.
QuoteI've had many, many valve cores fail on my 4104 in the past five years.
QuoteGus you are 100% correct go by and visit a friendly big rig tire shop and they'll most like give you a handful of heavy duty cores for free or at most a buck or two!
QuoteFunny, had similar thing happen a couple weeks back. Gave the valve a twist and it quit losing air
I am completely to blame for missing the next couple of entries. You don't know me, I don't know you. I do however take exception to the way it was stated. To indicate that I am some kind of idiot because of a misread seems a bit childish. I am truly impressed by someone with over 5000 posts that have ALL been spot on, exactly to the point and correct. My answer may not have been exactly to the point, but it wasn't WRONG for what I thought the topic was. I personally haven't had it fail, BN in his vast experience apparently has.
QuoteYou might be the owner of MCI
This is irrelevant, I don't.
I am new to buses, I am NOT new to mechanics. I was earning a living as a professional mechanic before BN was born. I spent most of my Navy time as a trouble shooter,electrical and mechanical, in a rating that is basically automotive. I have worked on more kinds of autos both foreign and domestic than many of you have even heard of, if you want the list I can probably come up with one. Many without manuals or any kind of book at all. I have been crew chief on both IMSA and SCCA race cars.
I joined this forum because I like to do a lot of research on anything I undertake, and to get ideas, I also thought that I might be able to add something once in a while.
BN is probably a very nice guy, I have no idea, and wouldn't be able to tell from the above exchange.
Dick
BK is a tour coach operator. Is light hearted. and do anything for you. Also sponsors bus rallies. You will fit in just give it awhile. Lots of knowledge here. For instance the original poster plays with rattle snakes. Bob
It's best to thicken up your skin. A rolling bus doesn't gather moss.
Hang around, you'll figure it out. Bad comes to worse, re-register with a new handle.
Basically as a newbie it might be a tad wiser to lighten up a bit or you will not get much help from this forum. Other than that welcome aboard and we hope you have some knowledge to contribute. Geeez....
Dick,
Scott just about summed it up. Lighten up a bit. I think we can get along well. However, picking at such a petty thing, does not bode well for the future. I can assure you though, if that little misunderstanding, caused you that much of an issue, just hang around a while. You will need much thicker skin, if you do anymore posting. Just about everybody on here has had that at one time or another. We just suck it up, and move on. No big deal.
Oh yes, welcome aboard (I think ;D) ;D.
God bless,
John
Dick, welcome aboard, and please hang around!
The last guy in the door gets the blast as the frustration mounts with time wasting of the previous posters.
Unfortunately, you were the guy this time.
For those of us in the business, a failure of the seal between valve stem and wheel is very frustrating, because it can be prevented. And then folks keep misreading, and feed off of that. And we don't have all day to leisurely wade through it all without getting pissed at the time it takes. That's our problem, not yours, just by way of explanation, not excuse.
All these parts should be replaced when the tires are installed, especially by a busnut, who doesn't mess with tires on anything close to a commercial rotation time line. Brand new, high quality, metal valve stems, and valve cores for the pressures involved, and a fresh wheel/valve stem seal.
Dick, looking forward to meeting you at a rally someplace!
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Somewhereusa thank you for your input. If it had been a leaking valve core that advise was appropriate and I for one did not know that metal caps would seal well enough to help. As far as getting your shorts in a twist over BK's comment you may have a sensitivity problem. If that is son then this will not be a good experience for you. Remember that tone of voice can not be conveyed in written form. We welcome all new comers to the board and hope that all will learn and contribute each from their own knowledge and experience. None claim to have all the answers some have vast experience others not so much. If you react with anger every time someone points out a small fault then you will not be comfortable and will cause others to flame you. Here's hoping that you can get by this and stick around to continue to contribute. Rod
Well can they replace the rubber grommet without taking the tire off or not? ;D
Wal I doubt that they can replace the rubber grommet from the outside. I am pretty sure they have a flange on the inside whch the nut pulls tight. I think(Being The operative word) all the stems for tubeless tires are put in from inside the rim. You might go to a truck stop and look at replacement stems to get a better idea. Rod
I am fortunate I have a truck stop I can get to from here by taking back country farm to market roads. I think I will just ease up there and tell them I am going to have a Coke and a smile while you fellas get dirty. ;D
Sounds like a hernia preventing plan to me. Rod
fwiw this can be done by a decent tire jockey with the wheel still on the bus, but the inner run up on a block. A big sledge and some tire irons to get it off the bead. If you want a workout try it yourself!
Hello Zub, I believe I will leave it to the experts and just hang around a while. Believe it or not the first job I had out of TSTI (Diesel mechanic school) was working in Austin as a street sweeper mechanic. That translates into-the sweepers were always getting flats. To the tune of about 4 a night. I had the mechanic truck and when they got a flat you could bet it was going to be the inside tire. While I fired up the compressor the workers would get under the truck and jack it up. About he time they were getting it high enough I had that 1 inch impact wrench going at it. The workers were then getting a good tire off my truck as I slammed it back on with the impact wrench. They would take off and I would stay behind fixing that tire. We used split ring and tubes. I would patch the tube and put it back it and air it up. Load it on the truck and catch up with the sweepers just in time to, you got it, fix another tire.
BK, what's the difference between regular Schrader cores and cores for tires like ours? I have plenty of cores from Schrader bicycle tubes (bike tires can sometimes exceed bus/truck tires' pressures) which work for 100-plus PSI without a problem. Should I buy something different, or will these work OK as replacements? I always keep a few cores and a CalVan 4-way tool in my car "just in case".
Thanks, John
Oops, sorry, double posted.
Quote from: Iceni John on February 13, 2011, 09:32:48 PM
BK, what's the difference between regular Schrader cores and cores for tires like ours? I have plenty of cores from Schrader bicycle tubes (bike tires can sometimes exceed bus/truck tires' pressures) which work for 100-plus PSI without a problem. Should I buy something different, or will these work OK as replacements? I always keep a few cores and a CalVan 4-way tool in my car "just in case".
Thanks, John
John,
I honestly don't know the difference between the 2. Could be a tougher spring, better quality material, different type of seal. Really I just don't know.
But I do know two things.
#1) I have had valve core problems in the past and just used "what I had laying around" and had repeat problems.
And then one day @ the tire shop I said something about having quite a few core problems lately and the owner went in the shop and grabbed a box (1/2 empty w/top 1/2 tore off) of cores and gave them to me. And said "here do yourself a favor and REPLACE all cores on ANY tires that we haven't serviced for you! These are heavy duty cores and it's all we use!"
#2) I learned that if you tell a FNG he didn't read the post right he will go off on you and proceed to tell you how much more "world experience he has than everyone else on this board!" (and can't even get my name right! IT'S BK not BN DICK!)
;D BK ;D
BK,
Thanks for your advice. I'll ask ABC Bus for some good ones.
John
BK got his first kill and didn't even mean to. Some have all the luck! I tried on several and they just dug their heels in and became valued contributors on the BCM board.
Dick, I can see how not knowing how BK works might have given the impression of a slap even though the intention wasn't to do that. Our numbers are to small to have someone chased off, and we want you to feel welcomed and valued. Keep posting and glad to have you here.
Geez, BN, ::) why must you sugarcoat everything? ;)
Hey, how'd you guys know this "FNG" is named "DICK." I don't see any name in his profile (or am I missing stuff too?).
Sorry, back to the topic: As mentioned (near beginning of thread), my outside rear went nearly flat. Started to inflate but it leaked from the valve. I twisted the core (with one of those little core tools) and the leak stopped. Then I re-filled the tire. Been quite awhile and it's holding air just fine.
Trouble is, I didn't squirt to determine exactly where it was leaking. My Dumb! So now that it's not leaking, how do I find the 'leak'? Or am I worried for nothing? (Wouldn't be the first time... I'm so paranoid about any little thing that goes wrong...)
Hey, Dick (or whatever?), c'mon back. I'm the biggest screw-up you can imagine... and most of these guys even talk to me. :o As someone said, it's a flat medium and tongue-in-cheek :P comments (and such) are hard to discern. Plus BN is notoriously picky about his name. ;D
Nellie
Hello Nellie, It sounds to me like you found the leak. THe valve core just needed to be tightened.
Oh and how come you don't have your bus info in the sig so we know what kind of bus your driving.
Quote from: somewhereinusa on February 09, 2011, 04:42:42 PM
I am new to buses, I am NOT new to mechanics. I was earning a living as a professional mechanic before BN was born. I spent most of my Navy time as a trouble shooter,electrical and mechanical, in a rating that is basically automotive. I have worked on more kinds of autos both foreign and domestic than many of you have even heard of, if you want the list I can probably come up with one. Many without manuals or any kind of book at all. I have been crew chief on both IMSA and SCCA race cars.
I joined this forum because I like to do a lot of research on anything I undertake, and to get ideas, I also thought that I might be able to add something once in a while.
BN is probably a very nice guy, I have no idea, and wouldn't be able to tell from the above exchange.
Dick
Nellie,
The above direct quote is where I got his name was Dick. (honestly I would not just call him one without a reason ;))
And your one of the few that I'll allow to change my name knowingly!
;D BK ;D
;)
BK,
Well said and long over due.
You have more patience than I and that, of course, is a good thing.
John
BK -
Just as suspected, I missed the obvious (again).
As to your follow-up comments, ::) and ;) respectively.
Wal - That makes me feel better; I'd hate to pull a wheel only to confirm nothing's wrong ('course I'd rather be safe than sorry, too). As for the missing info, my oversight. I'll get that done.
Thanks to both.
Nellie