We just had new shoes put on our coach all around (Goodyear Marathon). Now I have a question about checking the air pressure on the inside tires on the rear axle.
The stems for the inside wheels end a couple of inches inside the openings of the outer Alcoa rims. I can easily get the gauge and chuck on the stem through the opening. The problem is that they've used a metal stem cap which must be removed before checking/filling.
Before the new tires, we did not have valve stem covers on the inner tires, so no problem. Now I've got a problem.
So, do most people crawl around underneath to reach between the tires to remove the valve stem cover? Or, is there some type of tool designed for this so that the cover can be removed through the opening on the outer rim? Gotta imagine there is a way to do this without crawling under the bus, as that just doesn't seem like a good idea.
Thanks
Richard
I can just reach through the hole and remove the cap, no problem. Are the holes in your outer wheels too small for that? You can buy flexible extensions, but I personally don't trust them, lots of RV owners use them.
I use hex shaped valve caps. I welded a socket of the appropriate size ( I forget what size) on the end of a piece of rebar so I can reach and screw, unscrew the caps.
I find from past experiences that valve extensions of several kinds are trouble.
JC
I went with this solution.
http://www.dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/ (http://www.dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/)
Fill thru cap valve stem caps are the answer.
https://www.alltiresupply.com/products/double-seal-cap-inflate-thru-valve-cap-50box?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlf_MBRDUARIsAD8Gj8AVCVXKxH1pF0hfhaInNdYvH27mZ4dYfD5WU8s7dRvzlDj1m4Mh-7gaAu3aEALw_wcB (https://www.alltiresupply.com/products/double-seal-cap-inflate-thru-valve-cap-50box?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlf_MBRDUARIsAD8Gj8AVCVXKxH1pF0hfhaInNdYvH27mZ4dYfD5WU8s7dRvzlDj1m4Mh-7gaAu3aEALw_wcB)
I have a 1 x 1 inch piece of wood about 8 inches long with a hole drilled in the end that fits snugly over the valve cap when pushed through the hole in the rim. I just push it on and screw the cap off and it stays stuck in the end of the wood until I screw it back on and pull the wood out leaving the cap behind. Easy Peasy and cheap, just like me ;D
Quote from: Lee Bradley on August 25, 2017, 10:14:50 AM
I went with this solution.
http://www.dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/ (http://www.dualdynamics.com/products/cross-fire/)
I like these - so easy to verify the tires are properly inflated. ;D
Had to many devices fail, loosen ,leak etc. I just use my hand and put it through the hole take off the cap and check it.
I've had several valve stems fail to seal after checking with a gauge, Nothing is perfect . . . .
Another advantage to the crossfire is it is easy to check in the rain . . . . Which means I actually check those pressures every time I stop !
Kuddos to the shop that installed metal valve caps. The valves are just there to prevent air to drain out while you put a cap on the stem. Sorry but plastic ones just don't cut it. Inside the metal caps are true seals that prevent air loss through the schrader valve.
Extensions? I say bah humbug to them also!
Lots of good suggestions already so I don't need to add any.
I like the sound of those digital monitors that give pressure and temperature readings for each tyre when installed in the tyre.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
what a timely post, i left vus at generator shop to chexk intermittent shutdowns. Pick up today, msnsger says one rear tire is flat. I checked pressure yesterday morning during pre trip checkout, all good. Coach was level when I left it.
Ended up calling mobil service to sort it out, He filled it at tookt
k it off for inspection and nothing wrong. Must have been leaking valve extender that did not seal and leaked, Once earlier, I caught one sticking and was able to clear out what was making it leak. Im sold 100 pct on the steel caps. Save yourself the costly lesson
the schraeder valve holds air while you install a proper steel cap with a sealing grommet in it.
Our grandchildren will regard us as stupid/cavalier for not using tire pressure monitoring systems...
Just as there are things we think our Grandparents were a little stubborn about...
wise up, and spend up?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Personally, I think Jon is on-point with the fill through the cap metal ones. It's like having a second valve on the stem, and you don't have to remove the cap. Almost the best maintenance improvement I've made, I think. Cuts the time needed to check tire pressures by 3/4, and I find myself more likely to do it - even when it's not really necessary.
Yeah, DOUBLE SEAL CAP - INFLATE THRU VALVE CAP. That is what caused my tire to go flat. Some small particulate material was keeping that ball from sealing and it let the air out. It happened once before but I heard air leak so I poked it a couple times until it sealed. The last time I was in a real hurry so just got the reading and ran off to the next tire. Likely it was hissing at me but I didn't hear it.
If you need to put a metal cap on this style of valve then I don't see any added benefit. Might as well just put cap on the main valve stem.
Well, here's an update...
I do have metal caps on all seven wheels. Checked pressure and topped off, then put the caps back on. I agree that they help keep the air in the tires should the valves fail.
Problem didn't totally go away. I found a plastic tool on Amazon that allowed me to get the valve covers off through the hole in the outer rim. The problem then became trying to get the air chuck on the inner valve stem through the hole. The holes in the Alcoa rims on my outer wheels are small. So small it seems that no matter which chuck I tried and no matter what angle I used to hold the thing it was near impossible to get the chuck seated firmly enough on the stem to fill the tire. Getting the air gauge on was nearly impossible. Just wasn't going to happen without having grip strength beyond mine.
In the end I did a bit of Frankenstein by combining the angled end of a standard air chuck onto one of the Chilton chucks with a built-in pressure gauge. I know that they are not as accurate, but in previous testing this one has been within 3-4 psi of the stand-alone gauge. I through it in my tool kit to take on the road with me.
I also packed a small air compressor to take along, although I'm too happy with it. It can pump up to 125 psi, but it seems that the pump doesn't kick on to recycle until the pressure drops to below 95 psi. Of course, there is no enough air in the small tank to top off the tires more than about 1 psi. The only way to get it to cycle again is to burp the drain on the compressor's air tank to force it below 95.
Does anyone have a suggestion for a small air compressor that would be handier for filling the tires on the road?
Richard
Getting a gauge on can be difficult. A friend of mine said to get one like this, available at any truck stop.
https://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ryder/af/ryder/core/content/product/srm/oid/46430/erm/productDetail.do?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=product&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImZi4udP91QIVCnd-Ch0LjA_zEAQYASABEgJqRfD_BwE (https://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ryder/af/ryder/core/content/product/srm/oid/46430/erm/productDetail.do?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=product&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImZi4udP91QIVCnd-Ch0LjA_zEAQYASABEgJqRfD_BwE)
Got a gauge just like it. Unfortunately I just don't have the grip strength on the smooth chrome to push it hard enough to get a good seal.
Just can't figure out why the inner valve stem has to end at such an odd angle. Seems like there ought to be a better way to set this up so that the inner valve is as easy to get at as the outer.
Richard
Scan through the other products. There are a lot of them, some have different angles
They are your valve stems...
Down on all fours, you should be staring at the end of it, aimed straight out through one of the hand holes.
And the outer should be similarly pointing straight inward, centred in a hand hold hole.
If it isn't straight, make it so?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on August 29, 2017, 07:43:43 PM
They are your valve stems...
If it isn't straight, make it so?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Is there a recommended procedure for making them straight?
Richard
Quote from: richard5933 on August 30, 2017, 06:23:13 AMIs there a recommended procedure for making them straight?
Richard
I've always been leery of bending or flattening the tip (the part that threaded for the cap to go on) by mistake. ISTM that that would cause leaks, poor sealing of the Schrader valve, etc. I've put a small box end wrench on the middle part of the stem but I always take great care bending any metal tube; you just don't want a kinked area or -- especially -- a crack!
Quote from: richard5933 on August 30, 2017, 06:23:13 AM
Is there a recommended procedure for making them straight?
Richard
I think BW means to get the proper valve stem installed so they point at the hole in the rim. This way, no matter where the rim ends up on your bus (inside dually or what have you) the end of the valve stem is always accessible. I'm sure BW will correct me if I'm wrong ;D
The stems will take a certain amount of bending, in order to re-align. They can also withstand being loosened at the nut at the base, a little swivel, and re-tighten. Yes, a tough job without a good grip.
As noted, don't screw up the threads.
And, failing that, a fresh set of the correct stems.
If you have found a work around, perhaps just wait for the next tire renewal, and then stand over the SOB's and demand they do it right, this is your personal ride, not some fleet vehicle...
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Decided not to risk breaking off a stem while in my driveway and took the bus back to Goodyear this morning to get help.
The tech came out and studied the problem for a few seconds, and then went in to get the adjustment tools for the stems. Took him about 30 seconds with a very large pry bar to get them lined up perfectly. Guess it's not how high-tech the tools are, just how well the person is trained to use them.
Richard