Recommendations on checking tire pressure with aluminum wheels

plyonsMC9 · October 12, 2020, 01:55:22 PM

Good afternoon bus folks!

I've only worked with the steel wheels on my MC9 for 15+ years - and they are pretty easy to work around to check the tire pressure. Which is good as I like to frequently check that pressure.

Then I'm looking at the DL3 w/ aluminum wheels. Odd sort of things. The tire company actually removed the tires to check the pressure on a couple of them. Well I don't want to do that, and this is another area I need to be schooled.

I've heard ideas such as extenders, but maybe they aren't the best because they end up leaking. The tire shop working on the wheels now sez just use a dual tire chuck. I don't get that because the holes are very narrow and I can barely get the dual chuck through the outside rear dual, let alone pull that chuck squarely on the head. And I don't see how to get the cap off of the inner dual. Current shop says they can't do anything to make it easier to check the pressure.

I know - basic stuff - but it's better than when I had my bus stuck between the house gutter system and a tree.

Thank you!, Phil

richard5933 · October 12, 2020, 02:28:08 PM

Common problem.

First, there is a tool to remove the cap on the inner stem: https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Tool-KEN29999-Remover-Installer-ValvecapperPRO/dp/B00X19P96W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tire+stem+cap+removal&qid=1602537829&sr=8-1

Second, the best way to check the pressure on the inner is to have the tire shop install a longer stem. They come in various angles, and the shop should have tools to bend it to a position so that you can get the pressure gauge on it through the opening in the outer one.

My final piece of advice is to install TPMS. They work really well and make it pretty simple to confirm that things are as they should be. Just know that they TPMS might show a few PSI different from your gauge - just set the pressure with a good gauge and make note of what the TPMS says. The main thing that the TPMS will do for you is tell you if there is any change.

plyonsMC9 · October 12, 2020, 02:37:27 PM

Thanks Richard - I'm off to a great start!! No one has mentioned the cap removal tool to me and I've been asking a lot of questions out here! Will do some checking on TPMS.

Kind Regards, Phil

richard5933 · October 12, 2020, 02:43:06 PM

Those rims in your picture look similar to what we had on our 4106. The tire shop was able to get the inner valve stems set up so a tire gauge could be used through the holes in the outer wheel. It can be done, but they have to know what they're doing and not just rush it out the door.

So you know, you can get both a straight and an angled head on a dual chuck tire gauge. You might need both - I used the straight to check the inner tires and the angled to check the outer.

luvrbus · October 12, 2020, 03:48:04 PM

Phil I showed Gary Hatt how you take one 5 inch extension and use it for the rear tires,you remove the caps and buy metal caps with the hex head,screw the extension on check the tire pressure remove the extension and use a magnet socket from all places H/F screw the caps on and your done,The DL has 9 inch wide 9800lbs carrying weight wheels with the smaller holes they are a pain

plyonsMC9 · October 13, 2020, 09:20:38 AM

Thank you gentlemen,

I've ordered to tool to remove the caps from the inner duals. And I'll ask Gary about that 5" extension trick. Maybe I just need a different angled air chuck - when I tried mine the angle of the chuck was too great and so I couldn't apply it to the valve on the outer dual which was facing inward. I'm hoping the holes are lined up so I can reach the inner valve from the outside. Yes Clifford, agree - these are a pain!!!

Kind Regards, Phil

chessie4905 · October 13, 2020, 09:26:49 AM

Imo the best is to change to long valve stem assembly with the special donut that centers it in wheel hole. Makes adding air easy then. I think a good tpms system would be a good idea. How long could you drive with a low or flat rear tire before you notice?

luvrbus · October 13, 2020, 10:52:45 AM

Quote from: plyonsMC9 on October 13, 2020, 09:20:38 AM
Thank you gentlemen,

I've ordered to tool to remove the caps from the inner duals. And I'll ask Gary about that 5" extension trick. Maybe I just need a different angled air chuck - when I tried mine the angle of the chuck was too great and so I couldn't apply it to the valve on the outer dual which was facing inward. I'm hoping the holes are lined up so I can reach the inner valve from the outside. Yes Clifford, agree - these are a pain!!!

Kind Regards, Phil

The cap tool is not going to do you much good on the Dl.I gave Gary the caps and extension but he was to tight to buy the 5 dollar set of sockets he uses putty or tape on a regular socket.I have the same wheel on my Country Coach

richard5933 · October 13, 2020, 11:27:44 AM

Quote from: plyonsMC9 on October 13, 2020, 09:20:38 AM
...Maybe I just need a different angled air chuck - when I tried mine the angle of the chuck was too great and so I couldn't apply it to the valve on the outer dual which was facing inward. ...

Try a dual chuck/air gauge with a straight end, not angled.

niles500 · October 13, 2020, 01:55:55 PM

I you have a Love"s nearby. for 5 bucks they do it all, such a deal!

luvrbus · October 13, 2020, 02:01:29 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on October 13, 2020, 11:27:44 AM
Try a dual chuck/air gauge with a straight end, not angled.

ig
Even the straight air chuck is hard to make work I had to bend the tube on mine to get the right angle,Alcoa tried to sell me on the extension and rubber support for the extension I didn't want that

plyonsMC9 · October 13, 2020, 11:16:03 PM

Good evening Clifford,
What issue(s) do you see with the extension w/ the rubber support.

With best regards, Phil

Busted Knuckle · October 14, 2020, 09:19:33 AM

Quote from: plyonsMC9 on October 13, 2020, 11:16:03 PM
Good evening Clifford,
What issue(s) do you see with the extension w/ the rubber support.

With best regards, Phil

Phil we bought one of our 96A3's with these on it when we bought it.
I'd never had any experiences with them prior and told dad "Looks like they'll be a PIA!"
Well when that bus left us it still had those on it. (until I snatched the Alcoa's and the extensions, because the buyer didn't want to pay extra for them) I can honestly say it's the ONLY set of extensions I have ever had GOOD experiences with!
Every other extensions I have EVER dealt with eventually had a failure! Some cracked and broke, some just didn't seal good, some were damaged by careless tire jockeys, but all of them had failures.
Now that said the bus we had those on never was worked on by a careless tire jockey during the time we owned it because we had a good staff and things were done in house and with a local tire shop that sent out one of his guys when we needed tires mounted. But to my knowledge that bus never required tire service while out on the road which makes a big difference in how things get done!

BK

luvrbus · October 14, 2020, 09:54:32 AM

Phil,the casinos here use those and never have a problem I know of ,me I don't like the looks of rubber stabilizer on the wheels.I believe you would be ok with a quality set not using the Chinese knock offs JMO

Busted Knuckle · October 14, 2020, 01:11:35 PM

Clifford the black stabilizer on ours was hard to spot unless you were deliberately looking at it.

BK