Tire valve stem gone!

[FrogLick]

Here's one for ya. Yesterday I'm loading up the FEL with some fallen branches, etc. and notice that the front tire looks low (B3030 w/R4's). Thinking I need to fire up the compressor and add a little air, I take a closer look and notice that the bead seems to be separated from the rim; little closer look and notice that the valve stem is completely missing! Damn, all loaded up and no where to go! More importantly, where did the valve stem go and how long have I been driving around without any air? It's not inside the tire and I haven't seen any deer killed by flying valve stems. Anyone had this happen to them? It's always something...

 

[Dishpointer]

If your front tires have tubes installed then the tube and valve stem probably just rotated inside of the tire. You might be able to rotate the tube/stem back in place without removing the tire. If you don't have a tube you will have to unmount at least 1 bead from the rim to install a new stem.

 

[DanR67]

FrogLick -

A few years back I was widening a break in a stone wall with a JD rental unit - working some rocks free with the FEL - all of a sudden I hear loud hissing....

As the tractor had 4WD engaged - and I was driving into the pile of rocks - one of the front wheels spun against some of the rocks I'd loosened up - and completely sheared the valve stem off the rim!

I'll guessing you won't find the stem inside the wheel....I'm thinking you also spun a wheel while against a branch / log - and (accidentally) lost your valve stem that way.

I notice that my B7610 has half-moon / full circle "reinforcements" welded to the rims to protect this from happening.

Hope that helps,

Dan

 

[copperhead1967]

I just replaced a valve stem but with a different issue. I too must have spun the tires in some mud or what have you. I had a slow leak in the front of my bx22. I took the tire off and dunked it to find the leak . I noticed a small leak at the valve stem where it goes into the rim. I rotated the stem and the leak went away, them rotated it a little more and the air was coming out fast. $4.00 later all is well. The only concern I have is the new stem is a bit longer and may get caught easier. Guess its not too bad first tire issue in 4 years and 410 hours on the machine.

 

[Casco1]

FrogLick -

A few years back I was widening a break in a stone wall with a JD rental unit - working some rocks free with the FEL - all of a sudden I hear loud hissing....

As the tractor had 4WD engaged - and I was driving into the pile of rocks - one of the front wheels spun against some of the rocks I'd loosened up - and completely sheared the valve stem off the rim!

I had the same exact thing happen to my L3710 front wheel valve stem sheared off by hitting a rock during a turn.
Two good things
1 It was a front tire
2 This is where I first realized my tractor had built in jacks, made a quick job of it.

 

[George2615]

Does your wheel have valve stem guards? If not you want to make some and tack weld them in place to prevent a future occurrence.

 

[Casco1]

Does your wheel have valve stem guards? If not you want to make some and tack weld them in place to prevent a future occurrence.

My machine does have valve stem guards. Still didn't save me, somehow I just happened to turn the tire the right way, or maybe I should say wrong way.

 

[DmansPadge]

A pipe nipple and a threaded cap covering the stem is about the best way to prevent damage to it. You could also use a metal bolt-on valve stem. They can definately still be broken off.... but they are tougher than a rubber stem.

 

[FrogLick]

Here's the update. I took the tire to a tire shop to have a new stem installed and the bead reset. As the guy is placing the wheel in the back of my truck I notice a bubble in the side wall next to the rim on the inside where I wouldn't have noticed it before. I can deflect it a little and it "burps" the air out of the bubble then slowly refills until it relieves itself again. Looks like I have a defective tire with ply separation and it's been slowly leaking all along and finally got low enough that I managed to break the bead seal. Only about 20 hrs. on these tires so I'll talk to my salesman tomorrow and see what he can do for me. The rims do have stem guards and there wasn't anything on the inside of the (tubeless) tire so who knows where that stem went.

 

[Berniep]

Guess its not too bad first tire issue in 4 years and 410 hours on the machine.

WOW, do you ever take it off the road
I have slime in all four tires and I only have 95 hours on mine.

 

[bx23barry]

Out in the fourwheeling world valve stems fly away pretty easy when a rock or branch catches them right (wrong). Same will happen to the tractor when out in the brush/rocks. I usually carry a spare or two in the jeep. The steel ones break real easy while the rubber ones have some spring and will usually hold up better. A piece of steel welded to the wheel to protect the stem is a good idea unless you are in alot tough stuff where a rock/branch could bend the steel into the stem or break/pull off the wheel leaving a bent wheel with a hole in it. The pipe idea is the best but it should be pretty short so it won't bend and welded all around so it stays there. But really the rubber stems are cheap and easy to replace (you don't have to dismount the tire). As for the bubble it's hard to say whether it was a bad tire or got cut internally running flat. Good luck on the tire warranty.

 

[copperhead1967]

WOW, do you ever take it off the road
I have slime in all four tires and I only have 95 hours on mine.

I guess the tractor gods smile on me in that reguard. I sometimes use the Fel as a "brush hog", clearing and maintaining trails on the property. I've been thru some nasty stuff and never had any issue until recently with the tires.
I've buried the tractor in muck up to the frame and had to pull it out a half a dozen times or so. Thats after spinning the tires and exhausting all means of escape. I have the Ag tires on my Bx maybe thats helping.
I've been looking at the undercarraige protector that protects the hydro filter and fan but have been lucky there too. I've "mulched" more than a few saplings while out clearing and the fan is holding up good.
My wife on the other hand has had 5 flats in the past 2 years on her vehicle . The guy at the tire shop told her last time "that will be $12.23, but you already now that".
I'm thinking of installing a magnet to her front bumper to pick up all the scrap iron she manages to find. I figure I can retire in 5 years or so off the scrap.

 

[Berniep]

I've been looking at the undercarraige protector that protects the hydro filter and fan but have been lucky there too.

I know the way my luck runs so I started making a skid plate for mine the first day I got it. It took a couple of days to figure out and in that time I managed to wind tall grass up on the power shaft a couple of times.

 

[bx23barry]

<My wife on the other hand has had 5 flats in the past 2 years on her vehicle . The guy at the tire shop told her last time "that will be $12.23, but you already now that".>

My wife has the same trouble but it ends up being a new $200 tire each time (four so far). I think you are supposed to stop driving around when ya get a flat.