valve stem failure?

[GSS]

Anyone have valve stems on their JD mower fail?

I was washing the rear wheel on my LT190 when I must have dragged my fingers across the valve stem which pulled the valve stem out of the main section that is attached to the wheel. Unbeknownst to me, my rears are filled with what I later found out is probably Rim Guard, which immediately doused me. Baffled as to what the liquid was and how this could have happened, I went to the other side and gave the valve cap a small tug. This valve separated also and shot an arc of Rim Guard a good 8' from the mower.

Could Rim Guard dissolve glue that is used in these valve stems? I see no other explanation for this failure.

I'll have to get a picture of what happened, as it's difficult to explain how it came apart.

- Gerald

 

[beenthere]

Can't answer that without seeing the stems.

Should be able to see a separation (doubt they are pieced together with glue) or decomposing of the rubber upon closer examination.

Hadn't heard of any Rim Guard problems. But you are apparently not sure if the fluid is Rim Guard. The dealer where the LT190 came from should be of some help as to the fluid used.

 

[CCWKen]

I seem to remember a recall or two on valve stems a while back. The same thing was occurring with automotive wheels after the valve stem was replace during tire replacement. I would check with whoever filled your tires and see if they replaced the valves. Or with the dealer if the tractor was made around (+/-) late 2008.

Google "valve stem recall" and you'll get a bunch of hits.

 

[CCWKen]

Well, it looks like it goes back further than 2008. I don't know what recourse you have at this point except to have new valves put in. The Chinese rubber products leave much to be desired. I'm hearing negative talk on the Vietnamese inner tubes too. The valve stem is separating from the tube.

 

[ralphtt]

I talked with Rim Guard last year when I was trying to locate a local Rim Guard dealer. The Rim Guard representative told me to be sure to replace the rubber valve stems with steel valve stems when I put Rim Guard in the tires.

I had the local Rim Guard dealer do just that. Hopefully I won't have this problem in the future.

 

[joes_427_vette]

Tractor especially, why wouldn't you replace rubber with a steel stem if it comes to tire problems ? Alot more chances of things going bad in off road situations.