Valve stem protectors

KiotiJohn · Apr 2, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The only thing I got extra with my 3054XS was this watch dog. )</font> Maybe you should go back to the dealer and get him to put that hood ornament on the hood where it belongs! Seriously, what a great dog. John

Jeff Lary · Jan 7, 2011

I just put a valve stem protector on a half hour ago because a beach limb cleaned off my rear valve stem.This is the third stem that has been broken like this. I used a 1.5" tall piece of 2 " pipe. I took a strip of paper and wraped it around the pipe to make a template,Then i taped the two end of the paper together to make a paper pipe. Then out to the tractor with a pair of sissors and trimmed the paper pipe till it fit the wheel flush. Then i went back to the real steel pipe slipped the template adound it and marked the outside of the pipe with a marker. On to the grinder to remove the area needed took the pipe to the wheel and welded it in place i also made a light weight tin cover that will, with two small sheet metal screws attach to the top of the pipe and compleatly block off the stem.Tomorrow i will take the tire to the shop and get a new tube and re-fill with calicum.about $150.00 if i remember right. Please forgive any spelling erros i am a tinkerer of sorts not an english teacher.By the way this is my first post but i always seem to end up at this forum so figured i might as well join in.

IslandTractor · Jan 7, 2011

Welcome to TBN Jeff. I admire your ingenuity. The valve stem protector should work fine. Not sure the tin cap is really necessary though. What are you goimg to do for the other wheels? I would imagine if your tires are loaded then you could safely weld protectors on them without removing them so long as you weld "underwater" but don't try it if they are just filled with air. I've seen videos of tires exploding when someone welds the wheel while it is inflated with just air.

SPYDERLK · Jan 7, 2011

IslandTractor said:
Welcome to TBN Jeff. I admire your ingenuity. The valve stem protector should work fine. Not sure the tin cap is really necessary though. What are you goimg to do for the other wheels? I would imagine if your tires are loaded and dont have tubes !then you could safely weld protectors on them without removing them so long as you weld "underwater" but don't try it if they are just filled with air. I've seen videos of tires exploding when someone welds the wheel while it is inflated with just air.

Theyll melt.

IslandTractor · Jan 7, 2011

SPYDERLK said:
Theyll melt.

??????

What will melt?

I was saying that he could weld the protector on the other wheel if it was filled with CaCl. You don't think so?

Mace Canute · Jan 7, 2011

It's dangerous to weld on a rim with the tire mounted. Google "welding on tire rims"...there's lots of information on it. Here's just one video that explains it. YouTube - Wheels of Fire Training Video

The process that causes it is called pyrolysis.

SPYDERLK · Jan 7, 2011

The tube.

IslandTractor · Jan 8, 2011

SPYDERLK said:
The tube.

Yep. Forgot that CaCl requiires tube. I was thinking about fluid on the inside to absorb heat. Welding with a tube inside would not be a good idea.

wallace · Jan 8, 2011

If you want to cap it off just use black water pipe. Then put never seize on the cap and screw it on.

Jeff Lary · Jan 9, 2011

Well for now i will get by the way it is .The next time i have the tire deflated i will put the other on the rear i have it made already.I put the tire on this morning with the help of my son. it took an hour to get the tube replaced with the ballast added. I cover the protectors because some of my land is quite wet and mud and rocks would eventually find their way into the protectors.They may or may not last but for probably a penny each it really is not a big deal.The cost of the tire repair was $75 not $150 i guess i just dreaded it so much i got the ammount confused.

Jeff Lary · Jan 9, 2011

I just went back and re-read the post responce and not sure how you folks do it but up here they put the ballist inside the tube,... You dont want calcium in a wheel unless it is inside a tube or soon 10 or 15 years you will be buying new wheels.They do in some places use a non corrosive ballist but it is not availabe where i go.

IslandTractor · Jan 9, 2011

Jeff Lary said:
I just went back and re-read the post responce and not sure how you folks do it but up here they put the ballist inside the tube,... You dont want calcium in a wheel unless it is inside a tube or soon 10 or 15 years you will be buying new wheels.They do in some places use a non corrosive ballist but it is not availabe where i go.

Yeah, that was my mistake. We don't use CaCl much up here anymore and the other liquid ballasts can be used without a tube so I just plumb forgot about the tube.

Regarding your capping of the stem protector, Rick Wallace's idea seems great...use a pipe nipple to fabricate a protector and then you can just screw on a durable cap.

Jeff Lary · Jan 10, 2011

Well i had already thought of that but i did not have any at home .I like to make due with what i have plus i like to tinker.My Son says sometimes i do things the hard way but whenever possible i like to build whatever i need.
Next on the list of stuff to build is a 20 ton bottle jack press,... and a forge. I want to try forgeing damascus steel from chainsaw chain for a knife blade. And i want the press to imprint my name into the knife.Gives me somthing to do.

jimmysisson · Jan 12, 2011

Skidders generally have about a 2" pipe with threaded plug to keep the stem clear. Here's another way, though probably not for loaded tires: replacement stem with removable fill tube.
Jim

IslandTractor · Jan 12, 2011

jimmysisson said:
Here's another way, though probably not for loaded tires: replacement stem with removable fill tube.
Jim

How would those help? Are they designed to be flexible and not break off?

Redbug · Jan 12, 2011

I also broke my stem off on a branch. This is what I did...took some pipe, cut it off, ovalled it some, and welded it to the puny protector that was already there. I made small welds, (tire on the tractor), then sprayed the rim area down with water to cool it, and repeated the procedure until I was done. No problems since.

Jeff Lary · Jan 12, 2011

To Redbug
very good looking job i will at some point need to install my next onto an inflated tire.I was thinking the same method for me weld a little waret a little and so on glad to hear it worked but do you have a tube ? I do.

Redbug · Jan 13, 2011

Hi Jeff...No, I do not have a tube in them. It might be trickier with a tube in it, since the tube contacts the rim at every point. You could fix your hose sprayer to spray water on the rim while you weld in short bursts. You are not welding the rim...just the piece attached to the rim around the stem. Just do a little at a time. Make sure to oval the pipe...that way it is easier to access to use a pressure gauge or fill with the air compressor.