Anyone ever use these valve stems?

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kjsett
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Re: Anyone ever use these valve stems?

Post by kjsett »

Rubber 90 degree valve stems. IMHO, get them changed out as soon as possible. I had a tire shop put on 90's and thought they would be metal like the rear (i didn't know to ask), but they weren't. They were harder to check and fill than the straights for me. But:
After a few months of normal use we took a trip from Phoenix, to Rushmore, across Montana to the coast of Washington, then down the coast of California. So far so good, but on the supposedly last day of the trip, in the desert of California (1 1/2 hours from Bullhead City where the nearest bike shop was ) the stem cracked and dumped it's air. I was already slowing down to stop at a closed Rest area's off ramp when it happened, or its anyone's guess (pulling a trailer).
Got enough air in it to move the bike over to shade (at least the water was still on at the doggy faucet), but restrooms were closed. Apparently anyone who needed to would use out back of there and it had accumulated. :!!
Nuff to say that we pulled my wheel, took off my wife's stuff to mount it on the back, I left here in the shade in 95F weather and I rode down into 109F heat thru ... to Bullhead City where the bike shop fixed me up. Reloaded with water and such and rode back. Unfortunately the sun had moved so installed the tire in the sun on asphalt. At least it all worked out, but I was shot so we only made it to Kingman AZ that night getting the last room at a Motel 6 since there was a convention in town.
All that to say, I wouldn't trust it. Never again, must have too much centrifugal force on the rubber bend would be my guess.
If You Can See Me - There I Am
Ken & Shelley (Harley the dog now in heaven)
Ken - '03 Voyager XII - Shelley - '97 Vulcan VN800A
formerly: 1965 Honda CB50; 1972 Honda CJ350; '80 Suzuki GS450L; '79 Yamaha XS1100;
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