Broken Valve Stems

Recently I manage to break BOTH valve stems while pumping up my tires. I was traveling, and only had my mini pump, not my regular pump. I got the tires pumped up, but the valve stems (right at the end--the part you screw back tight) simply broke off. Presta valves.

This means that I can no longer pump up my tires. I don't know yet if I can let air out and change out the tubes.

Has this happened to anyone else? I think it's a problem with my mini pump technique (I must be twisting it or something--it's hard to pump up to 100 psi with a mini pump).

It's really common for that to happen with mini pumps because you wiggle the thing back and forth to get good leverage. The Road Morph pump or something similar will help with that (there's a platform for your foot) or anything with a separate hose, but those are a bit bigger to lug around.

Change those tubes! Don't ride on broken valves!

Thanks for the info. I do have a road morph, but it's on my other bike; guess I'll start moving it from bike to bike. I'll change those tubes, assuming I can deflate them. They are on my Bike Friday, which has specialty size tubes. I have two more, but I'll need to order some more right away so I don't get stuck tubeless.

If this is a stupid response -- please forgive, but....

I had the screw cap part break off of one of my valves (definitely an "oh sh!t moment), and I was able to screw it back on. (the post itself was intact) I don't know if I just got really lucky, but it still works. I do have to be careful to gently unscrew the valve now, because it has come off a couple more times, but each time (after finding the @#!@ tiny little piece on the floor) was able to replace it.

Just wanted to share that -- it saved me from a tube change. You may be talking about a totally different kind of break, and if so, sorry for the simplistic response!:)

Christy

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Originally Posted by tulip

Thanks for the info. I do have a road morph, but it's on my other bike; guess I'll start moving it from bike to bike. I'll change those tubes, assuming I can deflate them. They are on my Bike Friday, which has specialty size tubes. I have two more, but I'll need to order some more right away so I don't get stuck tubeless.

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If you can find anything to stick up in there to depress the remaining bit of stem, you will be able to get it deflated enough to change the tire.

The only time this ever happened to me was when I had lost the little nut that goes around the Presta valve against the rim. So, when I was pumping the tire, the valve got pressed into the tube and split a leak right at the tube, which of course I didn't realize until the next day when I got my bike out of the car to ride, and am embarrassed to say that I didn't have a spare tire on me. (This is an easy fire road/doubletrack trail and I've never once gotten a flat on my mtb so had gotten a bit lazy). So, no ride for me that day. Lesson learned!

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Originally Posted by csr1210

II had the screw cap part break off of one of my valves (definitely an "oh sh!t moment), and I was able to screw it back on. (the post itself was intact) I don't know if I just got really lucky, but it still works. I do have to be careful to gently unscrew the valve now, because it has come off a couple more times, but each time (after finding the @#!@ tiny little piece on the floor) was able to replace it.

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Dang CSR, I think of myself as someone who doesn't like to throw stuff away, but that's above and beyond! Good job!

How about soldering a little button onto the end of the stem though, to contain the nut? Or would that wind up melting the tube, or the sealing surface of the valve stem? Does anyone know what that sealing surface is - is it metal to metal, or is there a rubber/plastic gasket?

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Originally Posted by csr1210

I had the screw cap part break off of one of my valves (definitely an "oh sh!t moment), and I was able to screw it back on. (the post itself was intact) I don't know if I just got really lucky, but it still works. I do have to be careful to gently unscrew the valve now, because it has come off a couple more times, but each time (after finding the @#!@ tiny little piece on the floor) was able to replace it.

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I think you're talking about the removable core that Schrader tubes (and a few Presta) have. There is actually a little tool which can be used to get the Schrader core screwed back in a little more deeply. If you have Presta tubes, just use a very fine hemostat or tweezers instead. Apply a very, very tiny amount of blue LocTite to the threads first.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Dang CSR, I think of myself as someone who doesn't like to throw stuff away, but that's above and beyond! Good job!

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Thanks - but really -- just pure laziness and dumb luck!:D (It does make my husband a little nervous pumping up my tires though.)