Suspiciously Leaky Valve Stem

[jmdaniel]

So last Friday, I was in West, Texas, (not west Texas), with the CenTex PGR group, attending funeral services for one of the 12 First Responders who died in the huge fertilizer plant explosion; the last to be buried.

We were saddled up, ready to escort the gentleman's ashes to the cemetery, when a bystander stepped up to me and mentioned that my back tire was very low. I looked, and it sure as hell was! I broke from the formation and carefully made my way to a gas station, where I aired the tire back up, all the while cursing Yamaha for not putting 90 degree air stems on the bike. When I finished filling it, I noticed that there seemed to be a very faint flow of air coming back out of the stem. Not having a stem tool, I slapped the cap back on and headed home. About halfway there, I stopped in Temple for some gas, and to visually check the tire, and everything seemed fine. Made it home, threw it on the center stand, and aired the tire to the proper 41 psi, noticing again that there seemed to be just the slightest amount of air coming back out.

Went out in the garage the next day, and you guessed it, the tire was flat. Or would have been, had the bike not been on the center stand. Headed out to buy a stem tool, and when I adjusted the stem "innards" back into the stem, it was about 1/2 to 3/4 turn to tight. Put air in it to the proper psi, and left for a few hours. Came back, no problem, tire psi was right where I left it.

Okay, here's my question. I suspect a few of you have attended PGR events, and noticed the lack of metrics. A few Gold Wings, sure. But a overwhelming majority of Hardlys. And a lot of Hardly folks are good people, but there is always one or two that is still fighting Pearl Harbor. You know, when Japan attacked the US by dropping thousands of Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis, and Kawasakis on us, forever harming the boys from Milwaukee. Do you suppose one or two of these knuckle heads decided to mess with the Feejer by creating a slow leak in the back tire? There were a few times that morning that I was out of sight from my bike, and it doesn't take long to tweak a valve stem. I've never had an issue on a PGR ride, but I have also never had a valve stem all of a sudden start acting like that.

Just wondering....

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

Things come loose sometimes, I doubt they would mess around at a funeral anyway.

 

[FJReady]

Paging Jeff at bikeeffects.com... good source for 90 (85) degree valve stems.

and I hope fellow riders of any brand wouldn't stoop so low as to mess with your bike.

 

[lonerider]

Mine had a similar issue with the front, a very slow leak. Checked it with leak detector and it was leaking around the base of the valve, where it goes through the wheel (possible dry rot). Changed over to the 90 degree stems and haven't had a problem since. Doubt if anyone messed with yours, likely just poor quality OEM parts, like mine.

 

[jmdaniel]

Things come loose sometimes, I doubt they would mess around at a funeral anyway.

I just thought the timing was very odd.

Paging Jeff at bikeeffects.com... good source for 90 (85) degree valve stems.
and I hope fellow riders of any brand wouldn't stoop so low as to mess with your bike.

Thanks, I'll look into them.

Mine had a similar issue with the front, a very slow leak. Checked it with leak detector and it was leaking around the base of the valve, where it goes through the wheel (possible dry rot). Changed over to the 90 degree stems and haven't had a problem since. Doubt if anyone messed with yours, likely just poor quality OEM parts, like mine.

The stems aren't actually OEM, as they get changed every time I get new tires.

 

[wfooshee]

No PGR rider would do such a thing. I doubt even the lowest scumbag gangster folks would do that. If they wanted to mess with your bike, they'd destroy it.

 

[mferriter]

You can buy replacement Schrader valve cores (the part inside the valve stem) and the little valve removal tool for a few dollars. I've replaced a couple over the years that someone injected "Slime" into the tire through.

Or you can use the little valve removal tool to tighten your existing ones as well if something's come loose. I doubt anyone who rides a Harley would have the fine motor skills to use one of these. That and the fact that their hands are numb from all the vibration.

 

[Afast03nNJ]

I had a schrader valve on the expansion tank on my boiler suddenly decide to purge. They fail sometimes, just like any other mechanical device.

 

[jmdaniel]

You can buy replacement Schrader valve cores (the part inside the valve stem) and the little valve removal tool for a few dollars. I've replaced a couple over the years that someone injected "Slime" into the tire through.
Or you can use the little valve removal tool to tighten your existing ones as well if something's come loose. I doubt anyone who rides a Harley would have the fine motor skills to use one of these. That and the fact that their hands are numb from all the vibration.

That's what I bought. It's actually a Slime product, with 4 replacement stems, the tool, 8 replacement caps, and a gauge, for $5. I thought that was a pretty nice deal.

 

[DennisJ]

Got to love the straight valves stems the FJR comes with. The first time I checked the air pressure it only took about 10 minutes for the front. The rear took a little longer after I finally removed the right side rear case so I could actually see where the valve stem was. One of the very first things I ordered and changed at the first tire change. There are a number of 90 degree valve stem suppliers out there. I think I got mine from Curvy Girl (curvygirl.com) but I could have been through Sound Rider (soundrider.com) who also are the only vendor I've found who sells them individually.

 

[RadioHowie]

 

[r1byker]

No PGR rider would do such a thing. I doubt even the lowest scumbag gangster folks would do that. If they wanted to mess with your bike, they'd destroy it.

+1. If someone really wanted to do you in, he would've ice-picked the tire and then keyed the paint, all in about 10 seconds. And then knocked it over.

 

[Road_Runner]

How did ray Davies put it?... Paranoia may destroy ya...

Never heard of a valve stem being too tight. Suspect that just pulling it out and putting it back in reseated it. Either that, or they actually are out to get you.

 

[jmdaniel]

How did ray Davies put it?... Paranoia may destroy ya...
So where is it leaking from? You may find a tack hole or something, and this may help to quell your feeling that everyone is out to get you (which they probably are).

Read the first post. Valve stem. The valve itself was 1/2 turn backed out.

 

[Road_Runner]

How did ray Davies put it?... Paranoia may destroy ya...

So where is it leaking from? You may find a tack hole or something, and this may help to quell your feeling that everyone is out to get you (which they probably are).

Read the first post. Valve stem. The valve itself was 1/2 turn backed out.

Yes I missed that the first time I read it. I edited my post, but you caught it before I submitted the edit.

 

[jmdaniel]

No worries. Unless you were the guy that backed it out, and are trying to craft a story...

 

[Chuck35]

A guy I used to work with was feuding with another. He would back his schrader valves out 1/4 turn. This resulted in 4 flats the next morning. If it was sabotage it could have been much earlier.

 

[rbentnail]

Paging Jeff at bikeeffects.com... good source for 90 (85) degree valve stems.

Search fleabay for Ariete Bridgeport 90/83. Same thing, 1/2 the price.

 

[jmdaniel]

Paging Jeff at bikeeffects.com... good source for 90 (85) degree valve stems.

Search fleabay for Ariete Bridgeport 90/83. Same thing, 1/2 the price.

Thanks for the tip. The ones at Bikeeffects are a bit steep.