The bits that you screw round the valves on tubes...

spezial
spezial Posts: 142
edited August 2010 in Workshop
is there any real need for them? I've always blindly screwed them on as a matter of course. They seem quite useful when you initially inflate a tube, but after that they inevitably just come loose and are always the culprit when you are looking for "that annoying rattle/noise" coming from the bike.
If I take that bold step and ride without them, can I expect untold punctures and tyre pressure problems, or are they as pointless as I suspect they might be?
"what's it pertaining?"

Comments

  • Chrissz
    Chrissz Posts: 727
    I never used to use them - until I got some deep section rims! Now I find that they stop the valves rattling in the rim. Before that they were as useful as a chocolate teapot on a BBQ!! :)

    I still don't use the valve caps though!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Careful! They hold the wheel securely against the tyre.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    They're useful for stopping the valve being pushed into the rim when fitting a pump head; apart from that, they have no function. Apart from to rattle and fall off, as you say. I gave up on them long ago.
  • spezial
    spezial Posts: 142
    Is that tongue in cheek NapD? It seems like such a stupid question that I wasn't sure if I'd be able to separate a serious answer from a whimsical one!

    And Chrissz, you are surely living on the edge not using valve caps, what if..you know..?
    "what's it pertaining?"
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    NapD speaks wise words :lol:
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • spezial
    spezial Posts: 142
    Well just to be on the safe side, I'll take them off, and hold the tyre on the wheel with my hand for the first few miles to make sure.
    "what's it pertaining?"
  • Weejie54
    Weejie54 Posts: 750
    Well just to be on the safe side, I'll take them off, and hold the tyre on the wheel with my hand for the first few miles to make sure.

    Both tyres, mind.
  • morxy
    morxy Posts: 114
    I don't like them and see no compelling need for them. They require the valve stem to be threaded and I find that wears out the head of my pump when I keep pushing it on and pulling it off.

    All Michelin tubes (Aircomp Latex, Aircomp UltraLight and Butyl Airstop) have smooth, unthreaded valve stems and it's a joy to apply and remove the pump head. It slips on and off nicely.

    I had to buy a new replacement head for my pump recently because the old one no longer "gripped" the valve stem. It appeared to be "chewed up" inside and I'm convinced it was due to forcing it on and off threaded valve stems over the last year. I only use Michelin tubes now.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    That head's ok but this one is the dog's bollocks. Afer using a blackburn head it's an absolute pleasure.

    http://www.topeak.com/products/Floor-Pu ... UpgradeKit
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Not needed on road bikes, on MTBs they may have use as the tyres sometimes creep - but they normally use the other valve type anyway.

    I've not used them in decades and never a prob.
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    On road bikes they can be a bad thing. Most people inflate the tube to 8 bars, screw that little device on & go for a ride and forget about it.

    Gradually air leaks out of the tube and before you know it you're eventually down to 3 or 4 bars if you haven't ridden much (over the winter for example).

    Now the valve is being stretched against the rim hole and it can tear the tube if it's not reinforced around the valve hole... :idea: