SuzukiSavage.com - Flat Tire...leak at valve stem

feelinjunky

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Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
07/28/11 at 08:59:16

I was riding my Savage the other day no problem. Went to ride it NEXT morning and the tire was completely flat on the rim. So I filled it up with my compressor and put some fix-a-flat tire goo inside, and rode off, thinking nothing of it. The next day, same thing happened. After listening, I determined the tire is leaking from the valve stem.I tightened the nut on the valve stem, but it did nothing. I think I might have stripped the screw.

It is a stock tire, wheel and valve stem on a 2001 with 6969 miles (no joke).

Should I just replace the valve stem and that nut? Does it come out from the inside of the rim? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

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EJID

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #1 - 07/28/11 at 09:16:21

Leaking at the valve stem sounds like a tube issue to me. These bikes come stock with a tube in tire setup and unless you have cast wheels you probably have a tube with a hole that needs replaced. When you do replace it (highly recommend having someone else do this) try to get a 90^o stem put on with the valve facing the side without the belt pulley.

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05 S40 15" Memphis Slim, FXDWG Bars, Moved Rear Signals, Saddlebags, Fork Bag, Mini-Tach, Raptor, Cone Filter, Fishtail Muffler, Mix Screw Out 2.5 Turns, 4" Fwd Controls, 147.5 Main/55 Pilot @ 4500

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Routy

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #2 - 07/28/11 at 09:37:16

In a tube type tire set up, a hole anywhere in the tube,.....air will take the point of least resistence, and most times will come out the valve stem hole. So don't let that fool you into thinking that the leak must be at the valve stem.
Unless you can do the job yourself, (for the experienced only) the labor cost may warrant a new tire at the same time ?

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Rich
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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #3 - 07/28/11 at 10:00:10

The nut on a valve stem is for installation purposes...
Lots of people tighten them up, even shops do it,...
...but it really should be loosened after installation...

Put a dab of spit on the valve stem... watch where the bubbles come from...
If they are coming from the valve itself, tighten the valve... not the stem.. and not the cap...
... if the leak is coming from around the stem,... you have a puncture...

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MotoBuddha

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #4 - 07/28/11 at 10:57:46

Serowbot wrote on 07/28/11 at 10:00:10:

Put a dab of spit on the valve stem...

Or spray some cleaner, like 409, on it. Easier than trying to spread spit and you get bigger bubbles -- often a string of them leading back to the leak.

As far as changing a tube goes (ignoring for a moment the work of removing and reinstalling the rear wheel assembly) it takes a set of tire irons (the longer the better) and not being a total spaz. I mean, it can't be that tricky if I can do it.

If you put a little air in the new tube, you can prevent it from getting twisted as you stuff it into the tire (which has just one side off the rim, of course). Then, if you inflate it some more, you can better avoid pinching it between the rim and tire irons as you muscle the tire back on. Oh, and spray soapy water on the edge of the tire to help it slide on and off easier.

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feelinjunky

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #5 - 07/28/11 at 11:17:31

Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago. Yea, then I have a tube leak. Air comes out just underneath the screw, not from the valve itself.

But how can a hole in the tube just randomly appear like that? No nails, no offroading...beats me. Literally drove it from school Tuesday and Wed morning DEAD flat...May have something to do with the fact that it's 11 years old.

I'll just get a tube and replace it, similar to my bicycle tire. I know, it's different so don't go jumping all over me, but I honestly see nothing hard about it. The trick wouls be not to puncture the tube as you're putting the tire on the rim, but I can take care of it.

Thanks a lot for all your help, guys. I also have a fog light project lined up, so I'll take care of both at once.

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feelinjunky

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #6 - 07/28/11 at 11:23:35

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 10:57:46:

Serowbot wrote on 07/28/11 at 10:00:10:

Put a dab of spit on the valve stem...

Oh, and spray soapy water on the edge of the tire to help it slide on and off easier.

...from experience Everclear works best. Most people don't know about this, but the reason the tire sticks to the wheel is because of nonpolar intermolecular interactions between the tire and the metal wheel. If you put a highly polar substance like ethanol between them, the tire and wheel repel ethanol and don't want to interact, making it easier to slip the tire over the wheel (think of oil floating on water - they don't want to interact). And when you're done, the ethanol just evaporates. Make sure you use 95% ethanol and not 100% because 100% ethanol conrains benzene, a toxic carcinogen.

feelinjunky.....amateur chemist.

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EJID Serious Thumper Offline Work to ride and ride to work. Posts: 1536 Pocatello, ID Gender:	Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem Reply #7 - 07/28/11 at 11:38:22 Throw up some pics of the fog light install as you do them too, would you? Been considering something like that myself.
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MotoBuddha Serious Thumper Offline Let's roll! Posts: 1416 Charlotte, NC	Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem Reply #8 - 07/28/11 at 13:38:47 feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31: Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago. Wire spoke wheels require tubes.
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem Reply #9 - 07/28/11 at 16:10:59 I just did a new rear tire and found spray silicone to work as good as any soap I've ever used. The OEM tire is easy compared to the new Dunlop,......a much heavier stiffer tire. Tire irons are needed for removal, but a tire (rubber) mallet only should be used for installing.
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Gyrobob Serious Thumper Offline Posers ain't motorcyclists Posts: 2571 Newnan, GA Gender:	Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem Reply #10 - 07/28/11 at 16:28:22 MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 13:38:47: feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31: Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago. Wire spoke wheels require tubes. And rim strips between the tubes and wheels....
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MotoBuddha

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #11 - 07/28/11 at 18:33:10

Gyrobob wrote on 07/28/11 at 16:28:22:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 13:38:47:

feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31:

Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago.

Wire spoke wheels require tubes.

And rim strips between the tubes and wheels....

...to protect the tube from the nipples.

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #12 - 07/28/11 at 18:44:51

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 18:33:10:

Gyrobob wrote on 07/28/11 at 16:28:22:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 13:38:47:

feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31:

Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago.

Wire spoke wheels require tubes.

And rim strips between the tubes and wheels....

...to protect the tube from the nipples.

...so it don't leak. Shocked

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drums1

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #13 - 07/28/11 at 20:52:07

verslagen1 wrote on 07/28/11 at 18:44:51:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 18:33:10:

Gyrobob wrote on 07/28/11 at 16:28:22:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 13:38:47:

feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31:

Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago.

Wire spoke wheels require tubes.

And rim strips between the tubes and wheels....

...to protect the tube from the nipples.

...so it don't leak. Shocked

Ya, what they said..... Smiley

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feelinjunky

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Re: Flat Tire...leak at valve stem
Reply #14 - 07/29/11 at 05:20:51

drums1 wrote on 07/28/11 at 20:52:07:

verslagen1 wrote on 07/28/11 at 18:44:51:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 18:33:10:

Gyrobob wrote on 07/28/11 at 16:28:22:

MotoBuddha wrote on 07/28/11 at 13:38:47:

feelinjunky wrote on 07/28/11 at 11:17:31:

Okay, I didn't know we had a tube. I thought they stopped making that years ago.

Wire spoke wheels require tubes.

And rim strips between the tubes and wheels....

...to protect the tube from the nipples.

...so it don't leak. Shocked

Ya, what they said..... Smiley

Why would spoke wheels require tubes? Wheel flex?

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