Proper routing of valve extenders

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Proper routing of valve extenders

July 29, 2020, 12:46:59 am

So after reading some recent posts about Tire Man and valve extenders I decided to check on mine. I’ve had a very slow leak of about 5lbs a month from an inner tire so it’s been on my short list to check into.

I have a theory that the curved routing shown in the one picture could put some pressure on the connection to loosen over time. The other picture shows the opposite side where I rotated the simulator to place the extender in a more straight position seems to place less stress on the extender/valve connection.

Is there a prescribed way to route extenders to the hub?

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #1 – July 29, 2020, 02:34:16 am

Steve,

I have no personal experience with the braided valve stem ‘extenders’ that you picture.

Many of us on LDOF prefer sold ‘Valve Stems’ rather than the braided ‘extenders’. Borg makes very reliable solid steel one piece dually valve stems.

The inner & outer dually tires have the stem mounted directly into the rim. The inner dually stem passes through a rubber boot that is installed in the outer dually rim. This prevents the stem from contacting the outer rim.

The outer dually solid stem is shaped like horse shoe and ends up coming around and through the steel hub cap rim simulator.

Valve ‘extenders’ can fail and cause leaks. They attach to the tire valve itself and therefore create a two piece valve stem. Something that is avoided by the solid one piece stem assembly.

Some here have had success with braided ‘extenders’ while others prefer the ‘solid valve stem’.

Here is a pic that I have posted in the past. This is our dually set up.

The solid valve stems are relatively inexpensive. A good tire center can install the dually set for about $50.

Hope this helps. Safe travels.

Kent

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #2 – July 29, 2020, 03:25:55 am

I have a theory that braided valve extenders leak. I have not found studies that have rejected that null hypothesis.
I've heard that BOAT is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand which is called a Boat Dollar. An RV Dollar is estimated to be 1/2 a Boat Dollar. Budget to replace the braided valve stems for solid ones. Be careful, inexperienced tire store staff do not understand extended valve stems. Explain to the supervisor what needs be done, and keep an eye on the process.
Keep 'check tire pressure' on your 'Activities of Daily Living' on the road, and install solid stems expeditiously.
Joel

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #3 – July 29, 2020, 03:28:33 am

Hi Steve (73); I had those valve extenders on my previous (non LD) motorhome. I didn't know about the one piece stems (I'll call them Borg), so I put a new set of flex hose stems on my '99 TK. They are still there. Discount tire did manage to mangle one the last set of tires I bought this March. So I temporarily put on an even older one hose that I had on my spare so I could check that pressure without removing the tire. I bought a new set, I guess I got my money's worth out of those 20 year old ones.
   I put in clamp-in metal valve stems in 2000. They still work. The angle and straight extensions have to be on tight. A bit hard to do, but necessary. I have a rubber grommet that fits and stays in the wheel simulator. You have to have it. Your rerouted hose picture looks the best to me. The hoses can move around a little with speed. I feel safer about the hoses if they are prevented from hitting the simulator. The braided housing will be cut through by the simulator.
I did have a problem with a persistent leak at high altitude. (8300') The caps the hoses came with, had a neoprene o-ring inside, that swelled up with low pressure enough that when the cap was tightened, it would press on the Schrader valve and let air leak out past the threads. About 3-4 psi. per hour. I removed all of the o-rings from the 4 caps. Never had that problem again. On this LDO site I found out about the V2B alligator cap. Amazon.com: Alligator V2B Inflate Through Valve Stem Cap Gator Auto RV Semi... . A big time saver, and you don't lose valve caps.   I use them on my other cars. When you get new tires, don't let them throw them away with the old stems. (I'm going to judge here), many of the technicians have never seen these, and haven't a clue what they are. I usually remove them now, and restore them afterwards.
   I was going to switch to the 'Borg' type (thanks Krmugn), but I have the mounting angles on the hub covers, so stayed with what I've had for so long. RonB

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Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #4 – July 29, 2020, 03:39:36 am

Hi Joel, I guess you replied just before I got my post done. I've heard that people have problems with the extension hoses, but once I got the junctions to the valve stems tight, they've been good to me. Discount tire did screw with them at my last tire change, they want to unscrew the schrader valve to empty the air from the tire faster. Too bad they weren't good enough this last change to get it right, when they reassembled the stems. Still have one very slow leaker. About 10 psi. per 500 miles, doesn't leak otherwise, sitting in my driveway. RonB

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #5 – July 29, 2020, 08:52:05 am

Some years ago I was also using the braided hose valve extenders on previous motorhomes. At the time I was unaware of the solid brass Borg-type extenders. Because of wear and aging of the rubber I would replace them with new hoses until taking a new one fresh out of the package the crimped valve end fell off the hose. I also had a crimped end come off a braided hose that had been on a tire for some time. The crimped ends is the weak point of this style extenders along with the aging of the rubber hose. The Borg extenders are much more reliable.

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #6 – July 29, 2020, 10:17:11 am

Our '83 came with the braided extenders when we bought it in '93. The same set worked fine for another decade or so, through various tire changes. When a leak developed, I replaced them. The new set began leaking soon after, from more than one. I discarded them and have never gone back. I think the quality of those you buy now is inferior to the originals, and coupled with the vulnerability of a flexible hose design, I would recommend tossing them and put the wheel covers aside until you can have solid stems installed.

Steve

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #7 – July 29, 2020, 11:14:34 am

Hi Steve and Mike: The new set I bought, hasn't been installed yet. I'm hoping the quality is at least equal to what I put on 20 years ago. If not, I have a 'Borg' type set ready to go. Thanks for the 'heads up'. RonB

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #8 – July 29, 2020, 03:51:01 pm

Ron, This reminds me of a saying from long ago: "BE LAZY, DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME." If you have the Borg, go ahead and install them and not have any more issues with safety.

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #9 – July 30, 2020, 02:02:27 am

Thanks all, I assumed the leak was the fault of the braided extender unscrewing from the valve, I understand now that there are other failure modes. Guess I'll be checking into those Borg extenders!

Steve

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #10 – July 30, 2020, 02:21:19 am

Hi Mike; I've had good luck so far, and both you and Steve used these in the past. With over 30 successful years of experience with flexible hose extensions, (and parents and friends) I trust the concept. Certainly I will check the quality of the one new one I plan to install. WheelMaster is still in business after all these years, and many coaches have no problems with them. I don't consider it a 'safety' issue. I'm not overly impressed with my set of 'Borg' type extensions either.
Steve(73); You can, of course, just tighten the hose to valve stem connection that is leaking, if that is the problem. Snoop is surprisingly good at finding small, slow leaks. RonB

Re: Proper routing of valve extenders

Reply #11 – July 30, 2020, 08:00:06 am

My Borgs came in three days ago. I will probably get installed next month before our longer/further trip.

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