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Topic: Tire valves (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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Tire valves
Yahoo Message Number: 24234
I see lots of discussion about tire valves.  Are these valves on the 2003 Ford E450 any better or worse than other dually valves?  Can they be managed like any trucker manages dually valves?  Doesn't the special replacement extention make the wheel position unchangeable? If I have a dual foot guage and chuck am I OK?
Re: Tire valves
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24247
Quote
If I have a dual foot guage and chuck am I OK?
Your dual-head chuck will work just fine if you take the wheel liners off. The problem is the handholes are too small in the wheel liners to get access.

Possible solutions:

1. Leave the wheel liners off and use the stock valves.
2. Put valve extensions on.
3. Replace the valves with long curved ones like the Tire Man makes.
4. Replace the steel wheels with aluminum ones. That way you don't  need any stinking wheel liners.
Re: Tire valves
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24259
"I see lots of discussion about tire valves.  Are these valves on the 2003 Ford E450 any better or worse than other dually valves?"

The valves that Ford puts on the E450 standard are rubber/brass valves not all metal with a rubber gasket and nuts holding them in place.

"Can they be managed like any trucker manages dually valves?"

Not very easily!

"Doesn't the special replacement extention make the wheel position unchangeable?"

I really don't know about the type the Tire Man custom bends or you can have done at other tire shops but I can imagine they could if you need to change the wheel position for some reason. Duallies shouldn't be rotated unless the matching tire is within 1//4" diameter of the other in the pair or you'll have problems with both tires. Ford doesn't even recommend rotating the duals at all and if you do they recommend you keep the pairs together and only change the side they are on. Most auto mfgs recommend the same.

"If I have a dual foot guage and chuck am I OK?"
 That depends on the gauge and if you want to remove the wheel liners.
I tried with a a couple different dual foot gauges I had and none worked well due to the hand hole size and the angle of the valves.
Bob says he can do it with the wheel liners off but he may have different wheels on his than are on mine. Ford uses wheels from a few different mfgs and they all have slightly different configurations.
That's why The Tire Man won't ship his custom bent valves and requires you bring the rig to him to install. Other tire shops that install long or custom bent valves need to see the wheels first to make sure they have the right type for your rig. Some E series chassis' may have more than one brand wheel on them also.

I've had Dicor extenders on my LD since Dec 2000 and have never had any problems with leaking. I check the extenders to make sure they're tight on the valve and monitor them to make sure they aren't being chafed. With good quality extenders you don't have to worry about tire position, having them damaged when changing tires, or other concerns and they make checking and adjusting the pressure easy. I have nickel-plated solid brass extenders on the front tires also.

Mike R