getting the valve in!
 

Ok, its not really a bodgers job, but something where a bit of advice would be appreciated.

I have done a good 10 tyre changes now using some rather poor tyre levers bought off Ebay, but at least now I can change the tyre pretty easily without breaking anything or making a total mess of the alloy wheels.

I am running on tube and tyre, but the one thing that causes me no end of grief is getting the valve down the hole. I am doing it solo and usually give up and get help from the nearest and dearest who slots it in whlist I peel the tyre back.

I might not have any help out in the real world and I just can't find an easy way to open up the tyre to get my hand in and also seat the wheel so I can get the valve in.

There must be some wizzend person who might know a better method? Any tips?

Tube valve puller
 

These things work a treat, 7.50 Quid! Yeah I know, cant believe you didn't think of it bier
Enduro Trail Tube Valve Puller Ideal FOR Bumbag OR Pocket | eBay


http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDc3Mw...UfgBg/$_35.JPG

now it all seems so easy!!!

yep, didn't know they existed, but I will see if i can make one first. £7.50 could be spent elsewhere!!!!

Thanks!

Is there not some way that you can use a bit of garden twine, with a slip knot. Push in with one hand, then slip knot over valve. Pull and hold. Should have both hand's free to do job. But that sound's too easy.
John933

Yeah, I have tried, because the valve needs to go 90 degrees and the twine adds to the width of the valve it just won't go through. It will get it close though, so can be part useful.

What would happen if you put the dust cap on, then slotted it under the dust cap? The twin that is?
John933

The dust cap certainly wouldn't go through the hole. There is very little clearance through the hole, just a few fag papers.

I'm going to see if I can make one with an old valve core and a bit of wire, if I can both of them in my pile of junk!

I can't help you then. That's the best I can think of. Sorry.
John933

Hardly news I know, but I'm confused.


We start with a naked rim?


Rim tape on.
Tyre on one bead.
Shove the tube in the tyre starting opposite the valve hole.
Squeeze the tyre opposite the hole and shove it hard down into the well.
Stand the wheel up and stand on the rim pushing the tyre really hard into the well.
Place your hand in the top to get the valve in the hole and fit the nut.
Lay it flat and sort out any possible traps.
Part inflate to avoid traps.
Get the other bead on.
Remove the tyre to get the "spare" tyre lever out. (Clever ***s can skip this bit)
repeat from step one.
fully inflate.


Maybe I just have a womans hands?


Andy

Be quiet there & just go do the dishes :rofl:

I know I am making a mountain out of a molehill but I just find it hard to get the tyre in position and opened up so I can get my hand in. I guess I need to practice it a lot, but I don't want to bother doing that. Trying to make the tool now. Cheers Dave

old mate I knew many years ago had one he made from an old valve and a bit of metal trace from a fishing line.

Oh, there was a swivel in there for some reason too.

It was a long time ago, I can't remember exactly how it was put together
I'm sure you can work it out :)

Big huge cable tie to hold it in the well?

The former fishing float glued to an ex-valve looks worth exploring though.

Andy

I've tried the puller thingies and also used to keep a lever in one side and use a block of wood to hold the tyre away from the rim on the other.

Having done many tyre changes I now just line everything up and slip my fingers under the bead to guide the valve through the hole. Practice it now and it'll hold no fear when you have to do it at the side of the road.

Some tyres are easy and some are a real b'stard due to tight beads and stiff carcasses.

If you're doing it at home in the winter, putting new tyres next to a radiator for a few hours really helps.

1) Put some air in the tube and put the tube inside the wheel.
2) Put the rim into the wheel so the valve fits the hole and tighten the nut.
3) When the wheel is almost on remove the air.

Good luck!

Dave's got it right! :thumbup1:
This tool is THE WAY TO GO! You can try to make one but for the price the "real thing" makes it easy peasy once you've used it a couple times.

There are many tricks guys have to getting the valve stem in ... but this tool eliminates all the fuss.

Since you're practicing changing tires ... what are you using to break the bead? To me, breaking the bead on certain tires/wheel combos on certain stubborn rims is the really tough part of tire changing. Spooning tire Off/On is easy by comparison.

The DR650 wheel really "grabs and holds" the tire bead, not letting the bead slip into wheel well (break). You can ride a flat for 50 miles on some tires ... bead will not break. :helpsmilie:

I carry a BIG C Clamp ... I hear the Motion Pro bead breaker does a great job ... have not tried it yet. C Clamp is a PITA to pack/carry ... but it DOES break the bead on my DR650.

Do yourself a favor ... buy the Value pully thingy. Well worth it! bier

I've seen that valve stem puller thing on sale and wondered how effective it is. If it worked it would make life a little easier but there are so many snake oil gadgets around in the bike world that cynicism is usually my first response these days. It does work then - does it?

I usually end up using the Churchillian method of tyre changing - " nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat", and when I've failed to get the valve stem in place after about twenty attempts there's usually plenty of all of that all over the tyre as well as soap, WD40 and just about any other liquid I have to hand. I mean, how hard can it be? It's usually at this point I start fantasising about alternatives like split rims or .... paying someone else to do it. A little window flap on the side of the tyre that you could open and get the valve stem in place that way would be nice but I'm sure there's a downside to it somewhere along the line. :confused2:

Pride however means I end up determined to see it through irrespective of the state of my fingers afterwards. I know many of you here are seven feet tall with fingers of steel and able to rip a tyre from its rim with your bare hands
so none of this poses a problem but my lily white girly fingers have a hard time with many enduro type tyres. Some of these things have sidewalls made of concrete and you just cannot get any space under them to reach the valve stem. My record (fortunately some years back now) is a day and a half to change a rear Michelin Desert on my CCM Excel rim. And that was in my garage. It would have been a long and lonely session at the side of the road.

There is a different method. With one side of tyre on rim, but tube not yet in tyre. Use 2 levers, a few inches either side of valve hole in rim, levers jamed into well of rim, lever 2nd bead onto rim at the valve hole, gently kneel on levers, pushing second bead well onto rim, but only in the regon of the valve hole. With just the right amount of presure on the levers with your knees, the valve hole will be exposed. Slip the valve stem of the tube into the hole, put a nut on, or a valve cap to stop it coming out. Remove levers, pull the 2nd bead back past the valve (of the rim), so you can then install the tube into the tyre, then put second bead on as normal
like everything, requires a little practice, but it works fine, no extra tools required. It is the method I use as my first choise, either on the floor at home, or on the side of the road.
kneeling on the levers takes a little practice, as they are inclined to slip.

I've never given that method a try (Sprinter), but I've sometimes thought of it but discounted it as I would expect to damage the tybe too much trying to get the bead over it. Again, practice makes perfect.

I so sympathise with you, back of beyond, because this is my experience, trying a trying, getting more frustrated and wearing away your fingers. I don't fancy that in the middle of nowhere!

Still working on a home made, just got to be sure it is tough enough!

Attachment 14882

'Ere we go. Its light and cheap and has worked. I don't think it would put up with much rough treatment, but more than anything, it gets in in the right position quick and easy and a little re-adjustemnt will slide the valve into place.

With it being just a little bit of wire, the core remover works with it quite easy too.

The bead on my bike is not too hard to break, a little bit of jumping up and down on it and a tyre lever will get it off with just a small amount of effort. I guess I am lucky in that sense!

I feel your pain !!! :helpsmilie: I loath tire changes/flat repair. In Mexico I've ridden many miles (out of my way) to get to a Llantero shop to avoid having to break down the bead. I don't mind front tires ... but rear tires are a bloody and bruised affair. :nono:

The little valve gizmo does work ... if you know how it works and at what stage you should pull the valve through.

No tools required:

From 5:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_A9VeM-XLc

Great if you get a puncture 200 metres from a Honda work shop.

Totally useless if you are by the side of the road/ miles from anywhere!

We all need real world solutions to problems that happen on the road.

I love home made/cheap/ not exactly repair manual sanctified proceedures because they get the job done, where no workshop is available.

I think everyone likes and appreciates that! hopefully!

??? Did you see how he got the valve in? I've done it like this for years, but it's up to you.

I have changed more tyres than i could possibly count and the youtube video as linked up by Alibaba is right on the money. This method does not need to be done in a Honda equipped workshop and works perfectly well in the middle of nowhere with just the tools one should carry on a trip or trail riding. I know, I've done it and I've used this method for at least 20yrs. The fact that the guy did the job with wheel on a purpose made stand was for convenience and is not essential. This is "real world" and doesn't require the purchase of another special tool. Its also the best method for those people who use rimrocks.