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General => Technical | How To => Topic started by: houndguy on November 17, 2013, 10:00:50 PM

Title: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: houndguy on November 17, 2013, 10:00:50 PM
Came across this in another forum.  I may try it because checking pressure is a pain in the ass.

http://www.fixaflat.com/products/accessories/tire-pressure-valve-caps-32-psi/ (http://www.fixaflat.com/products/accessories/tire-pressure-valve-caps-32-psi/)

What you think?
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: Vivo on November 18, 2013, 01:37:00 AM
It works by constantly pressing on the valve stem needle thus bypassing the valve and relying on its rubber o-ring to keep the air in... If the cap is not very tight, you will loose air... not a good way to keep the air in tho...  Unlike the stock valve... the tire pressure helps push the valve tight, thus a more efficient way to prevent air escape...  I would rather regularly check the air pressure with a good ol' tire gauge...  ;)
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: TLRam1 on November 18, 2013, 05:17:39 AM
And if the plastic top pieces bust, you are out of air.
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: Vivo on November 18, 2013, 06:01:54 AM
And if the plastic top pieces bust, you are out of air.

Yes, even if the plastic cap is not glued well by the factory, you will loose air and you will be wondering why...  ???
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: SaltyDog on November 19, 2013, 02:52:06 PM
+1 on the questionable quality of these. 

I bought a couple sets of these 3 years back.  Admittedly, they sat in a closet for a couple of years until I got around to putting them on, but when I did open the package, the cap on one of them did partially come off (and so I never ended up putting those on the bike, or anything for that matter).

Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: ophelia on November 19, 2013, 09:39:15 PM
Checking with a tire gauge shouldn't be too much of a pain in the butt. Is there anything that would make checking with a stick tire gauge easier for you?
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: TLRam1 on November 19, 2013, 09:51:39 PM
Go with a in-tire TPMS system, no issue with that. 
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on November 20, 2013, 12:03:52 AM
Checking with a tire gauge shouldn't be too much of a pain in the butt. Is there anything that would make checking with a stick tire gauge easier for you?
The next time I get tires I will ask them to put one of those angled valve stems on BOTH ends of my scoot, not just the front tire. My digital tire gauge is useless on the rear, and you gotta hold your mouth just right to get a stick gauge in there. When the stem pops up it almost always hits something back there!
Still, tire pressure is #2 in importance to me - only after checking the oil.
Checking the air is only a piece of work when you've reached a certain age, & after a certain number of knee surgeries. Gravity gets you down there - and I've put a neighbor kid on a retainer to get me back up.
Stig
Title: Re: Tire pressure valve caps?
Post by: Urbestfriend on November 20, 2013, 01:34:33 PM
Urbestfriend used the valve caps for a period of time and then gave up.  Now I just kick the tires or hit them with an orange plastic mallet for a B Flat tone.  I did use a Harbor Freight tire filler with a gauge.  Found out I was running my X3 with 60# of air,  but did get good gas mileage.