Valve Stem Install/Removal

[ZSK]

Obviously removal is pretty straight forward. Grab them with a pair of vice grips or channel locks and pry them out. What baffles me is the installation aspect of valve stems. It seems about every fourth one leaks or rips apart. Is there a special trick to installing them?

 

[ZSK]

Hmm....

 

[canyoncritter]

when I did tires in a shop we had one like this and it worked like a charm to install and to remove valve stem's

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mils449.html

 

[whitetrash96]

Hmm....

I use the pictured tool with a little dish soap mixed with water in spray bottle, no problems. Are you lubing them when they are installed?

 

[ZSK]

I used WD-40 or similar lube when installing. I've never been able to install the valve stems from the inside of the wheel, but I've never had the correct tool for it either.

 

[High Desert Ranger]

I used WD-40 or similar lube when installing. I've never been able to install the valve stems from the inside of the wheel, but I've never had the correct tool for it either.

Do you install them from the outside of the wheel?!?

 

[ZSK]

Yes

 

[F150hybred]

There was a tool some time ago that DID allow a person to replace a valve stem without breaking the bead of a tire. It looked like a long tapered tube to squish the large end of the valve stem down and allow it to pass through the hole. The valve stem was attached to a long pole type apparatus that would allow you to pull it into the hole after it had passed through the compression tube. Seemed ingenious at the time... didn't work for shit though.