Best valve stems for off-road use

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I recently posted pics of my broken valve stem on my FB wall, which started a conversation with various options.

What valve stems do you all use?

Ohhh and cause I mentioned pics, I know how you guys are...

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[kryptonitecb]

Rubber stems might be better cause they'll bend and flex. A rock ring would solve the problem too.

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[4x4junkie]

Yep.

A buddy of mine had metal stems like those... Had a rock tag one and cracked it (but didn't break it off completely). Needless to say the tire was flat in a matter of minutes.

I had a rock smash one of my rubber stems pretty good once and caused a semi-slow leak but gave me plenty of time to get to a place where I could easily take care of it off the trail. After removing it I found the thread had been fractured where it comes out of the rubber barrel part of the stem (it got smushed pretty good).

I've thought about welding rock rings around them, but never have gotten around to it.
Meantime I just keep a supply of shorty rubber stems in the truck in case I or someone else needs one (½ inch shorter than most-common stems, I think they might've been marked "ATV stems" or something... less chance of getting snagged I'm thinking).

 

[rangerbum]

Get rubber atv/4wheeler valve stems. Same flexible material as auto stems, same diameter hole, short length to avoid catching sticks and rocks.

 

[simpler=better]

I would cut a section of pipe in half and weld a guard like you see on industrial equipment, just be sure to weld the same weight of steel on the other side of the rim

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Hmmm... I like the atv stem idea. Didn't know they were the same diameter.

I might see if my buddy has time to cut some rock rings on his plasma table, and tig em on for me...

What thickness would be good for aluminum rock rings? 1/4" seems common in steel wheels. So 3/8" probably...?

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[4x4junkie]

I would think ¼" 6061 or something similar would be fine.

For steel, I'd use maybe 3/16" at the most (1/4" seems like it would be overkill on anything short of a rock buggy, in which case you'd probably already be running true beadlock wheels).

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

That does seem more reasonable.
I'm kinda scared to price out a 4'x4' chunk of 1/4" 6061 aluminum, that doesn't sound cheap...

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[simpler=better]

That does seem more reasonable.
I'm kinda scared to price out a 4'x4' chunk of 1/4" 6061 aluminum, that doesn't sound cheap...

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Call local shops and see if they have any "drops" of 1/4" alum laying around. you might be able to scrape it together from scraps cheaper.