Inner Tube Valve Stem Install Question

What is the secret when installing an inner tube in a tire and keeping the valve stem in and through the hole such that when you air up the tube, it does
not want to pull back into the rim?

Patched an inner tube on the front tire on my Farmall 350 over the weekend and got it halfway aired up and the valve stem pulled back into the rim.

I hate inner tubes... LOL!

Any sage advice is much appreciated.

Bill

Had you got your inner tube the right way round? If you put a little air in you will find the valve will point in the direction you need to put it in the rim. I was shown how to do that way back in the 1950's when I first started fitting tyres.

I know what you mean - I have tubes in all my tires and many of them want to draw back into the tire when you pump them up. I've found only partially pumping up the tube and then letting the air out once helps before pumping up to pressure. It lets the tube get unkinked from putting it back in and since the bead isn't sealed yet you can move the wheel or tube around to get the valve stem lined up better.

Get one of those gadgets tire shops screw on the valve stem.

Google Milton S-447 valve stem fishing tool. You can probably have it tomorrow. As stated by TF, it is a cable, approx. six inches long with a folding T-handle on one end and a steel valve stem cap on the other.

Right size tube for the tire? Do you use a paste type tire lube on the entire rim? I brush a coating of TruFlate/Camel "Stuff" paste on the entire inside of the rim to help let the tube slide around the rim during assembly and inflation. "Stuff", FreyLube, and other tire mounting pastes provide lubrication and most help prevent corrosion/and rusting. I use the paste on the tire beads during installation as well, stays in place and gives better lubrication than liquids. As Majorman posted, inner tube stems are generally off center, so the first thing is to be sure the stem orientation matches the offset direction of the hole in the rim.

I use a chain or cable "fish" that screws to the stem threads run through the rim hole, allowing the stem to drop inside during the installation of the second tire bead (I leave the tubes uninflated during installation). Once the bead is on the rim the fish can be used to bring the stem out through the rim hole. I bounce and shake the tire a few times while pulling the stem into place to help center the stem to the hole. Once the stem seems free in the rim hole, I lightly clamp the stem, near the rim, with a small pair of needle nose vise grips to hold it out for filling. I remove the valve core and use a free flow chuck to inflate the tube to seat the beads. Once the beads are seated, I remove the chuck and let the tube deflate. I do this a couple times to let the tube find its "happy spot", then I put the core in and inflate it, removing the vise grips from the stem once the tube has air enough in it that the stem stays out on its own.

"Fishes" work to bring the stem out through the hole, but you have to remove them to inflate the tube, that is where small vise grips, or such, lightly clamped on the stem near the rim will hold the stem during inflation.

I should have added, the stem will pull out of the lightly clamped vise grips if the tube is not in correctly. The intent of the vise grips is only to hold the stem out so a lock on chuck can be placed on the stem.

This post was edited by Jim.ME on 08/08/2022 at 04:23 am.

If it's trying to pull back as the tube is inflating, stop!

Something is wrong, he tube is folded, twisted, or in backward. Let the air out, shake the wheel around, try again. Maybe it will straighten out. If not it will have to be straightened out.

I do it like Majorman tells. Work better for not pinching the tube with the bar prying it on the rim. I also put one side on the wheel/rim before putting the tube in. If it is hard to put in you have to much air in the tube. Will still be a bit stiff but should hold it's shape when it. Then a fish will let it fall in and be gotten out when ready to inflate. I don't bother with all the inflating and letting flat. If they are in the right direction they usually will be fine. Now the other thing is if you got a tube for an implement tire is different than a tube for a car tire. the stem position on the tube can be different location around the tube sideways. Or if the hole in the wheel /rim has been changed might be in a different rotation of the tube to hole position.

I use a 6 needle nose vise grip on the stem.

X2

The valve stem is NOT in center of tube but offset to side so it will not do that as the rim hole is ofset to side, Make sure the stem is offset to the side of rim where the hole is, if it is not you will very likely have to punctur the tube to let out the air you have gotten in to pull the stem in because the tube is in backwards.

Thanks for the replies everyone - much appreciated!

Ditto, I learned a lot also........my brother has been in the tire business for over 40 years now, I asked him how to tell if I have fluid in the tires, he said simply park it with valve stem at the bottom, remove core and see if air or fluid coming out. I felt like a complete idiot.......DUH

First off installing the tube correctly. If installed backward the stem get sucked in. Also having a T type stem tool that can be screwed onto the stem helps or the flex type stem pull tool

Even if you have the tube in right, it still will try to pull back into the rim during initial inflation. Modern tubes don't have the valve stems in the right place for older rims, doesn't matter which type of tube you use.

It's just hard to grip those stubby little valve stems with your fingers, and grabbing on to them with vice grips hard enough to hold against the chuck mangles the stem.

Once you get enough air in the tube they poke out on their own, but getting there can be difficult.

Best results I've had is taking my thumb and pushing the stem to one side against the hole in the rim while applying the air chuck.

(quoted from post at 13:39:11 08/08/22) Ditto, I learned a lot also........my brother has been in the tire business for over 40 years now, I asked him how to tell if I have fluid in the tires, he said simply park it with valve stem at the bottom, remove core and see if air or fluid coming out. I felt like a complete idiot.......DUH

Click to expand...

They sound different when you thump them.

You and your brother get along well? You may look like a complete idiot if you park with the valve stem down and remove the core if it has fluid in it. Guess what happens if it gets away from you when you pull it out, or it breaks. If i was going to pull the core I would jack it up, valve stem at the top. push the valve stem to see if fluid or air comes out. If air then remove the core, let the air out, then roll the tire until fluid comes out the stem to find the level in the tire.

This post was edited by Jim.ME on 08/08/2022 at 10:55 am.

(quoted from post at 10:53:42 08/08/22)

(quoted from post at 13:39:11 08/08/22) Ditto, I learned a lot also........my brother has been in the tire business for over 40 years now, I asked him how to tell if I have fluid in the tires, he said simply park it with valve stem at the bottom, remove core and see if air or fluid coming out. I felt like a complete idiot.......DUH

Click to expand...

They sound different when you thump them.

You and your brother get along well? You may look like a complete idiot if you park with the valve stem down and remove the core if it has fluid in it. Guess what happens if it gets away from you when you pull it out, or it breaks. If i was going to pull the core I would jack it up, valve stem at the top. push the valve stem to see if fluid or air comes out. If air then remove the core, let the air out, then roll the tire until fluid comes out the stem to find the level in the tire.

This post was edited by Jim.ME on 08/08/2022 at 10:55 am.

Click to expand...

Jim, yes I had the same thought when I read it. No way I would park with it at the bottom if I suspected that it contained fluid. Also Old apparently came back and read everyone else's posts, LOL.

Do what show crop says, works for me.

Make sure are using an implement tube and not a truck tube, also inflate the tube before installing to determine you are installing it the correct side up. I use an inflation tool called a recappers inflation nozzle. It screws onto the valve stem and snaps onto the air chuck. Take out the valve screw the recappers tool, lock in the air chuck and pull up on the cave stem.