The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Justin B. on April 06, 2007, 09:44:45 PM

Title: Question to LS owners
Post by: Justin B. on April 06, 2007, 09:44:45 PM

I remember Sue dealing with much aggravation due to the length of the valve stems on the new tubes she used in her LS wheels.  Not having an LS at the time I really didn't understand what the issue was, now I do.  I think the stem on the front tire (on the project LS) sticks out a whole 1/4" after installation and air.  Has anybody found tubes with a tad longer valve stem?

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: nhmaf on April 06, 2007, 09:59:57 PM

I bought some new tubes last year - I think that they were michelin tubes - but I haven't put
them on yet (was waiting for the new tires) so I'm not sure 'bout the valve stem length.
I do know that these wheels pose a challenge in this area, and I asked the guys at Max
BMW about it.   They weren't 100% confident, but these are now the only brand of tubes they sell...
I'll check them out and get back to you on this thread with a measurement.

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: Justin B. on April 06, 2007, 10:29:58 PM

Don't worryabout a measurement as I have nothing to compare against but I would be very interested to know how much is sticking  out after installation.

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: suecanada on April 07, 2007, 12:02:50 PM

I got one of the tubes replaced last year when new tires went on. I had told the mechanic my woes about stem length. But he was not able to make it any better... I have to take off the nut as well as the cap (obviously) to get a guage or pump on there and then it is a tenuous job. The screw-on old tire pumps works best and the "Cycle Pump" fittings seem to fit. Other than that..not much else works. A PITA

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: Ringo on April 07, 2007, 01:22:27 PM

I have no idea what you are talking about. I just installed a new tire and tube on my LS. The stem on the tube (Michelin) is LONG. It was a total PITA to install because it was so long. Hard to work it into the hole under the tire. Sticks out of the rim plenty. (.6 inch, I just measured).

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: nhmaf on April 07, 2007, 02:06:04 PM

I think that the stems on the Michelins are a bit longer than some other brands, which is probably why
Max's only sells the Michelins, now.    I'll try to get out to measure some tubes in the garage if I can find them.
The LS wheels definitely work better with the longer stemmed tubes !

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on April 07, 2007, 05:02:13 PM

My Michelin spare is 1 1/8" long.  Just shy of 30mm.

Title: Re: Question to LS owners
Post by: MrRiden on April 08, 2007, 01:34:59 PM

I've never seen a definitive answer on the short stem problem but My LS has it and here's my guess from what I could glean off various lists. Natural rubber tubes (green stripe) have "welded construction" and 1 nut used for installing that can be discarded, run up the valve stem against the cap or someother. Lots and lots of pompous spouting and frothing can be found on what to do with the nut. Butyl rubber tubes (blue stripe) and some natural rubber have a metal flange / nut / fully threaded stem arrangement where there is a second nut that holds the flange/stem thingies* together to the tube. It's this tube /stem/flange nut cobstruction residing inside the rim that causes the stem to be so darn short. Can you remove it? Um...I'll get back to you.
Rich

*AKA Hootus(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi101.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm70%2Fmrridden%2FP1010043.jpg&hash=b7e812920e09143a270c1b8a55d684abe86dfb11)