LS rims and tubes

[Justin B.]

I need to buy some tubes for the "Junkyard Dawg" and the current tubes stems just barely poke far enough out of the rim to get the tire chuck on.  I remember this being discussed in the past but don't ever remember a solution.

Anybody with an LS ever find a tube that had a long enough stem?  I guess it's due to the width and depth of the drop section in the rim.

The tube in the front tire had a stem that stuck out about 1/2" but I have to take the nut off the rear to be able to get air in it!  The front tube is old enough that even if I could read a brand it probably isn't made in the same fashion anymore...

The Dawg is getting closer to being on the road!

[Bob_Roller]

Justin,

Sue brought this problem up a few years ago, I sent an email to the owner of Southwest Moto Tires in Tucson, where I get my tires now.

I asked if there was an inner tube available that had a longer valve stem, and at that time, to the best of his knowledge, they were all the same length.

I've never looked, but are there valve stem extensions available  for motorcycles ?

[MrRiden]

I believe the issue is with the lockout on the stem I left mine on the inside of the rim but suspect it should possibly be removed or a different tube construction should be used. I never sorted it out but curious to see what you discover.
rich

[nhmaf]

I'll have to check but I think that the tubes I bought last are Metzler tubes - the stems seem to be long enough.  They are pretty heavy/thick tubes though - good luck so far though.

[Justin B.]

Mike, I've got Pirelli tubes in the '81 R100 and they weigh a ton, they are natural rubber I believe.  I have a new set of Macadams stashed in the closet, hopefully the 120/90 rear will fit without rubbing...

[Ed Miller]

I wonder if you could put the tube on the bare wheel, use the nut to lock the stem in place, then lever one side of the tire over the rim.  Then gently work the tube under and into the tire before putting a little air into it to help prevent pinching with the tire irons.  I've never done it that way but it makes sense sitting hundreds of feet away from the nearest tire.

[bruce_launceston]

Why are you guys running tubes in your LS's? I've always used tubeless tyres.
Even so mycurrent tubeless valve stems only have 9mm of thread showing, barely enough for a tyre chuck but luckily mine work.

Bruce

[nhmaf]

These wheels are designed to be run with tubes in the tires, and they came from the factory that way.   Simply because they are cast/alloy doesn't make them rated for tubeless application.   There are folks who run without tubes in their snowflake wheels or LS wheels with no apparent issues or just slow leaks, but  that is not how these wheels were designed to be used.   The rims of these wheels do not have the proper shape to retain the tire bead well if the tire goes soft/flat while moving, so there is also a safety aspect to this.

YMMV.

[Ed Miller]

Bruce, I love that yellow LS....

[Justin B.]

Does everybody in Australia have an old R65?  

I guess I'll just order a couple of name-brand non-natural rubber tubes and deal with the results.  I see no reason why the secondary nut (as shown in the above pic) can't be removed...

[msbuck]

I'm a little slow getting around to this....
Graham just went out and checked the spare tubes he has = and they all have only ONE nut on the stem...  

Now we have never installed our own tubes, so we have no experience.  

[suecanada]

I would dearly love to have someone come up with a definitive answer to this longstanding bugaboo with my LS rims. I had a terrible time getting air in the tires and if it wasn't for a friend who held the chuck on very tightly all the air would've come out on me as I try and try to get air in. I was only checking the tire pressure and it mostly loses air when i do that! It takes some manoeuvring and holding my tongue just right to ever get air into the tires successfully. I am getting at my wits end and would love to see if there isn't a tube with longer stems. I have to take off the nut too for sure. There just isn't enough stem sticking out above the rim.
I tried those stem extensions to No avail either. The valve doesn't get pushed in enough to allow air to flow into the tube!

[Justin B.]

The rim is about 1/2" (I didn't take an exact measurement) thick at the spot where the valve stem goes - that's just stupid in my opinion...

[nhmaf]

OK, I finally found my spare boxes of tubes and took some photos -
These are the Metzler tubes that I am running in my LS - the top (small box) is the front tube, the bottom (large box) is the rear tube.



The stem length on these is right around 1 and 1/8" long:



When installed in the bike, there is a bit under 1/2" protrusion above the rim, but if I totally remove the stem nut I can get about 1/2".
I keep the stem nut up against the valve cap and not tightened against the rim when riding.
(Monte "  my eyes, my eyes!" Miller should not look at this pic due to the sad state of my LS wheels - they are as bad or worse than Justin's right now)



I don't seem to have any problems with getting air into these using my standard air compressor.    I carry a spare front tube as it is a bit smaller/compact, will fit the front and will also easily expand enough to fit the rear if needed.

hope this helps
Mike

[Bob_Roller]

I'm not familiar with LS rims, but is there some sort of bushing that goes through the rim, or is that part of the valve stem nut under the knurled part ?

The 'snowflake' rim doesn't have that part.