Has something changed or have tire chucks just gone to shit like everything else? I have more trouble filling tires these days than ever. I thought maybe fill valves went metric or something. Anyone else having problems?
We keep them non-Metric so that the US, Liberia and Myanmar don't complain. Unfortunately, user error is most likely the problem here.
If they have metric valve stems, you need to fill them with kpa air (kilopascals). Your old psi air and gauge won't work.
My 12V compressor in the back of my wife's car has a screw-on connector. It hangs on like a momma lion getting dinner for the cubs.
Not to mention when they come down to Australia the northern hemisphere air reacts badly with our clean southern hemisphere air.
From my personal experience lately I am thinking that all tire chucks are not created equal but am pretty sure that the one that is giving me fits is the "truck chuck" that came from a parts house in town. It may be that my "nail gun" compressor just doesn't put out the volume of air that I need though.
I just figured it's just that I'm not 12 years old any more. Then I could sit on the ground, rightup close. My one weak eye could see that the chuck was straight on, and tight. In time there was the camper's squat. Followed by down on one knee ( all my work pants have no right knee ) These yoga poses also insure that on can be certain the pressure is not lost ( escaping ) by hearing a clean flow. These days first rule: Always air up at home. The few facilities that offer it seem plagued by vandals. Lastly the bent over body must be willing to take the pain, and need to remember that hearing aid for the one working ear
Seriously, , the little "stem" within the chuck that depresses the schrader valve does fail on cheap chucks and won't depress the valve. Just another example of the junk we have on the market today. Avoid Cheap Chucks!..
I was thinking the same thing about tire chucks yesterday. I’d realized I hadn’t checked air pressure in my tires all winter. 10 lbs low. Seems it took over 5 minutes a tire to fill them. Here’s the deal I always use a “normal”’chuck, but couldn’t Locate my gauge. Over the summer I picked an inflator up with a squeeze handle and a gauge for my daughter to use. Grabbed it. Well, I’d bought it at Tractor Supply for around 10 bucks.
RE: The truck chuck has to control filling a tire with pressure as much as 4 times what a car uses. Also a consciencious driver needs to measure pressures each day and each different trailer. ( Many won't bother, but often get a blowout if underinflated ) This can mean, say the tractor and one trailer swap, 26 uses in one day. ( yoga with no mat ) So the truck chuck can be less user friendly.
I got one of those chucks in a kit of air tools. Figured I would be handy. My wife also had one when we met, mine has a dial gauge and hers has a more conventional style gauge attached. Both chucks with integrated gauges read 5 lbs low. So they now collect dust.
My dad did the “smack the tire with a pipe “ and listen. His drivers and trailer tires were recaps (bottom dumps and a transfer) always had a total weight of 80k when loaded. His air tanks had the quick release and he kept a 50 foot hose under the passenger side step if he got a “thud”. But bottom dumps did 8-10 loads a day, less with the transfer. Never had a blowout, lost a few caps though.
Thing is I figured it was the easiest way for her to just turn on the compressor, plug in the hose instead of waking me up. She’s day shift, I’m nights. Also had to buy the neat SS easy insert connections. Lol. My compressors are 100 or so feet away, ran a 1 inch pipe on the top of the fence to out front. “Just toss the hose over the gate”, I’ll shut the compressor off and put the hose away when I get up” It’s worth the sleep
I use to feel that Milton products to be very good, but have gotten kind of spendy. Just a little leary about the cheap ones at the parts counter.
I think some valve stems have the Schrader valve too far down in the stem so the part in the air chuck can't reach it to push the valve down. I have had that happen where I could air up 3 out of 4 tires on the same car. I unscrewed the Schrader valve a few turns and was then able to air up that 4th tire. Screwed it back in to seal the tire and all was good.
My compressor is in the garage. I trained my wife how to use the separate chuck and gauge, turn on and off the compressor, and even to put everything away when she's done!
Let’s face it they don’t make things like they used to. Everything is all throw away items, new tires new stems, nothing has any quality control because if it breaks you go buy another one. It really sucks but I have several chucks that are old as dirt that still work like a charm but with these new stems you have to push your guts out to even make a seal so it won’t hiss like a cracked out possum.
I think it is more the valve stems are different than they used to be. It used to be to air a tire up when mounting one you would take the core out to allow all the air flow. It seems like modern stems when the core is removed there is nothing left to depress the valve.
I haven’t tried it, but I’ve been seeing ads for the new air chuck from the people that make the “Lock n Lube” grease gun chuck. Same basic idea, a thing with a lever to unlock and open the chuck. Stick it on the stem, release the lever, and it’s locked on. Their grease chuck absolutely rocks.
Same trouble here. I have half a dozen chucks in the "air dept" and it seems the cheap ones from the chinese tool guys at swap meets take some effort, and the old USA made milton's fit like they should. I think there is a problem with the depth being wrong, and/or the rubber seal inside is too hard so you need to be exactly dead on straight. So...half a dozen tools, and only one I like to use !
Usually with the core removed, you use an air chuck that is operated by a foot pedal, not by contact.
The Jalopy Journal
