I just brought home the next project, a 1947 Ford Panel, and need to replace one of the innertubes so that i can move it around the yard. I tried one from tractor supply, but that only lasted about a week before the valve stem failed. Can someone please tell me what stem type I need to look for? I presume it has some type of bulge at the base to correctly hold it in the wheel. Wheel is a stock ford 16" wheel.
Buy a 17” for a motorcycle. They come with a metal stem. Make sure it’s for an angle rim not a center. I buy 16” for my 15” rims. Been 200 at Bonneville and never a problem.
There is a certain procedure for installing tires with inner tubes. The stem was probably damaged because of incorrect steps taken in installing. Put the tube in the tire and work it around to get it to fit all around, as good as you can. Fill the tube with enough air to just round it out, very little air, do not use so much that it bulges the tire sides, wipe some dish soap around the bead and check for correct rotational position (The best I can describe it) or it can rip the tube or pull off the stem. After everything looks good, with no wrinkles and in a nice relaxed position, remove the valve core. Carefully work it over the wheel. I can install the inner bead by hand, no tools required. Very carefully, starting on either side of the stem and using two tools, move one tool at a time to work the tire onto the wheel. Always check to see that you don't pinch the tube or rotate the tire while working. Keep the installed portion of the tire pushed down into the depression around the wheel. After the tire is mounted and before adding any air, check to make sure the tube isn't caught under the tire bead anywhere, then turn the tire slowly and carefully an inch or two either way until the stem sticks out straight. Inflate the tire to 20 pounds or so, then let it completely deflate. Don't move anything. Inflate it again to the pressure you want and install the dust cap. Now, a word of caution: There are certain of these wheels with a weird rim edge that causes problems with throwing wheel balance weights. The only way you can get the weight clips all the way in between the tire and rim is to deflate the tire to about 10 pounds, then attach your balance weights and reinflate. Check them once in a while to make sure they stay put. Not to be an ass about all this but I don't think the tube you bought was defective. Oh, and be sure the stem is facing out. Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's in backwards. Sorry for the long-winded post but if you follow this procedure, it will pay off.
Check the hole diameter for the tube stem. Modern tubes use a smaller hole so that may be the cause of the stem failure. You can get little plastic adapters to make the hole for the stem smaller. The other thing to look out for on tubes is the valve offeset. It needs to be compatable with the offset of the hole in the wheel.
The Jalopy Journal
