presta valves
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presta valves
First drop bars road bike here, just looked it up...its a Trek 1200 from 1991.
Went to check it out today and could not get the tires to hold air. Bought it anyway ($100).
Got it home and I can get the rear to hold air because it has this brass colored (presta valve?) spring inside. When I touch it it lets air out. I miss schrader valves already......again, why did they invent the presta?
Anyhow, the front has the fitting coming through the rim, but no brass colored flexible looking spring. Can I just drop by the bike shop and pick one up or do I need a special tool to insert it. Maybe it just screws in by hand, but like a schrader it needs a tool to apply force to seat it.
And another one, there was this part that I pulled out, it was essentially a brass colored nut that was on the valve that I cannot get back on (but I see no reason for it) because the presta valve is slightly bent. But Im sure I can get some pliers on it and thread it on if neccessary.
The bike is in pretty good shape but I wont know until I can get that front tire to hold air.
Went to check it out today and could not get the tires to hold air. Bought it anyway ($100).
Got it home and I can get the rear to hold air because it has this brass colored (presta valve?) spring inside. When I touch it it lets air out. I miss schrader valves already......again, why did they invent the presta?
Anyhow, the front has the fitting coming through the rim, but no brass colored flexible looking spring. Can I just drop by the bike shop and pick one up or do I need a special tool to insert it. Maybe it just screws in by hand, but like a schrader it needs a tool to apply force to seat it.
And another one, there was this part that I pulled out, it was essentially a brass colored nut that was on the valve that I cannot get back on (but I see no reason for it) because the presta valve is slightly bent. But Im sure I can get some pliers on it and thread it on if neccessary.
The bike is in pretty good shape but I wont know until I can get that front tire to hold air.
#2
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There are no springs on presta valves. Hard to tell from your description (pics would help) but sounds like you may be better off buying new tubes and reading up on how a presta valve works before installing and inflating the. I was leary of them at first but they are easy to deal with once you understand them.
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Sounds like you need a new tube. No removable parts to a presta valve
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
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It's fairly common for the valve portion to blow out of presta valves. All you'll see is a hole...They are not repairable.
They are not hard to use; you need a proper pump head of course. Unscrew the little lock ring all the way, give it a little tap to break the seal, and fit the head carefully over the valve.
They are not hard to use; you need a proper pump head of course. Unscrew the little lock ring all the way, give it a little tap to break the seal, and fit the head carefully over the valve.
#6
You gonna eat that?
I hate, hate, HATE them. They are far more prone to accidental damage while airing them up than Schraders.
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My problem lately is finding tubes locally that don't have stems 2" long!
#10
You gonna eat that?
I wish I knew. I only have one bike that has Presta and I'm fixing to sell it so I'm not going to worry about it.
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I haven't damaged a presta tube by inflating it. I have, however, damaged a tube trying to pull the pump head from the valve. Most presta tubes are threaded all the way. I like the stems with no threads. It is easier to remove the pump head without damaging the tube. They are also more aerodynamic, but I am not sure if I could notice that difference.
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I love presta valves...buy decent quality tubes (I get the cheapest ones from Jensonusa.com or Pricepoint.com, they are heavy but durable) and have had ONE valve rip out, entirely my fault for not being more...gentle I have been using them for 9 years now, and only like them more each time. Just push in the valve core first before pumping to break the valve seal so you dont break a pump (I love lifetime warranties on pumps!).
I actually hate schrader valves on bikes now. I have one bike that takes them and it will be given to my dad if he wants it.
I actually hate schrader valves on bikes now. I have one bike that takes them and it will be given to my dad if he wants it.
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Sounds like you need a new tube. No removable parts to a presta valve
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/ptuvc...ve_core/pp.htm
https://www.ebikestop.com/kenda_prest...ten-TU6010.php
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I would have gotten you a pic, but I was pumping up the tire and finally got it to work. See I took off the locknut and then it began to pump easier and I got the pressure I wanted. After that I released the pump and I guess it shot out of there because the air rushed out and nothing but a hole there now.
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
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I have broken a presta stem when using a mini pump. But then again as far as Im concerned mini pumps suck. Two of them broke when I needed them most. I now carry cartridges with an inflator head. Light and reliable.
#17
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I would have gotten you a pic, but I was pumping up the tire and finally got it to work. See I took off the locknut and then it began to pump easier and I got the pressure I wanted. After that I released the pump and I guess it shot out of there because the air rushed out and nothing but a hole there now.
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
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Try not to bend the valve core, while sometimes you can straighten them sometimes they break off where the metal's fatigued. Stick with the prestas, they're superior for bikes in a couple of ways. Just need to be more careful when airing up and do things a little differently than with a schrader. What are you using to pump them up with?
#19
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I would have gotten you a pic, but I was pumping up the tire and finally got it to work. See I took off the locknut and then it began to pump easier and I got the pressure I wanted. After that I released the pump and I guess it shot out of there because the air rushed out and nothing but a hole there now.
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
So I thought I just needed two valves, but it seems I need two tubes now.
The spring I was referencing to is I guess the valve core (as it would be on a schrader). I bent it back straight and then the locknut would thread by hand. Now its gone, wonder where it ended up!?
1. Remove the cap and unscrew the knurled nut. You already know not to remove it
2. Burp the valve...just a little...to get it free in the stem
3. Use the small opening on your pump head. If you have a frame pump you may have to make some modifications by turning the grommet around
4. Put the pump head onto the stem and lift the thumb-lock
5. Pump.
6. Remove the pump head
There will be a rush of air but that's just the pump line emptying. You aren't losing air from the tire. The valve closes because the air inside the tube keeps the valve closed. Very simple mechanism.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 06-06-10 at 11:16 AM.
#21
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I stopped by Walmart early this morning since I was ready to ride and all the shops are closed today. My tires are 23c and the best I could find there was 25-34c so I got two of them and a lever/patch kit all for <$10. All went pretty well. I tucked the tubes the best I could and they've held for 10 miles so far. Just getting the last section of tire back on the rim has my fingers still hurting.
The bike came with a Trek mini/frame pump and even has Trek brand water cages.
Thanks for the tutorial. I finally got most of it figured out ever since it was said that my tubes were crap. I kept expecting something to unscrew in the valve like in a scrader.
Now I have to visit the LBS and get a presta valve air gauge.......or can I use the adapter instead, hmm
thanks guys, Im riding now and feel like a big boy and not some unfortunate soul riding a MTB on the streets. Need to get a computer now to monitor any progress I may make.
Peace
[IMG] <a href="https://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/mjoekingz28/?action=view¤t=IMG_3979.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/mjoekingz28/IMG_3979.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> [/IMG]
<a href="https://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t=IMG_3979.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...h_IMG_3979.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
sorry, cannot resize to get it to fit. And the photobucket link plug [IMG] won't work for me either.
The bike came with a Trek mini/frame pump and even has Trek brand water cages.
Thanks for the tutorial. I finally got most of it figured out ever since it was said that my tubes were crap. I kept expecting something to unscrew in the valve like in a scrader.
Now I have to visit the LBS and get a presta valve air gauge.......or can I use the adapter instead, hmm
thanks guys, Im riding now and feel like a big boy and not some unfortunate soul riding a MTB on the streets. Need to get a computer now to monitor any progress I may make.
Peace
[IMG] <a href="https://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/mjoekingz28/?action=view¤t=IMG_3979.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/mjoekingz28/IMG_3979.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> [/IMG]
<a href="https://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t=IMG_3979.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...h_IMG_3979.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
sorry, cannot resize to get it to fit. And the photobucket link plug [IMG] won't work for me either.
Last edited by mjoekingz28; 06-06-10 at 12:49 PM.
#23
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Don't worry dvs. I has just started riding then and that was my first set of new tires coupled with too much chain lube. Granted, I dont have the roads here you do in Socal (palomar, mountain passes, canyon roads) I found a nice 4 lane frontage road that allowed me to get a knee down and eliminate the strips. However, it wasn't with the M1s pictured, it was with some Z6s. YZF600R btw
#24
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
#25
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
"again, why did they invent the presta?"
It's smaller diameter works on very narrow rims where increased strength is needed and on some very narrow rims a Shraeder stem would interfere with the tyre bead.
It's smaller diameter works on very narrow rims where increased strength is needed and on some very narrow rims a Shraeder stem would interfere with the tyre bead.