DeeMaGlee

I have a 2007 Jamis Aurora with Alex ACE19 rims. I inflate my tires once a week to 110lbs (yes it is printed on the tire sidewall), but every few months the valve stem goes pop while I'm pumping or removing the pump from the stem. I have padded the stem hole in the rim with some duct tape with no success. It went pop again this morning and I had to walk to work. Does anyone have a solution to this problem?

Al1943

Underinflation can cause the tire to slip on the rim and damage the valve stem. Fully inflate your tires before each ride.
Do you use a frame pump or a floor pump. The rocking motion of a frame pump can cause damage to the valve stem.

Al

Tom Velo Orange

If the valve hole is drilled for schraeder (car tire valves) and presta tubes are used without a rubber grommet, it could cause the tube to be resting against the sharp edge of the hole.

AdamDZ

Ditto. You can get small adapters called Presta Savers too.

Adam

DeeMaGlee

I don't think the rims are schraeder, as the bike had presta valves when I bought it new. I think I might try a variation of the Presta Saver by making a rubber boot out of the old tube to slip over the stem of the new tube. My LBS also suggested sanding down the edge of the hole.

Thanks for the help everyone!

operator

There's no point covering it with any doodads. File it down.

DannoXYZ 

Don't use a hand-pump, eh?

operator

That's what she said

preston811

Inspect the tube failure; is it a laceration or a rubber failure/split? See also this thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ird&highlight=

Like I posted there, are you stuffing your tubes both sides at once away from the valve? Or down one side and all the way around.
Proper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXnTqP7Nd_o#t=2m11s

and max pressure isn't necessary unless you weigh >200lb or ride only very smooth pavements but that's a whole nother can o' worms.

DannoXYZ 

Just in case it didn't make sense, if you're using a hand-pump to top-off your tyres to 110-psi, you deserve to get regular flats. Floor pumps only.

LarDasse74

+ 1 to DannoXYZ... frame pumps and mini pumps should be kept for emergencies only, as regular use tends to cause the tube to fail around the valve. A basic floor pump (~$20) is 100X better.

davidad

I put the valve nut on the inside of the rim. You have to make sure it doesn't ge trapped under the bead, but I almost never get torn valve flats.

AdamDZ

Or get Topeak Road Morph.

Adam

Steve530

I popped a new tube at the valve last Summer when I pumped it. I figured I just pressed the pump head on too har and tore the tube at the valve. Since you mentioned that the failure occurs when you attach or remove the pump, maybe this is the problem you're having, too.

dr1445

+1 on putting a nut inside the rim as well as outside. old indian and motorcycle trick.

Jeff Wills

The Indians had Presta tubes? And here I thought they only had Schraeders...

RaleighComp

Take a 1-1/2 inch length of Velox rim tape or adhesive cloth handlebar tape, trimmed appropriately for rim width. Put a small nail hole in the middle of the 1-1/2 inch tape. Lift your existing rim tape/rim strip and put the 1-1/2 inch "hole buffer" strip over the valve hole with the nail hole centered over the valve hole and replace your rim tape/rim strip back over the top. When you press the presta stem down through the new hole buffer, the cloth tape will insulate the rubber/valve interface from any sharp edges, but you might as well inspect the hole while you're in there, before you apply the new tape. If you don't have an appropriate file, you can probably just run an appropriately sized Phillips head screw driver up and down the hole to take of any burrs or rough edges.

RaleighComp

I used to do this with mostly favorable results, but had some extreme cold weather failures with this method. The extra cloth tape "hole buffer" method has worked better for me in the winter. I also don't tighten down my outside nut too much in the winter.

operator

The outside valve nut is 100% useless.

dr1445

the michelin 700x28 city tires ands tubes i ordered recently have no threads at all on the stem. maybe i have around 100 + plus miles on them with no problem. the last few weeks the temps have been in the mid 20 f range, lots of sand and salt about on the roads from some snow events. i run a 7 mile loop when ever i can get out. not many miles but all seems good. i use a floor pump once a week for 90 psi, tires are rated at 87.

dr1445

maybe you are right. perhaps that is why the indians never had problems with valves pulling out.

canopus 

Gee and all this time using only a frame pump and no flats and no nuts.... Sounds like a bunch of user excuses...

RaleighComp

+1
I think I went from 1974 to 1996 using a Silca Impero frame pump with metal Campy head as my only pump.

rm -rf

Michelin Airstop tubes aren't threaded, so the pump head pulls off easily. That's less strain on the tube.

girona

I've used exclusively frame pumps for the past 15 years without problems until this year. I have a 700c wheel that I've used with no issues for 4 years, then this year I got torn valves all the time when trying to pump to 120psi. I finally decided to buy a floor pump a couple of months ago and have had no issues since.