I was topping or our tires before we went for a short ride this morning. When I went to remove the presta head from the valve, it wouldn't budge. In my efforts to remove it, the valve ripped out of the tube! I've had some difficult removals before, but I've never damaged the tube before. Now the tube is truly worthless - unless somebody has suggestions for worthwhile applications - I don't want to hang on to it "just in case..."

Any ideas/suggestions for ways to avoid this problem? I really don't want to replace tubes that are otherwise good.

I'm filling from a compressor and using a gauged pistol grip with the head on a hose. It is a nice big shiny brass head with a rubber insert that grabs the threads on the valve really well, I'd love to replace that head with one that has a cam-type clamp, such as is on my floor pump. If anybody could direct me to such a fitting, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,
Fran