Deflating a tire with a busted valve stem
#1
Keep on climbing
Thread Starter
Deflating a tire with a busted valve stem
Subject heading pretty much says it all. My tire has a presta valve; if I unscrew the top and push it down, nothing happens. My pump won't put any / much air in. I just want to replace the tube, but there's no way I can fit tire levers in there until the tube is deflated. What other options are there for deflating tires? I'd rather not stick a knife through the tire and pop it as the tire itself only has a few hundred miles on it. Can I cut the valve stem? Would that deflate the tire?
#2
Listen to me
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Jam a sharp piece of wire between the stem and the rim hole or cut the stem off using small bolt cutters
or a hacksaw blade.
Enjoy
or a hacksaw blade.
Enjoy
#4
Isaias
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Are you using a sealant in the tire?
Check your tube for a removable valve. If you are lucky enough to have one, just unscrew it.
Air pressure keeps the valve seal pushing toward the end of the valve. Try the blunt end of very stiff wire or maybe a finishing nail to push the seal back in toward the end of the valve connected to the tube.
Check your tube for a removable valve. If you are lucky enough to have one, just unscrew it.
Air pressure keeps the valve seal pushing toward the end of the valve. Try the blunt end of very stiff wire or maybe a finishing nail to push the seal back in toward the end of the valve connected to the tube.
#5
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A pair of diagonal cutters through the valve stem should work... That's how I deflate car tires at work.
#7
Keep on climbing
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by NoRacer
Are you using a sealant in the tire?
Check your tube for a removable valve. If you are lucky enough to have one, just unscrew it.
Air pressure keeps the valve seal pushing toward the end of the valve. Try the blunt end of very stiff wire or maybe a finishing nail to push the seal back in toward the end of the valve connected to the tube.
Check your tube for a removable valve. If you are lucky enough to have one, just unscrew it.
Air pressure keeps the valve seal pushing toward the end of the valve. Try the blunt end of very stiff wire or maybe a finishing nail to push the seal back in toward the end of the valve connected to the tube.
No removable valve on the tube.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
#8
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5 Posts
Originally Posted by KevinF
Subject heading pretty much says it all. My tire has a presta valve; if I unscrew the top and push it down, nothing happens. My pump won't put any / much air in. I just want to replace the tube, but there's no way I can fit tire levers in there until the tube is deflated. What other options are there for deflating tires? I'd rather not stick a knife through the tire and pop it as the tire itself only has a few hundred miles on it. Can I cut the valve stem? Would that deflate the tire?
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#9
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If you decide to snip off the valve stem, be sure keep one hand on it so it doesn't go through your shop window or into the face of that guy looking over your shoulder.
#10
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if you cant remove the valve, you need to puncture the tube, if your competant in wheel buildind/truing, unscrew a spoke and stab the tube through the spoke nipple. or try and get somthing sharp down the side of the valve and into the rubber.
#11
Senior Member
Originally Posted by KevinF
Subject heading pretty much says it all. My tire has a presta valve; if I unscrew the top and push it down, nothing happens. My pump won't put any / much air in. I just want to replace the tube, but there's no way I can fit tire levers in there until the tube is deflated. What other options are there for deflating tires? I'd rather not stick a knife through the tire and pop it as the tire itself only has a few hundred miles on it. Can I cut the valve stem? Would that deflate the tire?
Also what happens with "nothing happens" when you push? Does the valve-stem go down 4-5mm so that the screw-head is flush with the tip? Or it doesn't get pushed in at all? If it doesn't push in at all, I say push harder.
#12
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Thread Starter
I wound up being able to pop the tire by squeezing a needle through the valve hole. Problem fixed.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
#13
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Originally Posted by powers2b
Presta valves are metal.
Car valves (Schrader) are rubber.
Enjoy
Car valves (Schrader) are rubber.
Enjoy