Jeff Neese

Yeah, I hear that all the time - you don't "need" them. If I change a tire by the side of the road and somehow manage to lose both the new one and the old one, I know I can inflate the tire anyway and ride it that way until I get home. But it certainly helps, and it keeps the stem straight. There's no downside. And if anyone says "weight" I'm not going to take them seriously.

njkayaker

There's no real upside either. It's actually a tiny bit more work fussing with them. That there's a general problem installing tubes is an exaggeration. Your pictures just show there are people that can't properly install tubes.

It doesn't matter whether people use them. The issue is that some people are under the impression that the nut and the cap are necessary or provide a significant benefit. The fact is is that they aren't and they don't.

Rolla

The only time I use a valve nut is when running a presta valve in a schrader-drilled rim. In that case I use these, with a lip that fills the space so the valve doesn't rattle around:





But on a presta valve and a presta rim? Never. Yet somehow I've managed to get the valve inserted straight without them for 50 years.

rosefarts

No comment about the back and forth and n00b calling.

I will say that I have a Gerber brand mini plier. Closed its under 2” long. Comes with a blade I sort of sharpened, some screwdrivers, and a bottle opener. I’ve never used it.

Realistically, it’s probably only useful for pulling cactus out of my leg. My bike multi tool has everything else in better quality plus some. I don’t really feel bad about taking it along though. It’s better quality than what Aaron Ralston cut his arm off with.

OldTryGuy

Some electrical tape over hole and pierce it so stem goes thru very tightly. Can put tape on inside and outside of rim.

Tube CAN ALSO MOVE inside tire when bike is ridden with low air pressure.

Have the wheel positioned so valve is at bottom, put weight on the wheel, valve is held in place and attach pump.

Jeff Neese

Or,..... just use the nut. Of course it's possible to inflate a tube without one, and presumably we've all done it many times. But it's so much easier and more secure with the nut on, and the stem stays straight afterwards.

Jeff Neese

The cap is to keep the valve clean so it works better and provides some protection, same as with a schrader valve. To top off the tires you just remove the cap, instead of possibly needing to clean off the valve first. Keeps the pump head cleaner too. I buy the aluminum caps because the black plastic ones always crack and fall off.

njkayaker

That's also not really necessary.

Bimmer69

I'm pro-nut but if you don't have it on, you can use one hand to squeeze the valve while attaching the pump with the other.
Just put your middle and index finger around the base of the valve, and use the thumb of the same hand to squeeze the other side.

imi

This thread is of such utmost importance that I will chime in.

If you have a problem with the nut coming loose, then just use TWO nuts, one as a locking nut.

Are there Nyloc nuts of the right size? I hear a weight-weenie screaming.

Loctite?? 🤩

Aluminium caps are great, but must of course be colour matched to your frame.

A smal pair of (needle-nosed) pliers is a very useful tool.

Rolla

I'd wager that some folks here wear a belt and suspenders.

Jeff Neese

Well now you've got a real debate on your hands. I say the aluminum caps should be color-matched to the valve stem, which in most cases is silver. If the stem is black though (like most schrader tubes), you have to use black valve caps.

I do carry a small multi-tool with me, in addition to my bike-specific tools. They're just handy to have on hand, and I find myself using it more than the bike tools. I also carry a Leatherman Supertool in the glove compartment of both cars, and those too come in useful all the time.

rumrunn6

funny that when I run my MTB tires low pressure, I don't have any tube/valve movement. but I do remember having the issue with older road bikes when I was younger. maybe I didn't inflate them each time or ran them low or had a slow leak? but I do remember tube/valve movement. haven't had the problem as an adult tho

themp

Been gone for a few days and never thought this post would grow this large. Yes, I am using a Schrader valve on my Specialized Crosstrail. And it is the nut that tightens down on the rim. The reason I went with the metal valve and nut is that on a multi-day ride on the New River Trail in Virginia I had the rubber valve stem fail when I attached my pump one morning. Since switching to a metal valve and nut I have not had that happen and the valve stem is much more secure in that it does not flex when attaching the pump. Thousands of miles since that failure. I never thought of using two nuts as someone posted, I just went with a small dot of thread locker. Also, if I do need to fix a flat with a patch, the nut still has remnants of the thread locker and tightens down again and stays put.

Camilo

I've been using presta valves for 30+ years and have never knowingly cleaned the valve. I screw it open, maybe "burp" it and apply the pump. How can the actual workings get dirty if the valve is screwed shut?

Now, with schraeder valves, yes the cap does keep the valve clean.

70sSanO

With a schrader valve I can understand wanting to use the valve stem nut. Cliffordk suggested purple locktite. I would use that.

As for the pliers, I’m not a fan of those, especially cheap ones.

Over the years I’ve run across thin stamped steel open/closed box wrenches that are sometimes supplied on items where “some assembly is required.”

I’d measure the nut size and Google/amazon/eBay to find one that fits. Cut the length to fit your bag if you have to.

They are cheaply made but would probably work better than those pliers, and take up the same room as a metal tire lever.

John

njkayaker

Locktight on these nuts? Do many people do that?

The nut is unnecessary.

Why go through the extra work of using locktight and having to carry pliers to remove the nut?

Kapusta

Never underestimate the capacity of BF members to spend pages upon pages telling other people why their preferences are wrong.

GhostRider62

I was trying to understand the pump and tube problem when there is no little nut. So, I went to the garage. Not a single one of my bikes has a threaded stem. I wonder how the tires get inflated before every ride.

njkayaker

???

Maybe, the cap would keep the nut from escaping but it will do nothing about keeping it from loosening.

wolfchild

That's what happens when a person starts a thread looking for solutions to problems which don't exist.

70sSanO

That is also what happens when people post to a thread where the OP already came up with a solution but no one reads that.

John

njkayaker

People read it.

It's a solution to a problem of his own making. Does anybody else put locktight on these nuts (which aren't even necessary)?

70sSanO

If you read it. Why do you care?

That seems to be the norm now. It is more important to prove one’s own point of view. I guess there is validation somewhere in that, and Lord knows everyone seems to need validation these days.

John

njkayaker

This applies to your replies as well but you lack the self-awareness to realize it.

Indicating that the nuts aren't necessary is useful information. Even to the OP, who is expending more effort that he might need to to use them.

Again, why go through using locktight on the nuts and having to carry pliers do deal with manufactured problem? If that doesn't make sense, why create a post that suggests that other people do the same thing?