Popular opinion (tubes)

[theothersean]

I have heard different opinions on the topic figured I would get more.

On a dirt wheel with out rim locks, do you

tighten the out side valve stem nut to be snug
Or leave it loose with a bit of travel incase the wheel spins a bit on the rim.

I was told it was best to leave some space for movement.
But just had a front tube on my drz detach from the valve stem using this logic.
I finally got around to changing the tube today, the stem was completely detatched from the tube.

[ChR1s]

My CRF had some plastic deals that slid over the stem. All other bikes, I've nutted them down. Perhaps the tire was punctured prior to the stem tearing? A tire w/o rim locks would likely spin on the rim a lot easier with a flat tube vs. a fully inflated tube.

[theothersean]

That thought crossed my mind, I may have gotten a pinch flat. We were riding in pachaug with a lot of rocks.

[airgary]

i could be completely wrong here, but a front tire dead flat will not have much load on the tube so even if the tire spun the load put onto the tube would be minimal? my front tire sping the tube slightly deflate sping the other wat and whack brakes. (i have not tried this yet) i leave my nuts loose... i figure it is much better to have some room to move around.

[theothersean]

i could be completely wrong here, but a front tire dead flat will not have much load on the tube so even if the tire spun the load put onto the tube would be minimal? my front tire sping the tube slightly deflate sping the other wat and whack brakes. (i have not tried this yet) i leave my nuts loose... i figure it is much better to have some room to move around.

I assume that the friction between the tube and the tire would cause the stem to tear. there is quite a bit of load on the front tire on a rocky down hill
I tried it with the stems loose and it tore, so I guess i'll try them a bit more snug and see what heppens.

[KB]

I always leave the nut up tight to the cap so there is space between the nut and rim for the tube to move. This is an old hare scramble guys trick. Also leave your perches just a little loose so that when you eat shit they flip up and don't snap levers. Use moose extrathick heavy duty tubes.

KB

[theothersean]

Leaving them loose doesn't seem to be the rick for me, I just had my 3rd one tear on me, the first was the rear tire on one of the 70's then the front on my drz last weekend, and now this weekend the rear on my drz . THis time I had a spare tube granted it was a front tube, but better than nothing.

I have new tires and tubes waiting in the garage (yes extra heavy duty tubes). I 'll be putting them on soon.
Leah and I have had a string of good luck I guess, 5 years in the woods,
6 different bikes, several tire changes and no flat tires. Now I have had 3 in a month. They say things happen in 3, lets hope this is the 3.

[KB]

Maybe you just need new tubes. They do get thin after a few years.

Also maybe you need to assa bead lock to the rear tire so you have 2? Or maybe you just aren't cranking them down hard enough? Either way I hope you are right about the 3 thing!!!

God luck,

KB

[theothersean]

We get new tires just about every season so the tubes aren't that old, I get new tubes every tire change.
there are no rim locks, perhaps I should add some.

and yeh I hope i'm done with flats for a while.

[SSearchVT]

What tire pressure do you normally run? If it is really low that might explain why you're having all these flats. Especially in wheels without rim locks.

I'd add one to each wheel. Also, check out the rim strips. You might also want to add a few wraps of duct tape over the rim strip as an added layer of protection.
When I mount tires I lube the bejezum out of everything (rim, rim locks, tire beads, inside of tire, and tube) with a strong mix of dish wash soap and water. With the heavy duty tubes you're going to want to do this even more.

[theothersean]

Yeh I use the soapy water trick, all over everything.
As for pressures, we do a big mix of terrain so its hard to get the best pressures for all conditions so I usually run between 18 and 20 in the rear
and 16-18 front.
The lowest I have ever done is when we are doint single track only with no raods, I run 15 rear 12 front.

I may try to bump up the pressures a bit see if it helps

[sandman]

try putting baby powder on it.

then if the tire trys to turn the tube it might spin instead of pulling the tube.

as i recall mine have no nuts installed, but i do have rim locks.

are you running hd tubes?

[KB]

We get new tires just about every season so the tubes aren't that old, I get new tubes every tire change.
there are no rim locks, perhaps I should add some.

and yeh I hope i'm done with flats for a while.

What you mean no rim locks................ding ding ding!!! Problem number one. get some rim locks on the bigger bikes at least and your problem will be solved.

KB