Lost my titty!

[Globalti]

Rare for me to be asking mechanicking questions but the little titty has snapped off the valve on my lovely latex inner tube. It's not the sort of Presta valve you can unscrew and replace. It holds air and makes a loud pop when you pull off the pump but how long will it last, in people's experience? I guess the titty is actually only there as a backup and to keep dirt out of the valve, right? I always use valve caps so I guess I can still get some miles out of it?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It happened to me once and I kept on riding it until the pressure dropped too low for riding. However, after pumping it up I realised that the top stops the inner part of the valve from flying into the inside of the tube. Air still went in but immediately came out again. I decided it was pretty much irreparable,

 

[Arjimlad]

That is the sort of question best not asked of Google, I would surmise.

 

[I like Skol]

I realised that the top stops the inner part of the valve from flying into the inside of the tube. Air still went in but immediately came out again.

^^^^This.
You will be fine until it goes flat and then the valve stopper will disappear inside the tube. If you have to add air to the tyre then I suggest you do it with the valve at the top of the wheel and don't pump too vigorously or the air flow may blow it inside the tube.

 

[Globalti]

Ah yes I hadn't thought of that. I always pump with the valve at the top, by coincidence, which is why it worked yesterday.....

 

[Smurfy]

It happened to me once and I kept on riding it until the pressure dropped too low for riding. However, after pumping it up I realised that the top stops the inner part of the valve from flying into the inside of the tube. Air still went in but immediately came out again. I decided it was pretty much irreparable,

A similar thing happened to me when I lost the tiny brass nut off the end of the valve core. I was giving the pump some welly, and the blast of air blew the valve core right into the tube. First thing I noticed was that the pump was pushing back at me at the end of each stroke. I removed the pump and all the air gushed out of the valve. I didn't bother trying to locate the valve core inside the tube and jiggle it back into the valve body.

 

[Globalti]

For the moment it's fine but when I get the first puncture I'll replace the tube; no point in putting it back in.

 

[spiderman2]

Rare for me to be asking mechanicking questions but the little titty has snapped off the valve on my lovely latex inner tube. It's not the sort of Presta valve you can unscrew and replace. It holds air and makes a loud pop when you pull off the pump but how long will it last, in people's experience? I guess the titty is actually only there as a backup and to keep dirt out of the valve, right? I always use valve caps so I guess I can still get some miles out of it?

Broke mine off my new latex inner tube last week.Its holding air ok so im going to use it till I get a punchure.

 

[I like Skol]

Broke mine off my new latex inner tube last week.Its holding air ok so im going to use it till I get a punchure.

There are some ham-fisted oafs on here! Perhaps you guys would be better taking the bikes to the LBS for an inner tube swap......

 

[Globalti]

Ha ha! If I didn't know you I'd be sending you a virtual Christmas raspberry!

The only downside with latex is the need to pump the tyres every time you go out so the titties get a bit, er, bent around if you don't pull the pump off carefully.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Ha ha! If I didn't know you I'd be sending you a virtual Christmas raspberry!

The only downside with latex is the need to pump the tyres every time you go out so the titties get a bit, er, bent around if you don't pull the pump off carefully.

I reckon the secret is to PUSH the chuck off, with both thumbs

 

[Smurfy]

There are some ham-fisted oafs on here! Perhaps you guys would be better taking the bikes to the LBS for an inner tube swap......

Mine just unscrewed off the end of the valve core. I wasn't expecting that, so it rolled away and I never saw it again.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Mine just unscrewed off the end of the valve core. I wasn't expecting that, so it rolled away and I never saw it again.

Another helpul hint - if you haven't got one of those tiny little core spanners a number 12 spoke key fits the valve core flats

 

[Ian H]

No need to unscrew the lock-nut too far. One/one-and-a-half turns should be sufficient. Then there's less chance then of bending it.