Valve top snapped off

[wisdom]

After cleaning the bike,mickling the chain .It was time to top up the tyres.
On tightening down the locking top it came off in my fingers.
This has nevere happened before in all my cycling years.Do i need to change the tube now or is it ok to carry on riding?I plan to commute on it all next week so dont really want to mess about mid week.I have the commuter to fall back on just want to use the roadie.

 

[deanE]

15 minutes changing the tube in the comfort of your garage versus the prospect of mid rush hour traffic on way to work?

 

[Deleted member 20519]

I'd put a new one in, it will hold air fine but when it comes time to top up your tyres or if you get a puncture, you're stuffed.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I'd ditch the tube and put another one in, peace of mind for a couple of quid, no contest for me.

 

[accountantpete]

If you have an similar scrap tube simply unscrew the broken top and replace with the top from the scrap .

 

[wisdom]

New tube it is then.Thanks all.
In reply to accountantpete,how do you get the valve cores out?

 

[andrew_s]

You can't remove the core on a regular tube, from outside the tyre at least, but some tubes do have a removeable valve core. You can usually spot them by small flattened sections on the cap threads.

The purpose is so that you can fit valve stem extensions for deep section rims, and they are handy if you want to put sealant in a tube. For normal use they aren't worth while as they leak air when they start to come undone. People often don't realise the cores do come out until they have a problem.