Tires BX valve stem leaking air

uglyboywith11fingers · Mar 11, 2012

Here's a new one, maybe somebody else has encountered this...
I took the snowblower off my BX24 today (17degC/63F in Southern Ontario) and thought I'd check tire pressure. I started unscrewing the valve cap on one rear wheel, and it was turning but not coming off, thought I could hear air leaking, then I realized the whole valve stem was turning in the rim... with air leaking around the valve stem. I had to hold the valve stem with one hand and turn the cap with the other to get it off. Tire pressure was just under 20 psi. I had to rotate the valve stem carefully to find a spot so it stopped leaking. I checked the other rear wheel and that valve stem rotated in the rim too.
I've had my BX24 since Sept 2011 and have to add air to the right front every month, but the rears have not been leaking.
The valve stems rotate quite easily... I'm thinking maybe the rubber has gotten hard or just poor quality valve stems.
I have not verified why my right front loses air... just figured it was the notorious rim leak.

What do you fellas make of this ???

Gary T. · Mar 11, 2012

I had the same problem on my RTV 900. I Replaced mine with metal valve stems. Think my RTV was on the lot for a bit before I bought it.

BeezFun · Mar 11, 2012

uglyboywith11fingers said:
then I realized the whole valve stem was turning in the rim... with air leaking around the valve stem. I had to hold the valve stem with one hand and turn the cap with the other to get it off. Tire pressure was just under 20 psi.

Bizarre. I couldn't imagine the stem would rotate with that much pressure in the tire. I'd take that back to the dealer since it's so new, let them change the stems for you.

uglyboywith11fingers · Mar 11, 2012

BeezFun... wishful thinking !

I should have said I bought the BX24 used last Sept. It was sold new in Dec 2007, has about 260 hours, always garage kept.
I'll just take the wheels in to a tire shop... no prob since they're not loaded...
Need them to look at that slow leak in the front tire also.
I have put new valve stems in wheelbarrow wheels... they were a snug fit and for sure would not rotate even without air pressure behind it. Don't know if these are inferior valve stems or the holes in the wheels too large.

texasjohn · Mar 12, 2012

There are different size rim holes and valve stem diameters. Sounds like yours are mismatched. When I install a valve stem, the fit is very tight, no possibility of hand twisting even without any air pressure. You just need a different stem. You can do this yourself, or have someone else do it. Not too hard, does not require removing tire from rim, just deflating and breaking seal to get to the stem hole from below.

PeterK · Mar 12, 2012

My Bx24 had crappy tire valves from new. Really crappy, soft rubber and leaky. I swapped them all out for metal ones and all is well.

gwdixon · Mar 12, 2012

I like the metal valve stems in my on-road vehicles. Not too sure about on a tractor.

It would seem that the rubber ones would take less damage from branches, etc. since they would flex out of the way.

Can't say for sure. A lot of my work is around branches and slash so driving through such debris will kick up chunks into the tires and rims.

Also, if you have a tendency to sink the tires in mud (not that I know anyone who does :ashamed

the rocks and mud will build up in the rims as the tire spins.

Just another random thought.

dodge man · Mar 12, 2012

I had a leaky one on mine, the front. It leaked and went flat when my son was moving a big pile of sand with it and it ruined the tire.

zoltanthegypsy · Mar 12, 2012

There's at least one other thread around here about Kubota valve stems.

I've had two on my BX24 just crumble. Fortunately there wasn't any other damage done, but what a PITA.

Z.