Chinese rims ruining inner tube stems?

ETD66SS · Jun 12, 2020

Last summer I bought off of Amazon two 12x28 6 loop rims for my Dad's IH444. I also bought inner tubes because there was so much rust on the rims the beads of the tires were in terrible shape and didn't hold out much hope I could get them to seal mounting them tubless. I can only assume the rims were imported from China, it was $369 for two rims, from a place called RAParts Inc. Amazon part number is 672478A, but no longer shows up on Amazon.

After mounting both tires, they started to leak air after about 30 minutes. I took them back apart and both valve stems were torn from the tubes. This did not happen during installation, as there were no leaks, then all of a sudden ~30 minutes after mounting and seating the bead you could hear a small leak and then all of a sudden the leak was huge. Both valve stems ripped clean off.

I was then able to get one of the tires mounted tubless and holding air, the right tire however was just not going to work tubless. So I tried the one old good tube I had. Same deal, after 30 minutes, leaked, valve stem ripped off. Is it possible the hole in the rim is in the wrong location? The tires are 13.9 x 28 "on a 12 inch rim".

The old rims are long gone so I cannot compare the stem hole location.

Today I tried the glue on tube stem replacement patches on two tubes, tried one of them in the tire again, same thing, lasted 30 minutes or so then ripped right off the tube. I used tons of baby powder this time thinking the tube was somehow getting stuck.

I am super frustrated, have mounted dozens of tractor tires, never had this issue. WTH is going on here?

Here is an album with some pictures: IH444 Tires - Album on Imgur

Not sure what to do next. The tread on these tires is in good shape and I'd hate to have to buy new tires so they can be mounted tubless...

zzvyb6 · Jun 12, 2020

The problem I've encountered with rims is when they are used with tubeless tires. The inner rim and stem hole has lots of sharp edges and weld flash and even wire remnants. Flaps won't help much because the entire inner surface can have problems. I now use a grinder to smooth the wheel inner, I drill and clean the stem hole and use a metal threaded new stem.

With all the 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 19 " tires around here, I bought a rim-clamp tire changer to nicely peel of these small tires. Special 'feet' attach to the rim clamps to access the smaller wheels. Duck works fine, too, for these tires. No more bad bead seals, no more excess vice clamping activity, and no more screwdriver punctured brand new tubes.

Roadworthy · Jun 12, 2020

That is such a nice clean job of valve stem removal that I almost wonder if your problem isn't the rims but the tubes themselves. You can check around the valve stem hole in the rim and you'll probably find it's fine. I guess it's possible the tubes weren't the correct size, too.

Grumpycat · Jun 13, 2020

Yes, tubes come with valve stems in various positions. You should be able to hold the tube to the rim and verify the valve stem is not stressed fitting through the provided hole.

RickB · Jun 13, 2020

Chinese rims or Chinese tubes? Or both?

ETD66SS · Jun 13, 2020

RickB said:
Chinese rims or Chinese tubes? Or both?

These were the tubes I bought: Amazon.com : Set of Two 13.6-28 14.9-28 Inner Tube with TR218A Valve Stem Tractor Tire Tube 11.2R28 : Garden & Outdoor

However, once those were ruined, I tried one of the old tubes I pulled out of the old tires, definitely USA made tube, and valve stem ripped out of that one also...

What I find interesting on this website is they have two different tube sizes that will "fit" a 13.6-28 tire: 13.6-28

A 26/28 tube, and a 28/30 tube. Wonder if this has anything to do with valve stem placement?

RickB · Jun 13, 2020

There is a size overlap for many tire tube applications, nothing out of the ordinary there. Given a choice, I would use the 26/28 tube to reduce the possibility of the tube creasing or folding inside the tire which will reduce tube life.
I think I found your rims here:
Search Results – Reliable Aftermarket Parts, Inc(R)
Nothing particularly unusual here, if the hole for the tube stem is more or less near the edge of the flat base of the rim and not razor sharp I would expect a commonly constructed and properly installed tire tube to fit and work as intended.
My guess, and it is only a guess, is that you are consistently installing the tubes backwards in the tires, or (less likely) damaging the valve stem when mounting the tire on the rim.

Gem99ultra · Jun 13, 2020

As RickB mentioned, installing the tube backwards, not only will it be more difficult to mount, it will stress the valve stem. You'll notice on the tube that it will be angled more to one side than the other. Yes - you CAN mount it either way, but you will damage the tube in short order. BT-DT :thumbdown:

ETD66SS · Jun 13, 2020

RickB said:
There is a size overlap for many tire tube applications, nothing out of the ordinary there. Given a choice, I would use the 26/28 tube to reduce the possibility of the tube creasing or folding inside the tire which will reduce tube life.
I think I found your rims here:
Search Results – Reliable Aftermarket Parts, Inc(R)
Nothing particularly unusual here, if the hole for the tube stem is more or less near the edge of the flat base of the rim and not razor sharp I would expect a commonly constructed and properly installed tire tube to fit and work as intended.
My guess, and it is only a guess, is that you are consistently installing the tubes backwards in the tires, or (less likely) damaging the valve stem when mounting the tire on the rim.

I mean I've done quite a few tractor tires/tubes in my day, never installed the tube with the stem on the wrong side on any other tractors I have owned. So still stumped.