Valve stem problem and solution

dturnmire · Jun 3, 2004

I found out why my second flat has occured so soon. Grass is getting in between the wheel and breaking the stem on the back side of the tire. The first time I thought the stem was bad because I kept riding on a flat before I knew it was flat.

I've been mowing some pretty high grass and the buildup between the tire is the culprit. There should be some kind of wheel guard to prevent this. However, if I turn the tires around it will prevent the buildup and also give me a wider tractor. Does anyone see any problems with this?

MossRoad · Jun 3, 2004

By turning the rims around, it will put more side load on the motors. I believe the factory recommends against this. However, it is your tractor and your decision. Another poster recently mentioned that they tacked a small piece of steel tubing around the valve stem and that acted as a guard.

dturnmire · Jun 3, 2004

I didn't see anything in the manual about that but I'll check into your suggestion. Thanks.

dturnmire · Jun 3, 2004

This is starting to turn into a serious problem. Just had my third flat. The only tire that has a problem of grass buildup is the front left from the driver's seat. Before I do any more mowing I will have to do one of the following:

1. Rig some kind of guard to prevent the grass from damaging the back stem valve.

2. Put in a tube and have a valve only for the outside.

3. If possible plug the back stem hole and have only the stem on the front.

Does anyone know if option 3 is possible? Is any better than the other two?

J_J · Jun 3, 2004

Here are three options you might try.

1. Install a metal stubby valve stem.

2. Install a stubby rubber valve stem in reverse, so that the stem is inside the tire.

3. Put a thick hole washer through the hole and a bolt, two washers and locknut and tighten.

dturnmire · Jun 3, 2004

Excellent suggestions. Thanks a lot!

SMJ · Jun 3, 2004

I had a similar problem. My tires had a plug on the inside. I had a similar problem. My tires had a plug on the inside. They are soft rubber and protrude about 7/8 in. On two occasions vines wrapped around the axils and pulled out the plugs. The second time I went to the local hardware store and got rubber corks for about 40 cents. The tapered end was the same size as the hole in the wheel about 9/16 in. I pushed the cork in from inside the wheel. They are fairly hard rubber and protrude about 1/4 inches. Then I put in a bottle of slime and inflated the tire. No trouble since

dturnmire · Jun 4, 2004

I had a valve put in backwards but it was pushed out. I called Terry at Power Trac and he said he wasn't aware of the problem but he said all one needed to do was put a plug in the back valve. So the rubber cork seems to be the easiest solution to this problem.

I'm a little surprised that Terry has never heard of this problem. Am I the only one?

SnowRidge · Jun 4, 2004

Ta da!!! I'm platinum.

<font color="brown"> I'm a little surprised that Terry has never heard of this problem. Am I the only one? </font>

No, I had it happen once. I didn't realize there were two valve stems on the wheel, and tried to reinflate it, assuming I had just rolled it off the rim seal. When air started hissing out of the back side of the wheel, I felt around and was amazed to find a hole there.

It finally dawned on me to look at the back side of one of the other wheels, and there it was. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So far it has only happened that once in 118 hours.

Terry had never heard of a Kohler bending a pushrod, either. Uh-huh.

SnowRidge