Metal Valve Caps - Not even once!

[L3nny]

That's the 3rd bike I've had metal dust caps seize onto the valve with now.

If you have metal valve caps, take them off and bin them.

If you're thinking about getting some, don't.

That is all

[DarrenSV650S]

Metal caps on normal valves?

I had metal caps but they came with the angled valves I got. Never had a problem with them

[L3nny]

Yes, on normal valves.

[Sid Squid]

When you say metal, do you mean proper brass ones, or stupid anodised aluminium rubbish? At work we cut the valve off so stuck anodised caps arent a problem, and tell the owner if they're really wanted to take them off themselves.
A properly fitted valve cap is an effective second seal, and keeps crap out of the valve's innards, use brass ones - one with a valve tool on the rear wheel.

[L3nny]

I mean the stupid anodised aluminium rubbish you get off Ebay for a quid.

I am sure there are good ones, these ones weren't.

[Sid Squid]

There are no good aluminium ones.

[Heorot]

I fell foul of this. Different metals (aluminium/brass) will cause them to weld together and after a few weeks/months, you will not get them unscrewed. It's called galvanic corrosion. Exposure to salty water (riding in the winter) just makes it worse.

[rictus01]

is it just me? I check my tyre pressure every couple of weeks normally as part of regular maintinance, so have never suffered this problem.

[Bibio]

and this is one of the uses for copper grease or that new silver stuff.

btw as sid squid says the brass ones with the valve tool are a good idea. i have a few times had valves come loose on the bike.

[Nutsinatin]

is it just me? I check my tyre pressure every couple of weeks normally as part of regular maintinance, so have never suffered this problem.

Nope I'm in the same boat as you, used ally caps for the last three years as I find them easier to get a grip on especially in the cold and/or wet. Check my tyre pressures once a week or so and they've never shown signs of corrosion. I do get at least two new sets of a valves a year though as they're free when I get my tyres changed.

[Sir Trev]

is it just me? I check my tyre pressure every couple of weeks normally as part of regular maintinance, so have never suffered this problem.

As I only have time to ride occasionally I check my TPs every time I wheel the bike out of the garage. Never had a cap seize on me yet. Metal caps on the Mundaneo too but I check TPs on both cars at least weekly so again never had a problem.

With sidewalls being pretty stiff you stand a good chance of missing a slow puncture if you're not vigilant. The two minutes it takes to check before a ride cn save your life. Don't risk it.

[Littlepeahead]

My BMW comes with metal ones, I check my tyre pressure regularly, sometimes it could be 6 weeks in winter, never had a problem.

[JM2]

Mine came with pressure monitoring.

- was yours the cheap one in the other corner :)

[Phoenix22]

If you leave your valve caps in place long enough for them to corrode in place then you really shouldn't be owning anything more powerful than a pushbike!!!

[L3nny]

If you leave your valve caps in place long enough for them to corrode in place then you really shouldn't be owning anything more powerful than a pushbike!!!

Thanks for the advice :rolleyes:

[Heorot]

Mine was on a Subaru. It always maintained pressure, so I got lazy and left it for 6 weeks without checking. I had 2 cars at the time and was driving the other one mostly. I had to take a hacksaw to the caps in the end to get them off,

[Jokerboy]

I have never had a problem with alloy dustcaps on brass threads, however my wife's car has pressure sensing tyre valves which are made of alloy, alloy to alloy is a different matter and I had to carefully cut down the sides of the caps with a Dremmel and then crack the cap open with a screwdriver to get them off.
No doubt pressure sensing valves will become the norm on motorcycles, they are not replaced at each tyre change and cost around £50 per valve to replace. Beware.