Tubeless gunk getting stuck in valves – Singletrack World Magazine

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I’ve been using Stans tubeless wheels for many years with no problems but I’ve recently been having a bit of a problem with a couple of new sets of wheels.

What seems to be happening is the the tubeless sealant is drying up and getting stuck in the entry to the valve from the rim (the small rubber bung that sits inside the rim). This ends up with me not being able to pump up the tyres (or let down the pressure in the tyres) as the valves become completely blocked. As a result, about once a month, I have to unscrew the valve retainer ring thing and knock the valve back into the tyre to let the air out then unseat the tyre, take the valve out and clean it up.

I guess that it’s fairly obvious that a small amount of air is leaking up through the valve during normal use and causing this but, short of trying different valves, I’m bejiggered if I can see a way of fixing this.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and found out what was actually causing the issue?

Might have had a similar issue but what worked for me was to remove the centre of the presta valve sent a thin tool in 😉 and blasted the airline through. Sorted

Obviously the need for a compressor is needed.

But the keeps the tyre seated and quick to do.

Hope it helps

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Meant to say. I just switch valves in the end. It seems some are a lot better than others.

Some leak easy. Don’ ask me which

I think this is one of the issues the MilkIt valves are supposed to solve, but the price has put me off giving them a try.

I used the Milkit valves. They’re excellent.

+1 For milkit solving this problem.

IME sealant does gung up valves

I just remember to remove them and clean them

if it was indie then a thin tool through works to clear the air way but I am not aware of anything that can prevent this happening.

I change the cores every now and then, I got a little bag of 10 off that internet fairly cheap for this reason. Also, try and store the bike, and inflate the tyres with the valves at the bottom-ish of the wheel. That way you don’t get little pools in the valve stem, it runs back into the tyre. Helps a bit

I buy a 10 pack of presta valve cores and just fit a new one when it becomes a problem, 2.5mm allen key to clear any blockage in the stem.

You can get a plastic core removal tool, or some nice metal ones, pliers work as well if you are careful.

I use Park VC1 and 10 pack of Vittoria cores, lifes to short for messing about with sticky valves (in my opinion)

I remove the valves every so often and immerse them in petrol – works well at dissolving the gunk.

So it is a fairly common problem then. That’s a relief. I’d never experienced it before. I think I’ll change out the valves for the ones I have on my old Stans wheels as they never blocked. I’m not alone ;)

This is a common problem for the schwalbe procore valves and at a BDS race, the Schwalbe technician advised putting a couple of drops of Effetto Caffelatex Remover down the valve core every now and gain;

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/effetto-caffelatex-remover/rp-prod150133?gs=1&sku=sku547573UK&pgrid=55297464169&ptaid=pla-415741705627&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|s2XBwbMBe_dc|pcrid|254158694146|pkw||pmt||prd|547573UK

Same as others, I brought a pack of 10 valves from eBay and change them when they start playing up. I did try cleaning them before I got the valves but it was a right ballache and more time consuming then simply replacing.

you can force twist the end of the valve core off so that you can give it a right good clean out but then when undoing the vakve core in future you risk twisting the nut off the end.

+1 for swapping the valve cores out once they become problematic. I also carry one on the trail, have saved a friend’s ride as he had burped his tyre and couldn’t get it up with his little pump.

;-D

Having never had this issue before, last night I stuck some more fluid in my wheels and one of the valves was obviously starting to get clogged. I’ve also ordered a pile of them from eBay and will shove one in the back pocket pack as it seems a sensible thing to have for virtually no effort to carry. Thanks all :-)

Valve cores are cheap, I bought a big bag off ebay. Most of the gunk gathers around the inner seal and you can rub that off easily, if the outer blocks then IIRC a 3mm allen key is the ideal size.

I still use tubes. And I add sealant into the tubes. And have the same issue the PO describes. The gunk seems to collect in the inside – unscrew the core and pushing a very thin screw up into the gunk… Problem only: then I loose all air pressure which I normally like to avoid when I only like to check the pressure…

But this “sealant” in “tubes” thing works quite well. Have bikes with good tyres and bikes with low cost tyres. Use the sealant on the low cost ones. No flat tires so far…

The “gunk” thing is a bit annoying.

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