Does anyone know where I can get a valve core tool for a presta valve? Mine is leaking and I need to tighten it. The tire is mounted on a deep-dish carbon wheel that requires a valve extender, so I can’t tighten it with needle-nose pliers or anything like that. No room for that. There’s got to be a tool made for this, but I can’t find it.
~Alan~
Not sure if this will address your needs, but Tufo makes a tool that might accomplish the task (it is thermo plastic, consider ordering two): http://store.yahoo.com/glorycycles/tufovalvetool.html
Also, if the valve extender is leaking, consider using teflon tape (plumbers tape) on the threads of the valve stem where the extender threads on!
It sounds like you didn’t put teflon tape on the valve before putting on your extension. Nothing can fix that other then pulling it off and putting the tape on.
Valve cores on presta valves simply unscrew with pliers or often times by hand. If it loosened up, Hed used to make an extender that when flipped over would tighten it up. Might try asking Annie if she has any left.
Hope that helps.
If it is just the valve extension leaking due to no teflon tape, you can try putting a bit of thick grease ( I like the pink Mobil1) or vaseline up in the threads (blistex works well too) of the extension and then threading it back on. In many cases, the grease/vaseline will be pushed into the threads by the air pressure and form a rather good seal, and the rest will just blow by the valve. I’ve used this trick at numerous Ironman and similar events using Blistex or chapstick as a quick and dirty solution for frustrated athletes and am always amazed at how well it works. It is not a 100% solution, but is probably a 90% solution and will keep you from having to remove your tire. If it is your valve core that actually loose, I would highly recommend removing the tire to tighten it as doing it blindly risks tightening down the nut, or breaking the nut free on the stem which can allow it to vibrate closed during use, both of which will lead to ultimately having to remove the tire to fix the problem anyway.
Thanks for the suggestions, but it’s not what you’re thinking. What’s leaking is the valve core, not where the valve extender screws on to the valve. I am very familiar with fixing that leak. What I have is the valve core inside the valve is not tight. So teflon tape, oil and the like won’t fix it. It would need to be some tool that would fit down into the valve and tighten it.
Thanx!
~Alan~