Presta tubes with no lock ring?

[kapusta]

I just picked up a set of Presta tubes, and was a bit pissed when I got home and installed them.

Not only are they missing the lock rings for the valve stems, but the valve stems are not even threaded

WTF? This was the main advantage of Presta, IMO.

The problem I have with these is that on some of my pumps I have to push kind of hard to get the pump onto the presta valve, so if my tire is low on air, then the valve just gets pushed into the tire. I have to completely deflate the tire so that I can push the valve out while I attach the pump, then pump it up.

Why on Earth would they lose the lock ring?

They are Kenda Tubes.

[Grinderz]

I have picked up tubes in the past that have/dont have the lock rings.

I also have tubes that I have lost the lock rings, and ran them anyways.

To inflate, just push down on the tyre where the valve is. Even if its not dead flat, it should work.This will hold the valve in place, and make it easy to get the pump seated. Once seated, just get pumping as usual.

I guess its a pain, but I have changed enough tubes on my bike to not really care anymore.

[hoolie]

One of the shop mechanics I know, never used them. Now we all run tubeless

[eurospek]

People still buy tubes?

[urmb]

Specialized tubes are like this. I have run them with no problems, but prefer the locknut.

urmb

[ColinL]

The locknut is irrelevant even if the tire is totally flat. I never use those on my road bike.

I do use a locknut on MTB because it's a tubeless UST valve. It actually needs the locknut, whereas a tube doesn't.

[kapusta]

The locknut is irrelevant even if the tire is totally flat. I never use those on my road bike.

I do use a locknut on MTB because it's a tubeless UST valve. It actually needs the locknut, whereas a tube doesn't.

The problem is not when the tire is totally flat. The problem is when the tire is just low on air (20 psi for example).

[Mike T.]

I've used Presta tubes with no locknuts for exactly 50 years on road, track or MTB and have never suffered from the lack of said nuts.

Nuts/schmuts.

[ColinL]

Make the valve anywhere but on the bottom of the tire. Hold the back of the tire, pressing inward, and attach your pump. It's extremely easy. In fact I bet you've already done it, and just wanted to rant with this thread.

You don't need those nuts.

[Mike T.]

Make the valve anywhere but on the bottom of the tire. Hold the back of the tire, pressing inward, and attach your pump. It's extremely easy. In fact I bet you've already done it, and just wanted to rant with this thread. You don't need those nuts.

Yeah the thumb is a wonderful invention. We should make full use of them. I just used mine when installing a new tire (and pumping it sans nut) a 1/2hr ago.

[Saul Lumikko]

I actually prefer the look of smooth valve stems. Also I think the threads just wear the rubber of the pump head faster.

[kapusta]

Here is my issue with these, illustrated in two pictures.

Tire has ~18- psi in it (not uncommon for an mtb tire that's been sitting around for a few days). First pic shows where the stem is before I start pushing down with the pump head to get it to fully seat on the valve (before I flip the lever on the pump head to complete the seal). Second pic is where the stem ends up when I push down, and the pump head has still not fully sealed, which is not that surprising considering the stem gets pushed in so easily. Basically, if I want to add air, I need to deflate the tire so that I can push on the bottom of the stem against the pump head.

I tried this on my other pump, and it does seal a little better, and I can add air, but it is hissing out as I do so. I've got to be pretty quick about unhooking it before I loose too much pressure.

If this were a 23c road tire, it would likely just get pushed in until it bottomed out against the ground, and then there would be something to push against when I push the pump head on, but in this case the tire is big enough to swallow the whole stem.

Whatever, I'll just make sure to get tubes with nuts next time, and it's not like I can't ride the bike. Just seems silly to not even give one the option to run the nuts. Heck, even if they wanted to save the $0.02 on the nut, they could at least have used a threaded stem.

[jeffscott]

I just picked up a set of Presta tubes, and was a bit pissed when I got home and installed them.

Not only are they missing the lock rings for the valve stems, but the valve stems are not even threaded

WTF? This was the main advantage of Presta, IMO.

The problem I have with these is that on some of my pumps I have to push kind of hard to get the pump onto the presta valve, so if my tire is low on air, then the valve just gets pushed into the tire. I have to completely deflate the tire so that I can push the valve out while I attach the pump, then pump it up.

Why on Earth would they lose the lock ring?

They are Kenda Tubes.

take them back...

[ColinL]

I can't believe you took pics doing exactly what I said not to!

If the tube has little enough enough to push into the rim, you can also push from the back side WITH YOUR HAND if you just rotate the tire so that the valve is anywhere you can reach the tread of the tire.

If the tube has enough air to not push into the rim... obviously no issue there.

[kapusta]

Yeah the thumb is a wonderful invention. We should make full use of them. I just used mine when installing a new tire (and pumping it sans nut) a 1/2hr ago.

My issue is NOT when installing a new tube or tire, or pumping it up from flat. It is when pumping it up when it is just low on pressure (see explanation below).

I've run into this in the past when I just lost or forgot the nut, so I assumed that this was the very reason for having the nut in the first place.

[kapusta]

I can't believe you took pics doing exactly what I said not to!

If the tube has little enough enough to push into the rim, you can also push from the back side WITH YOUR HAND if you just rotate the tire so that the valve is anywhere you can reach the tread of the tire.

If the tube has enough air to not push into the rim... obviously no issue there.

. I would like to see you do what you are suggesting with 18psi in a 2.0 or larger tire. Maybe you have much stronger hands than me, but I could not do it (I've tried)

What you are suggesting is exactly what I do, but I need to deflate the tire completely to do so.

[Millfox]

You could hold it with a set of pliers or sometihng...

[ColinL]

I've done it with 18 psi in a 45, 35, 34, 32, 25, and 23mm tires. You don't need to bottom the tire out against the rim. Merely pushing on it will force the valve out of the rim.

[kapusta]

I've done it with 18 psi in a 45, 35, 34, 32, 25, and 23mm tires. You don't need to bottom the tire out against the rim. Merely pushing on it will force the valve out of the rim.

So, you have done this with smaller tires.

I will believe that someone can do this with a 2.0 tire when I see it.

Of course, a lot will depend on the pump as well. Some pumps likely do not need as much force to seal.

A super long stem will help, too. These are already pretty long, but these are deep rims.

[kapusta]

Well, despite my defending of my position on this, it is very informative to see that this is a non-issue for pretty much everyone responding.

I guess I just find it odd that people have been running presta tubes with no lock nuts for years, and never run into the problem that I have several times in my very limited time without them.

[ColinL]

I used them a little while because I thought they were necessary. Then I realized they weren't, and I started actively discarding them, along with presta valve caps. My road bike is 10g lighter! (Maybe.)

[Glynis27]

I prefer the threaded stems too, but sometimes end up with a smooth one.
If you can't squeeze the tire, try putting your thumb against the valve stem itself and pushing it to the side. You should get enough friction from the edge of the rim and your thumb for it to not slip down while attaching the pump.

[BrianU]

Torelli tubes do not have threaded stems, although I have only ever used their roadbike tubes. I actually prefer these over tubes with threaded stems. I like how easy the pump head pops off of the stem. With the high pressure and low volume of a 700x23 tire, this is nice.

For my mountain bikes, I have always used threaded presta stems with the lock nuts. I have no doubt I could inflate a smooth stem using the method ColinL suggested, which is exactly what I use for my roadbike. My primary issue with not using a locknut on my mountainbike is the noise. I know it is a minor thing, but I also ride my mountainbike around our neighborhood with my family and with no lock nut, the low tire pressue causes the stem to make a very audible click against the rim every time it rotates to the bottom. Like I said, a minor thing, but the ..."click"..."click"..."click"...."click"....really starts to get on my nerves after about 10 minutes. And then on top of that, the kids start to complain that my twiching left eye and clenched teeth scares the neighbors.

[Mike T.]

My issue is NOT when installing a new tube or tire, or pumping it up from flat. It is when pumping it up when it is just low on pressure (see explanation below).
I've run into this in the past when I just lost or forgot the nut, so I assumed that this was the very reason for having the nut in the first place.

There's your problem (in the pics below). I have the same pump head. You're trying to do it with the valve at the bottom. I do it with the valve at the top and have no issues. If there isn't enough pressure in the tube already, to resist the pressure of you installing the head, then use your thumb to press down on the tire.

[kapusta]

There's your problem (in the pics below). I have the same pump head. You're trying to do it with the valve at the bottom. I do it with the valve at the top and have no issues. If there isn't enough pressure in the tube already, to resist the pressure of you installing the head, then use your thumb to press down on the tire.

Someone else made the same comment, and I responded. I've tried that. In fact, once I let most of the pressure out, it is exactly what I do.

Just wish I did not need to let the pressure out and put it back in.

Whatever, this is more than I planned to talk about this, it's not THAT big of a deal, just more hassle than it needs to be, IMO. I just find it to be a design with a noticeable flaw.

Luckily, you have not run into this situation. Not sure why, but there you go.