valve extenders

willald wrote:

427435 wrote:
Again, the extensions below can't leak. There is NO pressure in them except when you are filling the inner dual or checking the pressure of the inner dual. Otherwise, the normal schrader valve at the wheel holds the pressure.

427435 wrote:
The best flexible extenders are these. There is a wire inside the hose that operates the inner dual schrader valve. Thus, if the hose breaks, no air is lost from the inner dual.

..But they can work loose where they're screwed onto the valve stem, and leak there. Thats how one of my extensions leaked, and made a tire go flat pretty quickly.

With solid valve stem replacements like DuallyValves, you pretty much eliminate that risk, potential failure point.

Will

I agree with the dually valves as the best solution.... btw, I did have a "leakless" one leak... the adjustment can get out of wack and slightly put pressure on the tire valve and if it is a tiny bit loose in the connection, out goes your air.

Alan_Hepburn wrote:

427435 wrote:


Again, there is no pressure in the extension. If it comes loose from the inner dually, the worse thing that can happen is the extension falls off. The valve on the tire itself, is always closed unless you have put a pressure chuck or pressure gauge on the other end of the extension.

So it can't be used with a TPMS sensor then, since there is no pressure on it?

That is correct for valve stem mounted systems. You would have to use an internal TPMS system.

willald wrote:

Still, I much prefer the simplicity of having just one standard gauge and air chuck, that works on ALL my vehicles' tires. When checking air pressure is so simple and quick, and doesn't require you to have to dig up a special tool for such, you tend to do it more often and stay on top of it better.

Will

Just use the 180* as your standard gauge for all your other tires??? :)

427435 wrote:


Again, there is no pressure in the extension. If it comes loose from the inner dually, the worse thing that can happen is the extension falls off. The valve on the tire itself, is always closed unless you have put a pressure chuck or pressure gauge on the other end of the extension.

So it can't be used with a TPMS sensor then, since there is no pressure on it?

427435 wrote:
The extender is 9" long. If you wanted to use one on the outer dual, that should be more than long enough to make a "U" bend back to the outside.

..I wasn't concerned so much about its length being long enough to make the "U" bend back to the outside. Was wondering more about whether it would still function properly when held in that tight a bend?

Meaning, if you put an air chuck to it, would it push through to the tire's schrader valve and give you an accurate pressure reading, even though the extension is in a sharp 180 deg. U bend like that? Was it designed to be used that way?

It may well work OK, I don't know. I know for a fact thats not a problem at all with the DuallyValves, though.

Will

The extender is 9" long. If you wanted to use one on the outer dual, that should be more than long enough to make a "U" bend back to the outside.

wny_pat wrote:

willald wrote:
Ahhh, ok. So, the airless extensions takes care of the inner dual OK, but probably can't be used with the outer? For that one, you are using a trucker double ended gauge and air chuck.

That would not work for me, as I could not get ANY of the double ended pressure gauges I ever tried to work on outer duals. Never could get the right angle to make it seal on the schrader valve, even after removing wheel covers.
Will

Will, I really do not understand why you cound not get any of the double ended pressure gauges to work? I have had trouble with the Straight-on 30° reverse which you commonly find in parts stores. There is also a Straight-on 180° reverse gauge where the reverse gauge is straight in line behind the front gauge, and not off at a angle like the more common 30° reverse gauges. I can't find a good pic of this type gauge, but can find one of the similiar air chucks:
.
The chrome is the 180° reverse and the black is the angled 180° reverse. My wheels hand holes are only 2" and will not allowed a 30° reverse chuck or gauge to work. Just not enough room to allow that angle. But a 180° reverse chuck or gauge work just fine in the wheels little 2" hand hole. Alcoa Wheel sells both of the 180° reverse chucks and gauges.

Thanks for the info, wny_pat. All the truck gauges I tried were indeed angled.

Never tried (or could find for that matter) a straight-on 180 deg. reverse one like you're referring to here. That one may well have worked.

Still, I much prefer the simplicity of having just one standard gauge and air chuck, that works on ALL my vehicles' tires. When checking air pressure is so simple and quick, and doesn't require you to have to dig up a special tool for such, you tend to do it more often and stay on top of it better.

Will

willald wrote:
Ahhh, ok. So, the airless extensions takes care of the inner dual OK, but probably can't be used with the outer? For that one, you are using a trucker double ended gauge and air chuck.

That would not work for me, as I could not get ANY of the double ended pressure gauges I ever tried to work on outer duals. Never could get the right angle to make it seal on the schrader valve, even after removing wheel covers.
Will

Will, I really do not understand why you cound not get any of the double ended pressure gauges to work? I have had trouble with the Straight-on 30° reverse which you commonly find in parts stores. There is also a Straight-on 180° reverse gauge where the reverse gauge is straight in line behind the front gauge, and not off at a angle like the more common 30° reverse gauges. I can't find a good pic of this type gauge, but can find one of the similiar air chucks:
.
The chrome is the 180° reverse and the black is the angled 180° reverse. My wheels hand holes are only 2" and will not allowed a 30° reverse chuck or gauge to work. Just not enough room to allow that angle. But a 180° reverse chuck or gauge work just fine in the wheels little 2" hand hole. Alcoa Wheel sells both of the 180° reverse chucks and gauges.

427435 wrote:

willald wrote:

427435 wrote:
Again, there is no pressure in the extension. If it comes loose from the inner dually, the worse thing that can happen is the extension falls off. The valve on the tire itself, is always closed unless you have put a pressure chuck or pressure gauge on the other end of the extension.

Maybe that is what I should have said to start with-----------the Schroeder valve on the inner dual stays there when you put this extension on. The valve isn't taken out like with a regular extension.

Thanks for the clarification, I must have had a brain lapse and did not realize they worked that way.

You're right, extensions like this would not have the risk of leaking, as long as it leaves the Schroeder valve on the tire closed (except when you put a pressure gauge on, like you said).

Would they reach far enough, though, to allow you to check air pressure without having to remove wheel covers? Could one of these be used for the outer dual, and be turned 180 degrees and pointed out so you could get to it (without removing a wheel cover), and still work when turned that tight?

If the answer is 'no' to either of those...then I'd still have to say the DuallyValves are the better choice. That is, assuming you can find a dually valve made for your tires/wheels. If not, an extension like this would definitely be the next best choice (and a lot less expensive, too).

Will

They were plenty long enough on my setup to both check and add air if necessary w/o needing to remove the wheel covers. I can check my outer dual by using a truckers double ended pressure gauge, also with the wheel cover in place.

Ahhh, ok. So, the airless extensions takes care of the inner dual OK, but probably can't be used with the outer? For that one, you are using a trucker double ended gauge and air chuck.

That would not work for me, as I could not get ANY of the double ended pressure gauges I ever tried to work on outer duals. Never could get the right angle to make it seal on the schrader valve, even after removing wheel covers.

DuallyValves eliminated that issue completely. I can now use a regular pressure gauge/air chuck on both inner and outers (without removing wheel covers). No need for trucker double ended gauge or air chucks. Same air gauges and air chuck I use for all our other vehicles works for the MH now.

Will

willald wrote:

427435 wrote:
Again, there is no pressure in the extension. If it comes loose from the inner dually, the worse thing that can happen is the extension falls off. The valve on the tire itself, is always closed unless you have put a pressure chuck or pressure gauge on the other end of the extension.

Maybe that is what I should have said to start with-----------the Schroeder valve on the inner dual stays there when you put this extension on. The valve isn't taken out like with a regular extension.

Thanks for the clarification, I must have had a brain lapse and did not realize they worked that way.

You're right, extensions like this would not have the risk of leaking, as long as it leaves the Schroeder valve on the tire closed (except when you put a pressure gauge on, like you said).

Would they reach far enough, though, to allow you to check air pressure without having to remove wheel covers? Could one of these be used for the outer dual, and be turned 180 degrees and pointed out so you could get to it (without removing a wheel cover), and still work when turned that tight?

If the answer is 'no' to either of those...then I'd still have to say the DuallyValves are the better choice. That is, assuming you can find a dually valve made for your tires/wheels. If not, an extension like this would definitely be the next best choice (and a lot less expensive, too).

Will

They were plenty long enough on my setup to both check and add air if necessary w/o needing to remove the wheel covers. I can check my outer dual by using a truckers double ended pressure gauge, also with the wheel cover in place.