valve stem stabilizer suggestions

dennysbabe · 05-13-2022, 10:43 PM

We have 19.5 wheels with simulator hubs and need valve stem stabilizers/supports for tire monitoring sensors. Any suggestions?

l1v3fr33ord1 · 05-14-2022, 05:20 AM

dennysbabe-

I'd start by calling the folks at YourTireShopSupply.com. They sell the well-regarded DuallyValve solid valve stem kits, and some stabilizers, separately. The person at YTSS who helped me select what to buy knew her stuff. A link is here.

Morich · 05-14-2022, 07:27 AM

I was not happy with any of the options I found as they did not seem to fit my covers at the angles I found worked best for the stems, the rubber or spring gizmos did not seem to stay inplace and left the sensor swinging on the stems.
So I went DIY. I had scrap thin aluminum angle on hand and found easy to cut and drill to make suports for the stems, then pop rivet to the covers.
Yes, it would make changing tires on the rim a bit more complex as the stem would have to be unscrewed from the support before the tire could be removed but once I find I'm down to that amount of work, I figured it was not a major factor considering the very rare tire problems I have had in the last 2-3- years!

dennysbabe · 05-14-2022, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1

dennysbabe-

I'd start by calling the folks at YourTireShopSupply.com. They sell the well-regarded DuallyValve solid valve stem kits, and some stabilizers, separately. The person at YTSS who helped me select what to buy knew her stuff. A link is here.

Thanks for the link. We've looked for oval rubber supports that would fit and work on ours but haven't had any luck so far so we'll check it out.

dennysbabe · 05-14-2022, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morich

I was not happy with any of the options I found as they did not seem to fit my covers at the angles I found worked best for the stems, the rubber or spring gizmos did not seem to stay inplace and left the sensor swinging on the stems.
So I went DIY. I had scrap thin aluminum angle on hand and found easy to cut and drill to make suports for the stems, then pop rivet to the covers.
Yes, it would make changing tires on the rim a bit more complex as the stem would have to be unscrewed from the support before the tire could be removed but once I find I'm down to that amount of work, I figured it was not a major factor considering the very rare tire problems I have had in the last 2-3- years!

Sounds like something my husband would do. Do you have pics you could share?

Morich · 05-14-2022, 12:20 PM

Sorry, no longer have the RV and no pictures but if he is set to work lightweight metal like aluminum, it just gets down to looking at what might hold the stems from swinging around on the stems and making something to fit.
In my case, none of several metal stems would work for the sensors, so I went to metal braided flexible lines as I did not want to unmount the tires and remount after getting the stems on. The flexible lines made it possible to reach in, screw the lines on and then double back to the outside where I want the sensors. On the duals, one stem pointed in, one out, so getting a solid metal stem to fit both shapes was not something I could find.

But once I went to the flexible lines, cutting about an inch of angle stock, rounding the corners and smoothing the edges to look nicer was not much trouble. I think the stem needed a 1/4 inch hole in the angle and then two 1/8 inch holes to mount the angle to the cover.

I was a bit fussy and drove my wife a bit crazy trying to get all wheels to have the same angle on the mount so they all looked like they were meant to be there, but once figured where and what angle, a couple pop rivets in the predrilled mounting holes was pretty simple.

One note on that if not having a pop rivet gun on hand, is that they are cheap and simple to use. The trick seems to be getting the right length rivet to fit the two layers of material and still draw up nice and tight. I went with rivets as better than trying to make screws hold in the super thin metal of the covers!
The angle stock was something like 1/8 inch thick and the cover was far less so I think I wound up using 3/16 inch rivets but that likely varies with different metal.

Lots of uses for the rivet gun and lots of videos of using one if not on hand!

wyocamper · 05-14-2022, 01:07 PM

I bought these extensions before I got the long valve stems from DuallyValve and still had them on board. So when the tire guys just really didn't want to put in the stems I had them put these on instead. The stabilizer clamps to the wheel simulator, and the extension clips into the loop on the end. It's easy to unclip them to adjust air and then clip them back in. There are some negative reviews but so far I haven't seen any issues or leaking.

Morich · 05-14-2022, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyocamper

I bought these extensions before I got the long valve stems from DuallyValve and still had them on board. So when the tire guys just really didn't want to put in the stems I had them put these on instead. The stabilizer clamps to the wheel simulator, and the extension clips into the loop on the end. It's easy to unclip them to adjust air and then clip them back in. There are some negative reviews but so far I haven't seen any issues or leaking.

This would seem to be workable but there are always some who have trouble when we add more connections in any type of plumbing. The more connections we have it is true that the odds of leaks are increased, so I work to avoid that problem with some simple Loctite added to the fittings as I put them on. Do use some care to avoid getting the valve locked at the same time!
Assuming I can screw them on to not leak and they are sealed to the other parts, I feel safe enough.
Life tends to have some extra risk when we do more?

Tireman9 · 05-18-2022, 07:24 PM

A lot of work re-inventing a system I have used successfully for over 10 years. I have covered Hose extenders a few times on my blog. on RV Tire Safety.
The important thing about extenders is to have the outer end solidly attached to the wheel or hub as seen here. The Wheel Master kit includes stainless hoses and 90° angle brackets and nuts to hold the hose.

jimgossett2 · 05-18-2022, 11:14 PM

I got my stabilizers from Always Shiny Wheels and RV,
https://www.shinyrv.com/product-cate...on-stabilizers

I paired them with 4" flexible valve extensions from https://www.summitracing.com. Rigid extensions did not line up with the stabilizers but the flexible ones work great.