Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:37 pm

The bridge washers currently available from the vendors are the larger Schrader 725 size and do not have the dimpling that grips and seals the tube rubber when tightened down. On the currently available metal stem tubes from the vendors, it isn't too much of a problem because the stem is vulcanized to the tube.

However, for those installing older Schrader stems onto rubber stem tubes, it is a problem.

Somehow, I came in possession of a couple of flat bridge washers with the smaller, Schrader 777 hole size. I really wanted to use them with my 777 stems, so I came up with a plan. I bought some 1/2 inch brass plated steel grommets and crazy glued one half of the grommet to the bottom of the bridge washer. This perfectly mimics the dimple on the bottom of original bridge washers. Once installed on the stem and tightened down, the grommet can't go anywhere, the crazy glue is just for holding the grommet in place during installation. I did have to do some sanding on the excess crazy glue to get a smooth surface.

What do you think? I think this would work on the flat bridge washers for the larger 725 size stems as well. You can get pure brass or brass plated steel grommets from dozens of suppliers on eBay and elsewhere. Here is a link to show one of the many sources for the grommets. :)

https://www.mytarp.com/products/brass-g ... gJNs_D_BwE
Attachments
crazy_glued_grommets_on_bridge_washers.JPG
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

User avatar

Oldav8tor
Posts: 1930
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Juhl
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
Location: Thumb of Michigan
MTFCA Number: 50297
MTFCI Number: 24810
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Oldav8tor » Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:46 pm

What an interesting idea.... I think it is certainly worth a try. Let us know what happens :D
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor


Mark Osterman
Posts: 1011
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Osterman
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Mark Osterman » Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:47 pm

Anxious to see if they work.

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Sep 16, 2020 10:33 pm

Looks like it should work. It's pretty close to some of the originals.

IMG_0845 copy.JPG
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Allan
Posts: 5205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Allan » Thu Sep 17, 2020 3:32 am

I'm not familiar with "crazy glue". The idea is great. I'd buy the solid brass ones, fill the dish in the back of grommet with sodder? and sweat them onto the bridge washer for a more permanent fix. I have a few 777 size bridge washers, but some have rusted really thin.

Allan from down under.

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:35 am

Allan, "Crazy Glue" is a brand name in the US for cyanoacrylate glue. It is thin enough to wick into gaps and cures really strong. :)

I thought about using solder, if I find another pair of flat 777 size bridge washers I'll try it. For the life of me, I can't remember where these two 777 size flat bridge washers came from, or I'd buy more!

Some original Schrader stems came with a flat bridge washer and a separate ribbed washer (labeled "J" in the illustration below). If anybody has some of the separate ribbed washers, I'd be interested in them.

It may be a while before I install the two that I have, I am switching over to 777 stems two at a time as I wear out tires. I already have two new Universal T Driver tires and tubes with 777 stems and original bridge washers ready to go. :)
Attachments
382637.jpg
two_converted_rubber_stem_tubes.JPG
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:12 am

One other potential solution - Smith and Jones website shows a valve stem assembly for a Model A, part number A-1501 B, that has a ribbed bridge washer in it. The shape isn't the same, but it could be trimmed if necessary. I have sent an email to Smith and Jones to find out if the bridge washer and clamping nut are available separately. I'll let you know what they say.
Attachments
a-1501-b.jpg
a-1501-b.jpg (14.01 KiB) Viewed 2449 times
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Thu Sep 17, 2020 7:52 pm

With some more searching online, I found out that Mike's A Fordable offers the Model A Bridge washers and nuts separately, so I ordered some as an experiment.

https://www.mikes-afordable.com/
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)


Allan
Posts: 5205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Allan » Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:07 pm

Mark, we know that stuff as superglue. It's funny how brand names become the standard reference over time. Prior to superglue, Tarzan's Grip was the brand name most common.
You blokes know what a Crescent wrench is, even if not made by Crescent. We call them shifters. What you guys call a cooler, we refer to by the brand name Esky, short for eskimo i presume.

Allan from down under.


jab35
Posts: 892
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Bartsch
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
Location: Dryden, NY 13053
MTFCA Number: 30615
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by jab35 » Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:57 am

Thanks for all the information. Willie obviously missed or totally misread this thread. jb

Post by Willie R » Thu Sep 17, 2020 1:02 pm

Is it just that time of year or is the Model T forums dead ?
Seems no one is alive in the hobby expressing any enthusiasm or interest in helping others.

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:42 pm

Update - I ordered four of the Model A bridge washers and nuts from Mike's A-fordable Model A parts and good news, the hole in the bridge washer and the threads on the nut are Schrader 777 stem size!

The Model A bridge washer has the correct round sealing ring, but is wider than a standard Schrader 777 size washer, see pic. I don't know if it would have to be trimmed to fit on a Model T wheel or not, I haven't tried it yet.

So, there is a newly manufactured alternative to old, rusty, or hard to find original bridge washers and nuts. Now, if someone would make the 777 size stems. :)
Attachments
model_a_bridge_washer_and_nut.JPG
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)


25 roadster john
Posts: 50
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:17 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Pawlowski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Roadster
Location: Milton Delaware
MTFCA Number: 49635

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by 25 roadster john » Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:58 pm

Hello Mark,
They list 2 bridge washers. Which did you buy?

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:04 pm

Oops, sorry!

I ordered bridge washer A1501WW. The nut is A1500N. :)
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)


Original Smith
Posts: 3284
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Number: 121
MTFCA Life Member: YES
MTFCI Number: 16310

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by Original Smith » Sun Sep 27, 2020 10:12 am

I don't think I'd want to use those wide ones. I believe the idea of the correct bridge washer is to force the clinchers apart. I don't see how those wide ones can do that. Has anyone tried A&L Model A parts? They are up in Mass or Conn somewhere.

User avatar

Topic author
CudaMan
Posts: 2385
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
MTFCA Number: 30944
MTFCI Number: 23667
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Idea for Fixing Flat Valve Stem Bridge Washers

Post by CudaMan » Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:04 am

You have a point, Larry. When I decide to use the Model A washers, I'll figure out a way to quickly and reliably cut them down to the Model T width and shape.

Message to the Model T vendors - how about finding out the manufacturer of these Model A washers and seeing if they can stamp out a version with the correct Model T width and shape? Snyder's, you handle both Model A and Model T parts, how about it?

Update - a few minutes with a cutoff wheel in a Dremel tool, a grinder, and wire wheel made quick work of modifying one of the Model A washers to the Model T size and shape. The first one went so easy that I went ahead and did the remaining three.
Attachments
IMG_7882.JPG
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic