Schrader Valve Stem Tubes

[Chris Haynes]

Are inner tubes available that use the Schrader valve stems?

[Allan]

Chris, if you mean the threaded brass stems which are held in place with a bridge washer and nut, the answer is no. As most tubes these days are oriental imports, there are not likely to even be vulcanised Shraeder stems fitted.

Allan from down under.

[Steve Jelf]

New metal-stem tubes do not have Schrader stems. The new metal stems are a copy of the Schrader #725, but because it's vulcanized into the tube it has a smaller base. Your sources for original Schrader stems are swap meets, auctions, and want ads. If you're going for strictly correct parts, you want #777 for a Model T. #888 is the same width, but a little shorter. I use #724 and #725 for three reasons. They are plentiful, while Model T sizes are not. Dust covers and other original hardware to fit the larger size are also more plentiful. New reproduction dust covers are made to fit the larger size because that's what's used on new tubes.

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG110.html

[Original Smith]

Diameter for the above comment is more appropriate! What Steve is suggesting goes along with what I have found. You might try looking at the Model T Times, the issue before the current issue. I have a two page article in that issue on this subject.
A few days ago, someone posted that there is a Schrader 777 dust cap, and one other too. Where did that information come from?

[Don D]

Last week I sent Steve an email thanking him for sharing the information in his post. I also informed him I have taken this information and reworked it into a MS Word document so it is printable for user reference. (see attached)

Dom

INSTALLING METAL VALVE STEMS.docx

(2.45 MiB) Downloaded 189 times

[Original Smith]

Most of the pictures posted above appear to be valve stems that were never used by Ford. That rim nut was never used either. I would research this stuff much more carefully if I were you.

[Steve Jelf]

Most of the pictures posted above appear to be valve stems that were never used by Ford.

That's why the page clearly states "Schrader #777 was used on tubes for Model T tires," and "Even though the Model T was by far the most plentiful car of its time, this stem is relatively scarce compared to the others." A photo shows the #777 compared with the other two stems that are most common today, and measurements of all three stems are given. Nowhere does the page say or imply that all the stems shown were used by Ford. In fact, it says that most of them were not. I don't understand what's unclear about that.

[Chris Haynes]

I have all four stems which were still installed on the rims. The tires and tubes had rotted away. The tubes that were in it were red. I was looking for tubes with the hole. Not one that I had to cut the rubber stem out of.

[Steve Jelf]

I was looking for tubes with the hole. Not one that I had to cut the rubber stem out of.

Good luck. I don't think there is such a critter.

[Original Smith]

It would be nice if the companies that make the tubes would supply them with the hole only, so we could install our original valve stem hardware in them. Actually cutting off the rubber valve stems works in our favor, because the area around the hole is now thicker than when they did it back in the twenties.

[Scottio]

I may not misunderstand what you are looking for but I ordered inner tubes with the long metal stem and bridge not long ago. I did not need to assemble them they came ready to use. Again, I’m sorry, I’m not sure of the question. All tubes and tires use Schrader valves.

[Steve Jelf]

All tubes and tires use Schrader valves.

No, they don't. If you examine the metal stems on your recently acquired Indian or Chinese tubes I think you will find that the Schrader name is nowhere to be seen. The current metal stems are a copy of the Schrader #725 (but with a smaller base), which is larger than the #777 used on Model T tubes. Larry gave me a tsk tsk for poor research because I showed the non-Ford #724 and #725 on my page. I included them because they're much easier to find and the current reproduction dust covers are made to fit them. There are two reasons for buying rubber stems and replacing them with original metal stems. 1 It's a neat Model T era thing to do; 2 You save about $10 a tube.

[RajoRacer]

I believe that "valve stems" & "Schrader valves" are different items, are they not ?

[Steve Jelf]

Yes. The stems are the threaded brass tubes that stick out of the rubber tire tubes. The little valves fit inside them. Stems and valves were made by Schrader, Firestone, and others.

[Scottio]

OK. I get it now. I have a habit of calling all one way air valves used in tires and tubes Schrader valves when there are many manufactures of them. Thanks for the lesson. I'm not a complete idiot but I'm working at it.

[Allan]

Tubes with cut-off rubber valve stems are thicker, but I doubt they are thicker than old time tubes. Often these old tubes had much thicker rubber where the valve stem was clamped in. And more often than not, that thicker rubber was reinforced with a layer or two of fabric.

When fitting old style threaded stems in new tubes, I like to leave part of the stem rubber so that the replacement valve has more material to clamp on. I avoid lubricant when fitting the stems, and do not clamp overly tight to avoid the un-reinforced rubber squishing out between the valve stem base and the bridge washer.

Allan from down under.