VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 tire valve stem

Am I correct in assuming that the valve stems on my 31's inner tubes should be made of rubber and not metal? Should the caps be the metal type with the valve core removal tool on top?

I believe you will find that the metal valve stems were used in 1931. They were a Schrader TR-83 with a valve core removing cap. When I was looking into this back in the 60s I was told by the tire companies that these stems were used until the 16" drop center rims were used.

On the stem it reads TR-83
Schrader
REG US PAT OFE
6700
and vertical it reads made in U.S.A.

I hope this will help you.

Thanks Back Roads; do you have a source for them? I don't see them in the filling station's catalogue.

Coker tire has the valve stems and the tubes. Go here:

http://cokertire.com/

:) :grin:

For the reproduction (close to original) metal valve stems and caps check with suppliers of Model A parts. The '30-31 with wire wheels used the exact same stems as Chevrolet '30-33. '34-35 Chevys used a metal stem but it was different and had a different dust cap as well.

No, I do not have any source other than those mentioned above. When I was doing my car there was an original in the spare. I wrote the Schrader Valve Co. to see if they had any in stock. They had 19 on the shelf. You guessed it. I bought all of them. Six for me, five for my dad, five for my brother and three for a family friend. Please understand this was back in 1960.

The last time I checked with Coker they did not have the valve parts that said Schrader on them. I agree with Chip to go the a Model A company. Make sure that the parts are also nickel plated and not chrome. I believe Universal Tire Company's short style cover for the valve stems say Schrader but are chrome plated.

I think that Universal Tire is now owned by Coker.

:) :grin:

Thanks for keeping me straight guys. Coker will be at the Chickasha, OK pre-war swap meet next week, and I'll talk with them there.

6wheel,
You might want to call them and make sure that they put some on the truck. Seems that they did not have any a couple of years ago when I checked at pre-war Chickasha.

Wonder how many other chatters will be at the meet? I sure will be there. Any others? Do we need to get together?

I looked for brass stems at Coker and didn't find them ...BUT I went here: Universal Tire Co. and found them.
Question: Are there tire places that replace a bad rubber stem with a new stem? Can you do it at home with patching adhesive?
( there were some metal stems for sale) or do you need to buy a new tube with the metal stem?

I would still be searching for answers to a lot of questions, if not for the VCCA and this site. I would like to meet all the fellas who have provided helpful restoration information as I needed it. Should we gather around chevy vendors and wear VCCA name tags?
Sid

Buy the metal stem with the bridge washer and nut.Cut the rubber stem off flush with the tube and then cut a small slit in the tube directly under the stem opening ,insert the metal stem into the hole in the tube and up through where the rubber stem was but some rubber cement on the tube and the metal stem to seal it then add the bridge washer and nut.and don't forget to patch the hole in the bottom where you put the stem in.
I used new tubes and stems from the model a guys.thecover that screws down on the stem to the wheel is the same for 1930-31 model a as 31chev. I did five with no leaks.

That is good to know Woody.
I have three or four good almost new tubes that the rubber stems leak on. I know a new tube with a metal stem is around $25 to $30 but a good stem is only around $7.
I have a couple of the old red rubber tubes that are still good. I hate to loose them because of a bad stem.

I surely don't recommend cutting a slit in the tube to insert the metal stem. If you lubricate (soapy water, silicone, antifreeze or ?) the stem and tube (with the rubber stem cut flush with the tube) you can force the bottom of the metal stem into that itty-bitty hole. It takes some force but not too much for this old man. When you tighten the nut and washer down it will clamp the stem in place. Done it several times with no leaks.

Chipper asked who else was going to be at the Pre-War Chickasha Swap Meet. There are at least 3 of us from the Heart of Route 66 Region planning on being there on Thursday. Joe S, Kevin O. and Bob S. We have an order for tires in with Coker per the VCCA Region discount order, and will be picking up our tires from Coker at the swap meet to save freight. We need to discuss the metal stem proceedure discussed in this thread with Joe as he wanted metal stem tubes for the tires on his panel project, but Coker didn't have any.

Looking forward to seeing you at Chickasha. Tell me about the VCCA Region discount order. Sounds like a money saving deal that we all need to know about.
Sid

6wheel, all Region Directors should have been sent a letter discribing the offer. It is available only to VCCA members that belong to a Regional club.

I couldn't find any metal stems on the Coker Website but it isn't the easiest site to navigate. I did find them on the Universal Tire Company Site. Junkyard Dog believes that Coker bought Universal, I don't have that information, but Universal did buy Lester Tire Company and they are useing the Lester molds to reproduce the Lester tires in several sizes.

Bob,
Several of the SJR Region members will also be there on Wed. PM, Thurs. and part of Friday. Do we want to set a time and place? We have some swap spaces in the usual place SW corner of the small building. Think they are spaces 11 & 12 but Bill B has the documentation so I can't be sure.

If anyone needs late 20s or early 30s parts I am packing the truck today and could throw in a few other things.

6wheel
The discount from Coker Tire is 11%. It is still available as of this post.

What if there is not any regional VCCA clubs in your area, can you still get the discount?

Would our non-geographic "Chat" group be OK to get the discount?