How to Tighten a Valve Stem
by Jay AngelValve stems are used to keep the air in a tire. They have a pin in their center that is depressed in order to allow air into the chamber, then immediately pops up to keep the air in. Once in a while this stem will become loose and cause a leak in the tire; when this happens, the valve stem must be tightened.
Step 1
Turn the valve stem clockwise as far as you can with your fingers.
Step 2
Hold the valve stem while you turn the valve tool clockwise onto the top of the valve stem. This action will attach the valve tool to the valve stem.
Step 3
Continue turning the valve tool clockwise until the stem is tight.
Step 4
Hold the valve stem and turn the valve tool counterclockwise to remove the tool from the stem.
References
Things You'll Need
- Valve stem insertion/removal tool
Warnings
- Do not overtighten the valve stem. Doing so can cause the stem to break and allow the air to escape.
Writer Bio
Jay Angel has been a writer since 1998, specializing in scientific writing, as well as articles about fishing and hunting. He worked as a columnist for the Illinois newspapers, "Daily Chronicle" and "News Tribune." Angel has a Master of Science in fluvial geomorphology from Northern Illinois University.
