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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Alloy wheels and tyre discussion
Big Bad Boris
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Big Bad Boris » Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:07 am

Someone has a used metal pressure cap on one of the valves on Mrs B’s (newish to us) X3, I went to check the pressures yesterday and it’s obviously reacted and welded itself on. I have tried to get some WD40 into it but so far it’s not looking like budging.

Anyone have any other tips on how to try and get it off……or am I ultimately going to have take it to a tyre shop to get a new valve put on it?

All four tyres are brand new.

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Chris_D » Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:11 pm

Heat it with a blowtorch / jet lighter or such... AFTER wiping away any leftover WD of course :o , then use pliers to twist it off.
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Pondrew » Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:59 pm

Pliers; without the heat. That could damage the rubber/ neoprene seal in the schrader valve then it will leak.
Just make sure you use pliers that grip it all the way round, otherwise you can deform it and that will make it more difficult to remove.
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Chris_D » Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:32 pm

Pondrew wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:59 pm without the heat. That could damage the rubber
nah
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by tomscott » Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:57 pm

I used pliers on mine worked a charm.

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Pondrew » Mon Sep 05, 2022 3:00 pm

Chris_D wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:32 pm
Pondrew wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:59 pm without the heat. That could damage the rubber
nah
Yeah!
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Chris_D » Mon Sep 05, 2022 3:21 pm

Pondrew wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 3:00 pm
Chris_D wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:32 pm
Pondrew wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 1:59 pm without the heat. That could damage the rubber
nah
Yeah!
nah
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by 2k35is » Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:10 pm

If you've got a 1/4inch socket set one of the sizes is a very tight fit and with 6" (or what ever length!) angled drive easy to remove - sometimes a very small tweek to tighten loosens it up. Cant remember if metric or imperial size.
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Mr Tidy
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Mr Tidy » Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:44 pm

When one got stuck on my 1 Series I managed to get it off with 2 pairs of pliers, one on the valve stem and one on the cap.

But it required a fair bit of force, so the valve stem didn't look too good afterwards!
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by ronk » Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:58 pm

Before you start gripping the valve stem with pliers etc - wrap it with amalgamating tape.
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Mister T » Mon Sep 05, 2022 10:07 pm

Carefully cut down the side of the valve cap with a Dremel

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Big Bad Boris » Tue Sep 06, 2022 1:17 pm

Thanks for the replies one and all.

I have been out and tried most of them (apart from the Dremel - as I don’t have one).

Bottom line is the f**king thing isn’t budging, it feels like it’s actually welded on. The amount of force it’s gonna take to shift it feels like I’m gonna chew the valve to pieces, rip it clean off or take a chunk out of the alloy…. none of which is very appealing.

Sensible option seems to be to get a tyre shop to replace the valve, should be around £15 I guess? Me and my fists of ham could do a lot more damage than that :oops:

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Big Bad Boris » Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:14 pm

Just a line to give a big up to my local “Tyre Pros” shop. I took the car in to get them to change the valve, they did it in about 20 minutes, free of charge. So I thought I’d give them a mention and a bit of free publicity.

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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Mr Tidy » Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:25 pm

That's excellent service. :thumbsup:
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Metal tyre pressure cap stuck

Post by Pondrew » Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:29 pm

Big Bad Boris wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 6:14 pm Just a line to give a big up to my local “Tyre Pros” shop. I took the car in to get them to change the valve, they did it in about 20 minutes, free of charge. So I thought I’d give them a mention and a bit of free publicity.
:thumbsup:
I have to say I keep hearing about local tyre places being really helpful and charging very little.
On another forum recently someone bought a used car from a BMW dealership (AUC) and they managed to put the wrong wheels on the wrong axles. The chap didn't have a jack, so took it to his local tyre place and they changed them all back in 10 minutes for £5.

I had a bulge in a nearly new tyre last year. My local tyre place swapped it for a new one (obviously I had to pay for it) but spent ages helping with my claim from Michelin. They were brilliant. Shame Michelin weren't.

Maybe I should get into the tyre business because everybody I deal with on a daily basis with my work doesn't seem to give a toss anymore, even when being paid very good money. :x
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.

F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!

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