Hi All! I got a puncture snakebite puncture on both my front and rear tires. Looked it up and learnt that is due because of tire pressure is not high enough. I took of my front wheel, took out the inner tube, patched in the 2 tears on the inner tube inflated it to see if it leaks – it didn't, put it inside of the tire, then inflated it again to 5 bars (meanwhile it said 6 bars min), then tried to fit it into my bike, it didn't fit into the break pads, so I started unscerewing the cap of the inner tube's Presta valve, heard hissing sound, kept on unscrewing and then suddenly the whole thing shot out like a bullet….. What did I miss?!?!
by babbon4
6 Comments
You unscrewed the valve core by accident and the pressure sent it for a ride?
What happened here is you removed the whole valve core (and seemengly lost it). It was probably loose from the factory because normally you’d need a small wrench to remove it. What you need now is a new Presta valve core, which should be available at any bike shop. You screw that thing in **tight** and the tube is ready to be pumped up again.
Rim brakes? Most road bikes with brakes have a lever to open them wider making wheel removal and install easier. After locking in your quick release, push the lever back in to bring the shoes closer to the rim, spin the wheel to make sure it’s centered and go riding.
[https://www.amazon.com/HZJD-Presta-Valve-Core-Pack/dp/B0CL4XWVYC](https://www.amazon.com/HZJD-Presta-Valve-Core-Pack/dp/B0CL4XWVYC)
As others have said, the valve core unscrewed.
I have a Lezyne floor pump that screws onto the valve. This is a great pump for valves that don’t have removable cores, but unfortunately it’s difficult to find those tubes these days. I can’t unscrew the pump without also unscrewing the valve core. If you have this type of pump, that could have caused the problem.
Yes.
I’ve been cycling regularly for 20 years and only had this happen to me for the first time recently with a new inner tube. (Not sure what brand, but it has a transparent plastic valve cap).
The valve screws are always quite easily bent when fitting/removing the pump, and I think it got bent, and then caught on the plastic valve-cap when unscrewing… And also the valve-core must have not been tightened well at the factory. After having the “bullet” come out about 3 times in as many weeks, I straightened the threaded valve stem with a pair of pliers, and then tightened the “bullet” into the housing with a pair of pliers too. Hoping not for a recurrence…