japanese import tyre valves

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BongoDogDoodahVan
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japanese import tyre valves

Post by BongoDogDoodahVan » Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:22 pm

Hi,
have owned my 1995 Bongo 2wd 2.5 diesel auto for 10 years now
can hardly believe it tbh - doesn't do too may miles per year any more- but a great vehicle to own

anyway last year 2019 needed a new tyre for MOT which the garage replaced
but as far as i can remember the guy said - it was an unusual size valve

tbh -I might have primed him saying it might be a bolt in valve or a strange japanese valve- I have no idea really

anyway now a year on - the valve is leaking around the base
dropping 7 or 8 psi per day

all i would like to know is

are there any strange size Japanese tyre valves
or is this a figment of my imagination
i have a set of UK tyre valves that i have fitted to other of my cars
but don't want to strand myself unnecessarily!!
Thanks for any info

BongoDog
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by g8dhe » Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:29 pm

Never heard of any oddities myself with tyres/valves on Bongo's.
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Bob
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:52 pm

Same here.

I've waited while guys fit tyres for me and never seen anything odd, or had tyre chaps mention it.
BongoDogDoodahVan
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by BongoDogDoodahVan » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:38 pm

Thanks very much Guys
maybe i was being too paranoid!

when that tyre was changed
he just put a new valve core in
he said he couldn't change the valve
(it was a local garage not a tyre place)
maybe he mangled the actual valve to give it a slight leak
and who knows how old the actual valve is!
Bob
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:03 pm

That's unusual, normal practice is just pull out valves and replace.

But, as you say, he may just have run out of valves and done what he could.

Great to see you post, welcome aboard. 8)
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by rita » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:50 pm

BongoDogDoodahVan, It could be a bolt in type valve, they have an inner and outer rubber seal and fixed to the the wheel with a nut.

The very first tubeless valves were of this type before the solid rubber type as we know now..
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Sat Jun 20, 2020 11:50 pm

Would it be ok to just replace this type with the newer all rubber ones we know?
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by rita » Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:10 am

Providing the base of the rubber valve has a tight fit to the wheel , did the OP say whether or not alloys were fitted to the vehicle.
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:29 am

No, but that's a good point. :)
BongoDogDoodahVan
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by BongoDogDoodahVan » Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:00 pm

Thanks for all the comments.
The bongo does have alloys, presumably the ones that came with it when it was imported around 2006.
Maybe they are bolt in valves, the base of a standard valve looks much bigger than what I can see of this valve.
I guess I'll go to a proper tyre place and see what they make of it.
BongoDogDoodahVan
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by BongoDogDoodahVan » Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:30 am

In case anyone's interested
this picture should show the small valve and a standard valve alongside.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/sha ... SRr78SHo9k
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Mon Jun 22, 2020 1:22 pm

Thanks. 8)
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bongolia » Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:06 pm

My Bongo had alloys and the valves were referred to by the tyre guy as racing valves? As the type described by Rita these bolt through the rim. Not sure I would want to replace them with pullin valves methinks.
Like this.
https://www.raceways.co.uk/images/valve ... e-type.jpg
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by BongoDogDoodahVan » Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:14 pm

Thanks Bongolia, that's very useful info.

I tried my usual recent tyre place F1 Autocentres Ipswich, who weren't very helpful.
They looked at the valve & said - we don't stock them but if you order off ebay or go to Eurocarparts and ask for small valves they will fit it
ie they wont do it until I provide the valve - but I said I don't know what size to order without seeing it off the van!
Catch 22.
ECP said they only deal in EU parts and hadn't heard of them - suggested Williams tyre and exhaust- but probably cos he was a friend, buts that's just my hunch.

I'm now thinking I will restore (ie repaint) the spare steel wheel which I descended from its steel cable yesterday and cleaned up.
It has a normal rubber valve and holds pressure but the Falken tyre looks a bit ropey - but it might have to do for now.

I found this on ebay which looks closest to Bongolia's pic
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Small-Bo ... Swm5ldQWmG

so I think I will put in an order.
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Re: japanese import tyre valves

Post by Bob » Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:52 pm

It might be worth sourcing a standard steel rim if the skinny spare is looking dodgey.

It will go on the carrier, and you don't want the spare failing 5 mins after you have to fit it. :wink:

They come up on here from time to time, or there's Bongo Spares. 8)
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