Middletown transcript., 1920-12-18
PROPER CARE Of
VALVE ENJ0|NED.
One Part Of Auto Tire Causes
Much Annoyance If It Is Not
Treated Right.
DIRT CAUSES MUCH TROUBLE
Erroneous Idea 70 Think That Cap ts
an UnessentiaI Thin0-Makes an
Airtiaht Connection-Tiohten
hexaponai Nut.

One part Of an automobile tire
which comes in for too little atten-
tion Is the valve. Treated properly,
this inexpensive but highly important
part Of a tires mechanism will flnc-
ton satisfactorily throughout the life
Of the tire, but when mistreated 1t
often causes annoyance.
When asvalve begins to give trou-
bic II may he assumed In nearly every
case as practical certainty that dirt
has worked Nintp the valve and is the
main cause. f1f improper functioning.
This being me case, the principal at
'tenti0n = Idotorist need give. the valve
10 simply to. see that all dust and dirt
are excluded from the interior Of the
valve.
Another Erroneous idea.
There is q rather common belief that
the valve cap Is an unessential thing
and that it makes little difference
whether a cap is used or not. But
this idea is entirely erroneous, ana
motorists who do not use the valve
cap are in danger Of valve trouble.
When the cap is not used there is a
strong likelihood that dirt will work
down into the valve and ultimately
produce valve leak. While a tire
remains inflated this dirt in some
cases may do no harm, but when
new imitation Is made the air drives
the dirt down into the valve and
makes an alright connection impos-
sible.
In addition to keeping out dirt, the
valve cap serves another useful pur-
pose, in that, If the valve should begin
to leak, the cap makes an alright
connection able to Withstand pres
sure up to 500 pounds.
II q cap is screwed on well break
down of the valve iHsl.ie need cause
the driver no Inconvenience, as the
cap will prevent the tire from deflat-
ing. The one sure way to avoid valve
leakage fs to use the cap.
A common abuse Of the tire valve
occurs when removing the valve
plunger. The user usually drops it in
the dirt until he is ready to put It
back in place. II, during this careless
handling, dirt lodges on the red rubber
washer, an uneven seating will result
and a leak will follow. If dirt has
worked It's way into the plunger throw
away the plunger and put in new
one.
The valve plunger should be screwed
In as far as 1t viii 60. There Is no dam
ger Of breaking the plunger if the
pressure is only that eyerted through
the use Of the cap as screwdriver.
Look Out for Lsalss.
Sometimes there may be leak
around the base Of the valve stem. In
that case the hexAkonal nut should be
tightened. This hexagonal nut should
always be screwed down dght against
the washer ut the base. as this makes
4 satisfactory seal arotind the opening
through which the valve stem enters
the tube.
The rim nut Isust always be screwed
tight, 20 that It closes the hole ip the
rim. II this Is not done, dirt will work
In between the tire and tube and cause
the tube to wear out. 4
An inexpensive valve tool which has
d variety Of usesf might well form a
part, Of every cars equipment. This
tool can be used for tapping the inside
of the valve stem. for rethreading the
outside cap thread of the valve stem
and Tor roaming the top Of the valve
stem. Il IS at The same time a screw
driver tool for putting IN or taking ont
plungers, ana 4 Debating cap which.
when screwed on the cap. will permit
the deAation Of the tire without the
removal Of the valve plunger.