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Recently changed the tyres on my Olympic rims and since doing this I haven't been able to get the valve to seal. I've even swapped the valve for an Olympic specific one (came without any washers) but this is also leaking between the nut and the rim. Any tips or advice? Is there a need for a washer? (I have plently of wheel milk sloshing around...)
Tighten it a bit more.
Have tightened it up quite a lot i.e. have had the mole grips on it. Is it possible to overtighten the valve?
Is it possible to overtighten the valve?
Yes if it's a rim strip, and you'll tear it at the base of the valve stem, sounds like that's possibly happened. IMO it's better to just shake the wheel around with the valve at the bottom to try and seal it.
Pretty sure I haven't torn the base of the valve but I guess there is air getting into the outer chamber from somewhere and that it's probably from where the base of the valve sits in the rim. Is it possible that the air is escaping from elsewhere?
If you are using a rim strip have you drilled the outer wall of the rim so it sits flush?
They are Olympic rims so they came with the strip fitted and the hole drilled etc... Strange thing was that I've only changed the tyre. It was sealing fine before!
They are Olympic rims so they came with the strip fitted and the hole drilled etc
No they don't. Presumably you've had the wheels built for you? I sincerely doubt any builder would've drilled the rim out unless you asked, as it precludes you from using the yellow tape/valve method. That may be causing a problem, but unlikely as it's worked before. Have you looked under the rimstrip? The tape may have got damaged or something.
If it worked before, and you're using the rimstrips (not just the yellow tape) my money is on a hole in the strip around the valve. Why not just take the strip out and put it back it, see if that reseats it.
The rims were 2nd hand and came with the fairly rigid yellow strip. I think I'll have to have a good look and see if there's any damage to the strip. I'm getting through serious amounts of C02 getting at the moment...