I installed some new wheels tonight and noticed when I was checking the tire pressures that two of the valve stems were leaking (one was barely hissing, the other was pretty audible). I wasn't sure what to do, and it was too late to go to a shop to ask, so I stuck a very small flat head screwdriver into the end of the valve stem, between the end of the valve core and the inside of the stem, and turned the valve core about a quarter turn clockwise. The hissing stopped. I will check the pressures again tomorrow morning but since the hissing stopped I am assuming it is not leaking. Seems to me that the shop that mounted the tires did not fully insert the valve cores on those two wheels.

Has anyone had a similar experience? These are Rays valve stems to be specific. Just curious if you think I fixed the problem, or if you think it's necessary to replace the valve cores. This is my first time with this issue so I'm not sure. Thanks in advance...

 

You may have fixed it but for piece of mind, go tommorrow and maybe get new valve stems. But if you check in the mornin and the pressure is fine, you should be ok.

 

You can tighten the inside with a special tool

replace the inside

or replace that entire assembly. Man didn't you ever have a bicycle?

 

yes, you have fixed the problem. the people who put them on probably didn't tighten up the valve core well. easy fix.

 

Thanks for the reassurance guys. I'll keep checking it over the next few days and if I notice anything fishy I'll replace the valve cores

years and years and years ago. The last time I rode a bike I probably didn't know what a valve stem was, let alone how to maintain one.