I'm an idiot

JClishe

Just bought a set of Zipp 808's off eBay, they have the Zipp valve extenders. How the heck do you use them? I feel like a moron, I can't even put air in my tires.

Matt Samojeden

Jason – The term “valve extender” means to me a added extension that is screwed on to the base valve of the tube for a clincher or to the tubular tire itself. The function of the extender is to provide enough valve beyond the rim for your pump to attach. They are available in multiple lengths. http://www.zipp.com/accessories/detail.php?ID=120.

 

If the current extensions are not long enough for your pump to attached you can change them out for longer versions.

Or you can use the following www.ideamobility.com/products-t61/right-angle-aluminum-presta-european-air-valve-ada.aspx Your local bike shop may have this. I have one and can’t remember where I purchased it form.

MattAaronson

Btw if you use the sandard vale extenders you need some teflon tape arounf the threads of the presta valve before you screw on the extender. Then you unscrew the presta so it is wide open, screw on the extender and you are good to go!

Matt Samojeden

2X on Matt's comment about the teflon tape!!

Al Truscott

When I first got my Zipp 404's, I put on their "valve extenders", and discovered the way to make them work was to just leave the regular end of the valve unscrewed, and then put the valve extender on over the top of that. While I could blow up the tire that way, I was kinda concerned about leaving the valve unscrewed, so I just went with extra long valves ( you can get tubes with long valves stems). Or, as M&M imply above, they sell little screw on extensions which length the valves without  covering the valve end.

John Withrow

Yeah... I hate the normal zipp valve extenders. Your valve end is always unscrewed down in there. So to pump them up, just put your pump on the end and pump... But it's nearly impossible to know what pressure you are running and also impossible to let air out. My advice is to ditch those valve extenders and get the screw on type so you can have a normal valve end exposed like you're used to.

stevekw

I just gave up on the extenders years ago and just use tubes with an 80mm valve stem

...BTW that's for 404's

JClishe

Thanks guys, this helps. So those valve extenders that Al linked to, are those field replaceable? If I flat, can I take the extender off the old tube and install on the new tube with no tools?

JClishe

Thinking about this more, seems like the way to go is just to run 80mm stems in all my tubes. Yeah, they'll be super long for my training wheels, but it will be less to worry about if/when I flat. My onboard spare tube will always be an 80 so it will work regardless of which wheels I'm running. One less thing to worry about on race day.

Bomber

I'm not sure you can run 80mm stems in your 808's... will probably be a bit small... I sometimes use them with my 404's

Get tubes with replaceable valves and use extenders where you attach the valve to the extender... Forget the Zipp extenders..they are almost useless...Check the Vittoria ones....much better

You may want to buy a few and install these on your spares before you ride...it will save you a bit of stress on the road :-)

Paul Hough

I have the zipp extenders and sram extenders for my 404's. Could not find latex tubes with 80mm valves. Tried both versions and the zipp extenders suck. You remove tks valve core put it on the one end of the desk and screw it on thep tube stem. Works like a regular tube.

steveperx

80 mm valves on 808s will be too short.

Spokane_Al

When I first purchased my 808s I went with the Zipp provided valve extenders, leaving each tube's valve core fully open. Then I found the valve core on one of my wheels had vibrated partially closed - perhaps it was due to almost always riding on bumpy chip sealed roads? - I could not pump up the tire, nor let the air out to fix things and/or replace the tube. I had to futz around for a while using jury rigged tools to fish down through the Zipp extension until I was able to get the valve core unscrewed enough to take things apart.



That cured me - I immediately switched to tubes with removable valve cores and replaced each with the proper sized non-Zipp valve extension. I now feel much better about things.



P.S. I also had to give up on my latex tubes in that I could not find any with removable valve cores. Perhaps someone has a link to some?

timdawg7

Al,

Seems like the only latex tubes I've found have been the Michelin and Vittoria. The Vittoria tubes have the removable cores, the Michelins do not.

http://www.3-athlon.com/product.php?productid=1382

or just google "Vittoria latex inner tube"

Spokane_Al

Thanks Tim.

MattAaronson

Posted By Steve Perkins on 13 Aug 2011 08:41 PM

80 mm valves on 808s will be too short.

 

Correct. Strangely on my S80s a tube with an 80mm presta would pole up JUST high enough to get a screw-on schrader adapter onto the valve. But no dice with 808 I'm using now...

Scott Alexander

Posted By Al Olsen on 13 Aug 2011 09:22 PM

When I first purchased my 808s I went with the Zipp provided valve extenders, leaving each tube's valve core fully open. Then I found the valve core on one of my wheels had vibrated partially closed - perhaps it was due to almost always riding on bumpy chip sealed roads? - I could not pump up the tire, nor let the air out to fix things and/or replace the tube. I had to futz around for a while using jury rigged tools to fish down through the Zipp extension until I was able to get the valve core unscrewed enough to take things apart.

 

I've had this happen more times than I care to mention...very frustrating.

I've purchased several different types of valve extenders and also several lengths of valve stems, and still haven't found the perfect combo for a 404/808 set of race wheels.