KEEPING, THEM \ RUNNING
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Ron Cater Twin tyre equipment is today eccepted almost universally as an eminently suitable method of providing the necessary tyre capacity for present-day axle loads. But this is not to say that it is a trouble-free system, and one of the most annoying and probably costly problems is that which arises from underinflated inner tyres.
It often happens that despite a driver being keen enough to keep a strict eye upon his tyre pressures he finds it almost impossible to remove a leaky, or refit correctly a new valve-core to the inner wheel without first removing the outer wheel to permit access.
Apaseal has begun to import from the USA a Schrader valvecore tool which simplifies this job considerably. It comprises a split-valve key which is shrouded by a tapered sliding sleeve, spring-loaded to enclose and compress the two halves of the valve key together.
By pressing the tool against the orifice of the valve stem the sleeve is pushed back against its spring while the tongues of the valve key enter the neck of the valve stem and locate themselves either side of the valvecore lugs. As the core is unscrewed and gradually emerges from the valve stem the tapered sleeve is forced over the split key by the spring causing it to grip the core by the pintle and shoulders. It will be seen that in this way the valve can be unscrewed and removed quite simply and can also be replaced with equal ease.
At the opposite end of the tool is a sleeve in which two slots are cut to carry a coil spring. This is designed to grip the dust cover allowing it to be removed from the valve stem. This end of the tool also carries a second valve-core key which can be used for stubborn valves.
The tool is known as the Schrader 8769 Service Tool and is being marketed in the UK by Apaseal Ltd., Hailsham, Sussex, (phone Hailsham 3566).