Double Blowout - Page 3

Gonzo · 12-14-2012, 08:18 PM

This is dangerous. Thank God I was on a small highway and not on route 95.
I think I will call someone is responsible if is happening to so many of us. I found Forest River very helpful in the past making good on warrantee items.
I will do some inquiring. I have recipes and photos.

gonzo

ilmor · 12-14-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

This is dangerous. Thank God I was on a small highway and not on route 95.
I think I will call someone is responsible if is happening to so many of us. I found Forest River very helpful in the past making good on warrantee items.
I will do some inquiring. I have recipes and photos.

gonzo

Would be awesome if they would do something to help.

papap · 12-14-2012, 11:29 PM

It's not the stem or extensions that are the problem. It's the hub cap. You can pull it off by hand. Then when it comes off it pulls stems out of rim. Caps need to be bolted to wheel.

ilmor · 12-15-2012, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papap

It's not the stem or extensions that are the problem. It's the hub cap. You can pull it off by hand. Then when it comes off it pulls stems out of rim. Caps need to be bolted to wheel.

I don't think you can know for sure. In my opinion, however, the caps are on as tight as any hubcap I've ever had on a vehicle, and I've never had one fly off in 40 years of driving. Also, I do not see or hear about these types of caps flying off all the time, and there are thousands of them on the road.

So, I don't think its the cap. I do know, however, that the problem has not reoccurred since I took my steps.

papap · 12-15-2012, 08:59 AM

Well after I had the problem and was sent a new cap. I could pull it off with one hand. That was without even pulling hard. So I bent the tabs and now you need a tool to get it off.

ruggie4solara · 12-24-2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

You are on the right path, Mike Jankowski is the correct contact. The metal braided valve extensions were given to us by the supplier (not sure who) for that particular setup. I know we use another extension called "Air Flexx" on our Ford product. I helped bring that supplier (Air -Flexx) on board based on experience with a rental account. Too many of their braided valves leaked when they became loose. With the Air-Flexx extension, it is lightweight, rigid, does not need to be secured to the rim and does not pressurize. You can cut the extension in half and it will not let air out of the tire. I cannot confirm that we have switched to that on the Solera, but I know their benefits and it seems a likely replacement.

My 2012 Solera 24m has yellow solid plastic valve extensions....is this the one bclemens is refering too? My problem with these is the inner tire extensions will not show pressure on my digital tire valve reader. Outside works fine ?

Pedrodasdas · 12-24-2012, 09:50 AM

I completly agree with Papap: the hub cap is THE problem.
Make sure it is solid and you won't have the problem.
I was lucky, the one which flew away was my front right and there is no stem attached to it !

If you don't succeed at first......use more tie-wrap !

**bclemens** · 12-24-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruggie4solara

My 2012 Solera 24m has yellow solid plastic valve extensions....is this the one bclemens is refering too? My problem with these is the inner tire extensions will not show pressure on my digital tire valve reader. Outside works fine ?

Yes, solid plastic are the Air-Flexx. The digital guage may not be depressing the middle stem, that in turn pushes in the valve stem.

SoCal Solera · 01-31-2013, 08:14 PM

Sorry but this is incorrect:
""It's not the stem or extensions that are the problem. It's the hub cap. You can pull it off by hand. Then when it comes off it pulls stems out of rim. Caps need to be bolted to wheel.""

It is the braided metal valve extensions I has this happen and posted a long time ago here is the issue:
At frwy speed the weight of this extension would pull out the inner tire valve plug ( just rubber plugs actually) then the weight of the rv all goes to the outer tire, then the wheel flexes and the hub cap pops off it bangs around causing damage till the outer braided extension twists enough to break off.
An excellent post alerted me and I was going to check it when I got back from my trip then I heard the exact sound(s) he mentioned and pulled over
2 hours and $ 300 later AAA was able to get me back on the road.
All that was needed was 2 valve plugs installed from the inside

The fix is valves held in the rim with nuts on the inside. MB said the plug valves are fine and they are but cannot take the centrifugal weight of the extension.

I still have all the old parts both valves braids and dented rim. My dealer and/or FR fixed mine and the resulting damage under warranty.

papap · 01-31-2013, 08:23 PM

Well on mine. The hub cap is what came off first. It pulled the stem off the inside wheel and the extension on outside tire came off stem. No blowouts.

SoCal Solera · 01-31-2013, 10:15 PM

Well Im sure you are right you were there... My inside valve came off so completely all the air @ 75# psi came out in a hurry like 1 second, the outer tire took several minutes so i was able to pull over and didn't damage either tire.
My explanation came from Limor's excellent explanation with the sounds of: Whoosh... bang bang bang.. hiss.. IIRC that exactly what happened to me thank you BTW Limor

How did you lose a valve and not lose all the air ?
John
SoCal Solera

TeJay · 01-31-2013, 10:34 PM

Here's something else that happened to me when we had our first MH. The hub cap moved around the wheel. I know this because I had rubber valve stems and I noticed that the stem was laid over to the side by the movement of the cap. At first I thought maybe I put the cap on incorrectly so I R&R ed it and later noticed that it again moved. I switched to metal valve stems and that stopped the cap from moving. I believe that most MH hub caps are bolted on to prevent this from happening.
JMTCW
TeJay

papap · 02-01-2013, 08:02 AM

Lost all the air on inside tire but was able to unscrew hose on out side tire before it went flat

ilmor · 02-01-2013, 09:43 AM

Centrifugal force would cause the extension to push the valve stem, not pull it.

I was not able to find metal bolted valve stems when I replaced mine. Can someone provide a link or lead on a set?

SoCal Solera · 02-01-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilmor

Centrifugal force would cause the extension to push the valve stem, not pull it.

I was not able to find metal bolted valve stems when I replaced mine. Can someone provide a link or lead on a set?

So if you held one in your hand and swung it around ... It would push into your hand ?
Sorry I reversed the first two letters of your handle, your post and explanation was the exact thing that happened to me.

John

Slow_movin · 02-01-2013, 12:16 PM

I think what is being said about centrifugal force is that from the center of the hubcap, when the wheel is turning, force is pushing the valve extensions towards the valve stem and not pulling it towards the center....
If the hub cap comes out, then the extensions and possibly the valve stems will be pulled out...

Slow_movin · 02-01-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilmor

Centrifugal force would cause the extension to push the valve stem, not pull it.

I was not able to find metal bolted valve stems when I replaced mine. Can someone provide a link or lead on a set?

I googled metal valve stems and they can be purchased in most auto parts store (Auto Zone, etc.). When having my Solera tires balanced I asked the owner about metal valve stems and he said he would have to see what size the holes in the rim are. So, apparently, they must be different sizes diameter and length and maybe other factors..

ilmor · 02-01-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal Solera

So if you held one in your hand and swung it around ... It would push into your hand ?
Sorry I reversed the first two letters of your handle, your post and explanation was the exact thing that happened to me.

John

John, your analogy does not match the reality.

OL Creeker · 02-01-2013, 07:12 PM

Our 21' Mini Lite is almost four months old, has less than 6K miles on it. From the start, two, sometimes three tires would lose 10-25 psi in a week while parked! FR was going to fix the problem, if I could get it to a dealer. The Mini took care of itself! While driving at 60 mph, a blowout occurred on the front left camper tire; never knew it! I changed the tire - the only one that never lost pressure. But, because we were still 900 miles from home, I didn't feel good driving without a spare. To say nothing of the uneasy feeling of the possibility of another blowout. We went to a Goodyear Tire Cntr, replaced all four. FR told me to send them the receipt. I'll keep you posted. BTW, FR has discontinued using Karrier tires.

scarlton46 · 02-15-2013, 11:06 PM

I've been reading posts about problems with the right rear tires on the Solera for over a year. Like others, my 2010 Solera's right rear wheel cover is much looser than the left rear. I zip-tied both wheel covers and thought that solved the problem. I've travelled over 10,000 miles and no problem with the valve stems. Alas, today I pulled it out of storage to find the outside right rear tire flat. I inflated the tire, and so far it seems to be holding air. Any insight on this problem? Why would the tire go flat and now hold air? Just glad it didn't go flat at highway speed. But now I'm scared to take a trip without resolving the issue.

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