Core of presta valve came out - does it need tightening back in with a tool?

[Mazz]

I was trying to top-up the air in my tyre and I was struggling to get the air in (this would never have happened with QuadValve®).
Then I noticed that the "core" of the presta valve was really loose and it eventually came off.
At first I thought it was broken (as I'd never seen this happen before), but I screwed it back in by hand and managed to pump up the tyre as normal.

Should the core be tightened up using a tool or is hand-tight good enough?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I always use a valve core tool, because I have one in my bike tool kit. But if I didn't, I wouldn't worry overmuch about just doing it finger tight. You don't really apply a fat lot of torque with the tool. Maybe nip it up with some snipe nosed pliers or something like that if you have them handy. (I always love using the wrong tool for the job)

 

[bobzmyunkle]

(I always love using the wrong tool for the job)

Gap pin goes through on chain splitting tool works.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Gap pin goes through on chain splitting tool works.

Spoken like a true bodger.

 

[slowmotion]

I just screw them in as tightly as I can with thumb and forefinger. Seems to work just fine.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I tend to use fine nosed pliers or flat pliers.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Finger tight is fine unless you use a screw on adaptor at the end of the tube from the pump. In that circumstance, there's a significant risk that the core will unscrew (resulting in deflation) when you remove (by unscrewing) the adaptor.
Also there's a chance that when unscrewing the tiny knurly nut to allow air in you may unscrew the core a bit.
Many combo tools have a tiny spanner/slot the correct size.

 

[Lookrider]

Granite caps

 

[Dogtrousers]

Granite caps

I have similar. One valve cap is a core tool, the other is a spoke key - which will come in handy if I ever get bored of having true wheels and want to mess them up.

 

[Mazz]

Granite caps

Never seen those before. Is the cap in the second picture broken?

 

[T4tomo]

Never seen those before. Is the cap in the second picture broken?

bless, no its being used to tighten the valve core (or at least demonstrate the valve cap has that function)

 

[Mazz]

bless, no its being used to tighten the valve core (or at least demonstrate the valve cap has that function)

Ah that makes sense.
Something strange with that inner tube though, it's got watery milky fluid coming out of it.

 

[T4tomo]

Ah that makes sense.
Something strange with that inner tube though, it's got watery milky fluid coming out of it.

Latte inner tubes, they are all the rage.