I can't get my dust caps off

[Accy cyclist]

Well,two of them won't come off. I've tried with pliers,but no luck. The two that won't budge are on the passenger side,which is the side of the car out of sight from my view from my flat,which makes me think it's someone's idea of a joke. I don't want to try to turn them too much as i think it could damage the whole valve. Any suggestions?🤔

 

[cheys03]

Plastic? Cut them off, sharp snips or similar

 

[Accy cyclist]

Plastic? Cut them off, sharp snips or similar

No,they're metal ones. I'm thinking of pliers holding the valve,with another pair trying to loosen the dust caps. No way have i put them back on that tight,after i last inflated my tyres a month ago. I just couldn't and wouldn't do that. Maybe they've seized up due to the freezing weather,but that's never happened to me in 43 years of driving.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Are they plastic? No offence but how good is your grip strength? If you can't get them off then they might have had superglue put on the threads. Hard to get off without mashing up the valve. You might have to take them to a garage, sorry. Yes you can saw the tops off easily but you won't be able to get a snug fit on there with a tyre inflator

 

[Electric_Andy]

Ok metal. No they wouldn't have rusted or seized that quickly i wouldn't have thought. Pliers, bit of heat maybe, be careful. End of the day take to garage. If you trust them. Might not charge much

 

[tyred]

Vice grips.

Just be careful not to squeeze enough to damage the valve or you might have trouble getting the pump to seal.

 

[Accy cyclist]

If you can't get them off then they might have had superglue put on the threads.

Yes,i was thinking superglue.

 

[Drago]

No, it's an innocent explanation.

The valve stem bodies are a type of brass. Any other metal left in contact and then subjected to weather s3nd road salt will corrode and lock solid.

Its not an unusual occurrence. Fairy easy to remedy. Your local tyre place would charge probably a tenner or so per wheel to sort it.

 

[bikingdad90]

Have you tried the good old expansion trick and pour hot boiling water over the valves to get the bond to release? Never heard of people supergluing caps, it’s more a case of stealing them round here!

 

[fossyant]

Adjustable spanner. Common for metal ones to seize on,

 

[mistyoptic]

Years ago I had a Lancia (remember them?) and the valve cap on one wheel corroded on. Snapped the whole thing off, with a resulting pfffft!, trying to force it. Take care!

 

[Chris S]

Years ago I had a Lancia (remember them?) and the valve cap on one wheel corroded on. Snapped the whole thing off, with a resulting pfffft!, trying to force it. Take care!

I didn't realize the valve caps rusted as well!

 

[biggs682]

Had the same problem last year ended up with new valves

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Time to buy a new car.

 

[Chislenko]

Don't know what you drive but quite common on BMW who use metal caps. I had to get them off a relative's BMW and then just replaced with some plastic ones.

From memory soaked them in WD and used vice grip type thingy.