SmarTire Install questions..

[jackd]

I received my Smartire kit and looking over the instructions there are a lot of cautions.. I have a few questions. Probably I will get a better answer here from the group than sending the company an E-Mail or waiting on the phone to talk to someone knowledgable.
The install procedure and initial setup says that you set the rear tire first then do the front. Is it possible to run with only the front installed and running or will I have to wait to activate the both sensors at the same time.. I will only need a front tire this spring. My rear might last quite a few months.
Is the center channel large enough to easily install the sensor or do I need to be aware of anything special.
Looks like I will need to install the Air Valve bridges. How has balancing gone with all the added weight in the rim?

[DanMartin]

I don't think you can activate only one sender. You could go ahead and install it and wait on the other. It might be possible to fake out the receiver and make it read the front unit for both positions. By spinning the front wheel when prompted for the rear wheel and then again for the front.
Or take the rear sender out of it's foil package, tape it to the inside of the rear rim and spin it when prompted. Remove it and the unit will always try to read it when activated and error out after 20 minutes.
You definitely need to use the valve bridges. this is a good time to change to metal stems also.
My tires require quite a bit of weight to balance. i am going to try balancing
the wheel without the tire on it and place the weights under the metal strap holding the sending unit on.
The senders will fit in the drop center of the wheel.
When you install the senders, place a few zip ties around the sender and the metal strap. This is in case the plastic breaks on the sender. My tech has broken one of my senders and I have broken one also. That is in about 6 or 7 tire changes. i now keep spares on hand.

Dan Martin
Houston, Tx

[jackd]

I don't think you can activate only one sender. You could go ahead and install it and wait on the other. It might be possible to fake out the receiver and make it read the front unit for both positions. By spinning the front wheel when prompted for the rear wheel and then again for the front.
Or take the rear sender out of it's foil package, tape it to the inside of the rear rim and spin it when prompted. Remove it and the unit will always try to read it when activated and error out after 20 minutes.

OK that sounds do able... If it errors out will the error display wipe out any readable info from the installed one? Do you know?



You definitely need to use the valve bridges. this is a good time to change to metal stems also.

I always use rubber ones and I change them every two tires changes.. usually about every year. I thought that the metal ones were the ones that were failing????



My tires require quite a bit of weight to balance. i am going to try balancing
the wheel without the tire on it and place the weights under the metal strap holding the sending unit on.

I have some reservation on doing something like that because if a weight breaks loose it would damage the sender.. ??

When you install the senders, place a few zip ties around the sender and the metal strap. This is in case the plastic breaks on the sender. My tech has broken one of my senders and I have broken one also.

Good idea... I guess it could crack on install and then eventually break. Do you use nylon??

BTW... Thanks for the advice... and also how much was the sender? I assumed it was part I could order if needed.. I didn't give it much thought but if I like the unit I just might put a spare on the shelf...

[DanMartin]

I've run for a month or two with one working sender. The unit keeps searching for a sender for 20 minutes and then shut off. You can still reach up and punch the button to see the pressure in the other tire.

Senders are $50 each from Vulcan Tire.

Stems:My understanding is that the OEM rubber w/metal inserts were failing.

I use 3-4 nylon zip ties on each sender as insurance. The senders are way to easy to break when installing tires.

If I put the weights under the strap they should stay put.

Dan Martin
Houston, Tx

[jackd]

Stems:My understanding is that the OEM rubber w/metal inserts were failing.

I'll have to look into metal stems.. That would make sense so you don't need to take the strap off to get replacement stems done.. and since I change stems every year or two tires (if I replace the tire during the season) it is something that will make sense especially since I need to use the stem bridges.. There doesn't seem to be enough room to get the stems in easily..

[Buckelew]

Stems:My understanding is that the OEM rubber w/metal inserts were failing.

My rear OEM valve stem de-laminated between the metal core and the rubber. Luckily....I found it when I was backing the bike out to go to work.

[jackd]

My rear OEM valve stem de-laminated between the metal core and the rubber. Luckily....I found it when I was backing the bike out to go to work.

I'm still undecided about this..:confused:

I'll be putting on the tires in a week or less.

[meese]

What are you undecided about, Jack? Just get the metal stems, and do it. You'll be glad you did.

[jackd]

What are you undecided about, Jack? Just get the metal stems, and do it. You'll be glad you did.

I called the Cycle Gear store that I buy tires at to order the tire today and they said that they have and will use metal stems if I want... So I guess it is now decided. I assume there are different kinds and they all must have some sort of rubber or seal.. I guess if they had a silicone washer they should not age to quickly.

I would assume they last for a couple of tire changes. This is the only M/V that I have that I change tires almost as often as I change oil..:(. and old habits of always changing stems are dying hard... :)