valve identification advice

[bomberman]

Hi all,
First thing, thanks for the site contributions, I don't post much but have taken on board a fair amount posted on here. I have a yamaha 275sti and recently got round to inflating it....It seems to deflate on one of the tubes and the keel which I suspect is valves.....any ideas how to identify them as on the websites they all look the same to a yorkshire heathen!

[jeffstevens763@g]

have a look on ribshop or poly marine or give them a ring but your best bet might be getting on the yam site i did that for my mercury on their site to buy a spare valve.

[Fenlander]

We'd probably be able to tell the type for sure if you uploaded an image. But have you soap tested them to prove they're the problem? If they are leaking even slowly you will see a bubble.

If it is the valve often it's a temp bit of grit and opening/closing a few times to let blasts of air out can resolve.

[bomberman]

Thanks both, I will have a play with some soapy water at the weekend to check it is the valves and subsequently blast some air through to see if it resolves...If it is the valves.

[bomberman]

Just an update....The blasting through of air on the side tube seems to have resolved that one. The keel tube has a few very small bubbles but when the outer cap isn't screwed on it looks like the valve doesn't seal properly at all....so just the one valve hopefully on this one. Many thanks both.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Your dust cap is the final seal give that a good clean you might get away with it

[bomberman]

I will give that a go and see if it stays up this week

[maintainpressure]

In these circumstances I fall back on three turns of PTFE tape to make the valve air tight whilst checking the tubes.

[glue jug]

TIP - If sand or dust is trapped in the rubber mushroom of the valve a sure way to fix it to blow the tube up to pressure and spray thinners into and at the same time letting air out in quick short bursts - This will remove any dirt etc ...
Test the valve first by blowing the tube up to pressure and alot of soapy water in the valve ,try to create a seal with the soap... BUT remember to wear glasses if you use thinners as it will spit it out ...

[bomberman]

Thanks maintainpressure and glu jug both great pieces of advice, will give them a go this weekend and update as to how I have got on

[bomberman]

Well I reckon that should be good enough to stay inflated with just a top up every few days. It does seem to be valves leaking all be it slowly so will change them out. But thanks for all the great advice. Onto my other one now...bombard aerotec....I haven't inflated since I bought it 1.5 years ago, valve inners out and the diaphragm looks split in 2 of them....also looks like the dreaded glue has degraded so have to re glue a few pieces to the transom.....hoping that is it!