Kawasaki Concours Forum

Concours 1400 (C14) FAQ => C-14, aka Concours-14 GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 10:52:25 AM

Title: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 10:52:25 AM
If any of you followed my ride thread you know I got a flat tire in SandPoint Id. And it was a very expensive tire ($260 + $110 for labor), plus they broke the valve stem off of the pressure sensor and denied it. When I got home and went to my local shop they told me I could not buy just the valve stem I had to buy a whole new pressure sensor ($186) and program it to the ECU ($110).

No you can imagine I am a little upset after spending almost $700 to replace a rear tire.

From this diagram it looks like I could buy just a valve stem. Can anyone confirm this?

(http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll112/tomdvaughan/161260040KawasakiValveTirePressureSensor.png)
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Conrad on September 05, 2012, 11:00:58 AM
Tom,

I know that you can buy the 90 degree replacement valve stems from Murph, http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_136&products_id=417 (http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=130_136&products_id=417)

(http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/images/90%20valve%20stem%20new.jpg)

So I would assume that you should be able to buy the straight stems as well without having to buy the whole damn thing. Or just get Jay to buy you some from Murph.    ;)
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: ZG on September 05, 2012, 11:16:28 AM
I saw this on ebay last night... Make sure to do your research though Gumbi.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/concours-tire-sensors-zx14-/140844454903?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AConcours%7CSubmodel%3A14&hash=item20cafbd3f7&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/concours-tire-sensors-zx14-/140844454903?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AConcours%7CSubmodel%3A14&hash=item20cafbd3f7&vxp=mtr)
 
 
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 01:17:08 PM
So I went down to the shop and told them I spent at least $150 more than I should of because they told me I had to buy the whole pressure sensor. After going back and forth for a bit they agreed to order part #16126-0040 and when the part gets here if it fits in my old sensor they would give me the difference back of the two parts back.

Here's the kicker, they said the valve stem costs $55, you can find them on the internet for $35-40, or get two right angle ones for $48 ??? , so I would get $131 dollars back and they get to keep my old sensor  ::). They also told me the labor would of been the same if they had only replaced the valve stem,  ???

Better than a swift kick in the @$$ I guess.

But then they offered to pay half of my install for a new front tire if I buy it from them. They will sell me a PR3 for $175, $45 install they pay half =  $197.50

I can get one off of Amazon for $135 with free two day shipping, $60 install charge = $195.

$2.50 Really? These shops are going to drive me crazy and broke!
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: ZG on September 05, 2012, 01:28:38 PM
Next time just wear my helmet and jacket down there and don't take them off while talking to them, they'll do whatever you want...  ;)
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Conrad on September 05, 2012, 01:29:44 PM
Next time just wear my helmet and jacket down there and don't take them off while talking to them, they'll do whatever you want...  ;)

 :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 01:30:26 PM
Next time just wear my helmet and jacket down there and don't take them off while talking to them, they'll do whatever you want...  ;)

Ya, for $89 an hour. That is an outrageous labor charge.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: ZG on September 05, 2012, 01:38:35 PM
Ya, for $89 an hour. That is an outrageous labor charge.

I would have been a mechanic for a living but i don't think I could handle the dirty stuff under the finger nails, oh and the actually having to go into work thing...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Conrad on September 05, 2012, 01:39:37 PM
Ya, for $89 an hour. That is an outrageous labor charge.

Not if J is paying.    ;)
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 01:42:31 PM

I would have been a mechanic for a living but i don't think I could handle the dirty stuff under the finger nails, oh and the actually having to go into work thing...  ;) ;D

Do you remember I went to Phoenix Institute of Technology and got a certificate in Automotive Diagnostics. When I came back home from school I went down that career path for a good three months at least.  Not sure what I was thinking when I was young. :nuts:

Oh ya, isn't it time to go home?
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: ZG on September 05, 2012, 01:51:50 PM
Do you remember I went to Phoenix Institute of Technology and got a certificate in Automotive Diagnostics. When I came back home from school I went down that career path for a good three months at least.  Not sure what I was thinking when I was young. :nuts:

Oh ya, isn't it time to go home?

Oh ya, I totally forgot about that man, I guess that was too many brain cells ago for me...  :-\
 
Time to go home indeed, it's almost 1:00, how'd that happen!  :o
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: gPink on September 05, 2012, 02:59:13 PM
It must have slipped up on you while you were out for lunch.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Pokey on September 05, 2012, 08:52:06 PM
My TPS sensors are coming out the next tire change, I am looking at these.    http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144 (http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144)
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 05, 2012, 09:01:28 PM
My TPS sensors are coming out the next tire change, I am looking at these.    http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144 (http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144)

Why would you not spend $20 and get the right angle ones Conrad just posted?

When I got that flat it was nice to know how much time I had to get to a safe place on the road.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Pokey on September 05, 2012, 09:11:22 PM
Why would you not spend $20 and get the right angle ones Conrad just posted?

When I got that flat it was nice to know how much time I had to get to a safe place on the road.


Because those are made by the manufacturer of the sensors, I believe they will work only with the sensors. The ones I posted are top of the line, have read a ton of great reviews about them. Sometimes you do get what ya pay for. ;)  I am sick and tired of always worrying about whether the sensors are going to work right when I ride, and I have an 08 out of warranty and mine are acting up. Never owned a bike with them previously, don't need them now.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Son of Pappy on September 05, 2012, 10:39:21 PM
My TPS sensors are coming out the next tire change, I am looking at these.    http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144 (http://kurveygirl.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=144)
Nice!
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 06, 2012, 03:43:23 AM

Because those are made by the manufacturer of the sensors, I believe they will work only with the sensors. The ones I posted are top of the line, have read a ton of great reviews about them. Sometimes you do get what ya pay for. ;)  I am sick and tired of always worrying about whether the sensors are going to work right when I ride, and I have an 08 out of warranty and mine are acting up. Never owned a bike with them previously, don't need them now.

That makes sense. I thought about not putting the rear sensor back in because I have never owned a bike with this feature either, but like I said it was nice to know how fast I was losing air, plus my bike isn't even a year old.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 14, 2012, 02:20:54 PM
So I went down to the shop and told them I spent at least $150 more than I should of because they told me I had to buy the whole pressure sensor. After going back and forth for a bit they agreed to order part #16126-0040 and when the part gets here if it fits in my old sensor they would give me the difference back of the two parts back.

Here's the kicker, they said the valve stem costs $55, you can find them on the internet for $35-40, or get two right angle ones for $48 ??? , so I would get $131 dollars back and they get to keep my old sensor  ::). They also told me the labor would of been the same if they had only replaced the valve stem,  ???

Better than a swift kick in the @$$ I guess.

But then they offered to pay half of my install for a new front tire if I buy it from them. They will sell me a PR3 for $175, $45 install they pay half =  $197.50

I can get one off of Amazon for $135 with free two day shipping, $60 install charge = $195.

$2.50 Really? These shops are going to drive me crazy and broke!

I have to do a follow up on this.

The valve stem that they ordered came in today, so I went down to the shop to get my $131 back. She said yep it looks like it will screw right in to the pressure sensor. While she was crediting my card she asked when would you like to schedule your FREE front tire install. I started to tell her while I was digging through my attic the other day I came across an old Perelli Diablo 120/70 R17 that I had taken off of my Buell with 80% tread left on it. Then I went wait a minute did you just say free?

Kudos to Kandi, she just kept a customer today.  :chugbeer:

So the answer is YES you can buy just the valve stem.  ;D
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Conrad on September 14, 2012, 02:45:35 PM
I have to do a follow up on this.

The valve stem that they ordered came in today, so I went down to the shop to get my $131 back. She said yep it looks like it will screw right in to the pressure sensor. While she was crediting my card she asked when would you like to schedule your FREE front tire install. I started to tell her while I was digging through my attic the other day I came across an old Perelli Diablo 120/70 R17 that I had taken off of my Buell with 80% tread left on it. Then I went wait a minute did you just say free?

Kudos to Kandi, she just kept a customer today.  :chugbeer:

So the answer is YES you can buy just the valve stem.  ;D

Is that a free tire and free install or just a free install?
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Gumby on September 14, 2012, 02:47:55 PM
Just the install.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: Conrad on September 14, 2012, 02:49:17 PM
That'll work.
Title: Re: Can I buy just the valve stem?
Post by: ZG on September 14, 2012, 03:05:47 PM
Kandy is Tops!  :thumbs:
 
Congrats Gumbi, I told you it would work out.  :chugbeer: