Brand-new Vittoria Corsa Elite leaking air around the valve

[Gsinill]

OK, glued my first tubulars ever and everything went really well.
Out for the first ride and sure got a flat on the rear.
Felt like a slow one so I tried to re-inflate but no luck.
I could tell that the leak was around the valve stem blowing more or less air depending on how I moved the valve...
Replaced it with a spare and got home without problems.

Inflated the tire with the compressor and can confirm that the leak is around the valve.

As a tubular newbie, I can only think about 2 possible reasons:

1. There was a flaw around the valve stem from the beginning
2. Something punctured the outer tire, got stuck between tire and tube finally puncturing the tube as well. Following the path of least resistance the air leaks at the valve. Does this make sense?

I will give Orange Seal a try and see what happens.

Cheers,
GS

Ps. Valve stem was straight and tire was not moving on the rim...

[tmf]

I've caused similar leaks on both tubulars and clinchers with a pump chuck that was hard to pull off the valve stem. In the process of pulling the chuck off, the tube was torn at the base of the stem. I think it was caused by twisting when it wouldn't come off, and the twisting caused the leak.

[terry]

Check out the core. If it's a removable one it could just need to be tightened.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by Gsinill

OK, glued my first tubulars ever and everything went really well.
Out for the first ride and sure got a flat on the rear.
Felt like a slow one so I tried to re-inflate but no luck.
I could tell that the leak was around the valve stem blowing more or less air depending on how I moved the valve...
Replaced it with a spare and got home without problems.

Inflated the tire with the compressor and can confirm that the leak is around the valve.

As a tubular newbie, I can only think about 2 possible reasons:

1. There was a flaw around the valve stem from the beginning
2. Something punctured the outer tire, got stuck between tire and tube finally puncturing the tube as well. Following the path of least resistance the air leaks at the valve. Does this make sense?

I will give Orange Seal a try and see what happens.

Cheers,
GS

Ps. Valve stem was straight and tire was not moving on the rim...

This is very likely what happened. I have had this happen too many times to count. It makes it very hard to find the source of the leak and repair the tubular. You have nothing to lose by adding some sealant in there.

[ultraman6970]

BTW it can be fixed... not like super easy for a newbie but doable, that way you learn how to deal with tubulars... grab a whole valve section from a clincher tube a good to go, or... patch that area where the leak is... figure it out whats the best solution.

[Gsinill]

Confirmed.
Put in some Orange Seal and saw it oozing out from a little cut with a tiny piece of of shrapnel in it when I inflated the tire.

Originally Posted by Black Dog

This is very likely what happened. I have had this happen too many times to count. It makes it very hard to find the source of the leak and repair the tubular. You have nothing to lose by adding some sealant in there.

[buldogge]

Did you pull the shrapnel, and did the Orange Seal take care of the leak??

-Mark in St. Louis

Originally Posted by Gsinill

Confirmed.
Put in some Orange Seal and saw it oozing out from a little cut with a tiny piece of of shrapnel in it when I inflated the tire.

[Gsinill]

Originally Posted by buldogge

Did you pull the shrapnel, and did the Orange Seal take care of the leak??

-Mark in St. Louis

Yes, pulled it and after a 2nd round of Orange Seal it seems to be OK.
Have it inflated and will see how it holds up.

GS

[fogrider]

if the tire is new, I would not a weak valve, you're going to be filling air on a regular basis and you're be just waiting for it to fail. send it to tirealert.com for a new tube.