There really is only one pump - Silka. At least put the Silka end on your pump hose.

---

----------------------------------------------------------

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

Can you make flat coke?

Ok... if all you're doing is pressurizing the hose, you aren't getting the chuck on far enough - you want to get that chuck (pump head) all the way down. Pretend it's Jenna.

The easiest way to get the valve stem "balls deep" is to actually deflate the tyre first. Then you can put your thumb on the back of the tyre, and press the stem forward into the chuck.



Airing up a tyre will never be the same again...

---

<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

If you're pressurizing the pump's hose, then that tells me that the valve isn't opening. Sometimes they get stuck closed - since you've already made sure that the nut thingy is unscrewed all the way, press down on it and let a little air out of the tube to make sure the valve core is unstuck.

---

_________________________________________________
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" - Juma Ikangaa

http://www.litespeed.com

You're serious? I have to deflate my tire in order to inflate it? Say it ain't so. (Or say it is and I'll return the damn pump).

I've tried jamming the thing "balls deep" onto the stem and it just got stuck on the valve stem. In fact, I ripped the valve stem out of one tube trying to do that. Does this pump just suck? My old one was a $19.99 off-brand Sportmart piece of crap - I never thought that spending $99 on a freakin' bicycle pump would result in a downgrade. Seesh.

It is.

[reply]You're serious? I have to deflate my tire in order to inflate it? Say it ain't so. (Or say it is and I'll return the damn pump). [/reply]

I'm dead serious. I deflate before filling every time. New pumps have new rubber gaskets, which have a slightly smaller hole (oh dear lord... here we go) and thus need to be "broken in" a bit before you can get the chuck on and off easily.


Uhhh - I'm gonna stop now before all the ST chicks decide never to talk to me again.

---

<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

The inside of the hose end can't depress the threaded thingy. It should pop when you flip the lever , and should show the tire pressure on the gauge.

Should have bought a $75 Silca. Best pumps ever made. Rebuildable. Mines on the third $5 rebuild and its 15 years old. Works like a charm to 200 psi.

---

.
.
Paul

Oh crap this is more complicated than it ought to be.

Sorry, didn't mean to get you in trouble with the ladies.

Say it isnt so!!!! I only needed 2 rebuilds in the past 15!!!! sorry for you loss.

---

----------------------------------------------------------

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

That's becoming clear.

It doesn't pop or show the pressure. Who woulda thought that inflating a damn tire would be such an ordeal.

It isnt with a Silca!

---

----------------------------------------------------------

What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

OK wait R10C, I'm not clear what you're trying to say here. ;-)

Hmmm....just to be clear, you are trying to fill a Presta valved tube right?

This is really very simple and the Air Tower is an excellent pump. First, you unscrew the tiny knurled valve stem thingy so it's back out all the way allowing you to then tap the stem lightly to break the sealing surface inside the valve body. With me?

Now, this is very important, you are sure you are pumping with the presta part of the Air Tower chuck right? Cause if you're not, then the little valve stem depressor part of the Schrader inflator will simply be pressing on the top of your Presta valve and no amount of pumping will work. Sounds simple but I can't tell you how many people get this wrong and end up damaging a perfectly good pump chuck and Presta valve.

If you are sure you have the Presta part of the chuck on the valve, then what's happening is that the sealing washer on the chuck is not sealing on the Presta valve body but is instead catching the little knurled part of the valve stem and pushing back closed (as Khai so aptly described). The Presta chuck only has to seal against the valve body, the valve stem must be free to move in and out as air flows into the tube.

Bring it to any competent shop and they should be able to show you how to make it work. Or send it to me for testing.

Hope this helps.

---

Mr. Uncaptured External Costs

Fossil carbon is planetary poison.

Chip, please edit your first post- Silka?!?!! Really!

It hurts just to see it spelled that way. Like a...a Russian porn star.

Ack!

---

Mr. Uncaptured External Costs

Fossil carbon is planetary poison.

I second the joe blow pump.

I'll third the Joe Blow. The pump itself is OK (no complaints), but the Smarthead is awesome. I can pump up my Renn disk and Hed trispoke with no crack pipe or other gyrations.

Yup. Presta valves. I'll try the whole thing again tonight after work.

All the grief is due to the center stem on a presta valve. If its bent -the rubber seal sticks - the hose chuck cant unseat it with the lever movement .There is a lot of truth to the post "let some air out and pump it up again ", unseating a 120 psi stem with air pressure only is tough .

It should unseat the stem with the flip of the lever , otherwise its not adjusted correctly.

Not to be-labor the Silca recommendation. I got a new pump with a fancy dual head. Since my som has been doing some races with me I have needed a schrader pump. I found the new pump didn't work nearly as well as the Silca. I actually managed to rip the little post out of the valve trying to get it off. I got a Silca dual head for around $10. Works like a charm.

count 4 votes for the Joe Blow. Had my 8 years (NO rebuilds)....works perfectly. Aside from the fact that it fell out of my Tahoe once and i broke the clear plastic cover on the pressure gauge. That's just a cosmetic issue though.

Saw it online for $45.

---

__________________
JP

my twitter feed