My second Blackburn (Airtower 4) in a year just started leaking. Both in use less than 6 months.
Am I missing something or does this happen to others.
Meanwhile, a 5 year old Schwinn from Target that requires a valve adaptor, keeps on working fine.
All I can say is I have a relatively new Blackburn pump and I hate the thing. Mine leaks too and I practically have to use a hammer to get the chuck on the valve.
Have the valve problem as well but I consider it solved since the pump doesnt work anyway.
Blackburn pumps suck now days. They used to be (among) the best, but not anymore. We sell them at my bike shop and have to warranty several/month. Our problem is, we can’t find anythng better with cost being a factor. So we keep selling shitty pumps with a killer warranty.
Glad I read this, my specialized s- works pump just took a dive on me last week and I was looking at a blackburn. I’m either getting a silca or a topeak.
Glad I read this, my specialized s- works pump just took a dive on me last week and I was looking at a blackburn. I’m either getting a silca or a topeak.
Silca or Topeak??
That’s like chosing between champagne or carbonated pee.
Well, I know the topeak is generally a shitty company, but a few guys I know have had good luck with those Joe Blow pumps.
I think that Topeak also makes most of the Performance-branded pumps. Whatever else may be wrong with Performance, their warranty is good.
You can also buy the replacement Joe Blow hose/head combo. It come with a couple diffent threaded adapters to fit different units. I have one and it’s been great.
Have you ever had one seize up on you ? thats what happened to my 80.00 specialized. Funny, I bought a 10.00 one about 6 years ago at cycle cave, its made completely out of plastic and is flimsy as heck and hard to pump…but it still works.
I have both a Topek Joe Blow and a Blackburn pump. The Joe Blow works great, everytime. The Blackburn breaks my valve stems off and is just horrible. I tried to sell it on Ebay and buy a 2nd Joe Blow but there were no suckers out there willing to buy a Blackburn. I think I’ll give it to somebody I hate for Christmas…
Can you take it apart at all?
I have a beat-up metal Schwinn pump that must be 15 years old. I’ve had to replace the hose on it and cut off an end/reclamp the hose as well. Every year or so it stops pumping well, so I take it apart, grease the cup, and it’s good for another year.
I’ve had no problems whatsoever with my Topeak Joe Blow Pro. Works great. The added benefit is that it works with HED3s and my wife’s Renn disk wheel without needing a crack pipe adapter.
which joe blow do you have that will work with a renn disc??? I have a renn disc and I hate pumping it up, it takes like two or three people to do it unless I use c02.
Tom, I haven’t tried taking it apart, I think I will do that tonight.
In 1998, I wanted a no-frills, no-fuss pump that simply works, and my LBS recommended me this one, as that’s what they use in their shop:
After 9 years, this is still my primary workhorse pump. It’s called a “SKS Rennkompressor”, and it features a solid wood handle, steel tubing and a heavy, cast-iron base! You can find it here (shameless plug)
It’s only drawback is its heavy weight (> 2 kilograms), so this is not something you wish to carry around in T1.
You can cut the old Blackburn plastic head off and replace it with a Silca head. Use a hose clamp to tighten around the chuck stem.
So, does anyone know where to get the Rennkompressor pump in the US (or even Canada)? I did a Google search through about 10 pages with no results except some place in Utah that is out of stock.
Even Probikekit.com doesn’t have them.
Glad I read this, my specialized s- works pump just took a dive on me last week and I was looking at a blackburn. I’m either getting a silca or a topeak.
Silca or Topeak??
That’s like chosing between champagne or carbonated pee.
i don’t know, from my experience, that’s like choosing between my two last broken pumps.
i’ve got a wind shear, or wind tunnel, or something like that. works fine.
So, does anyone know where to get the Rennkompressor pump in the US (or even Canada)? I did a Google search through about 10 pages with no results except some place in Utah that is out of stock.
Even Probikekit.com doesn’t have them.
Azby
Have you tried their ‘Shopfinder’ link: http://www.sks-germany.com/...p?l=en&a=dealers
(I live in Luxembourg, so SKS stuff is readily available there 