For those of you who without a friend to hold your “crack pipe” (while inflating your disc wheel). Here are some alternative solutions.
Clockwise from the far left:
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If you have a compressor, you can make one of these for about 20% of what the PARK inflator costs. This one uses a regulator to allow a pre-set of the pressure you want. It’s made using a Harbor Freight “Blow Gun”, an older Silca Crack Pipe, some quick detach fittings and a pressure regulator from Home Depot. It turns out the threads on the crack pipe match the threads on the blow gun. Works really well, just press the crack pipe onto your presta valve and pull the trigger - in seconds you tire is inflated to the correct pressure. BTW you don’t need the quick connector between the regulator and blow gun, but I use the regulator for an air brush also, so the connector is needed.
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This one is a modification of an older style Silca locking head with the lever attached at an angle. So when the head is locked on, the lever doesn’t stick straight up. Works OK, but is still a little tall.
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The new Silca Crack Pipe. This has been discussed on ST before. It works great, but I’ve found it a little fussy to get right.
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The new Silca “Hiro” pump head. I believe this is the best possible solution available for discs and general use. It won’t blow off. The only down side is cost (which is greater than 99% of the pumps on the market today)
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A hand made pump head, machined from brass, using a cam and lever to lock onto the valve on in the same manner as the Hiro. This one uses ball bearings on the cam shaft and a new Silca (red) gasket. Works as well as the Hiro, but I’m not going to make any more - way too much trouble.
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Here’s one anyone can do. It’s just a ball foot air chuck with clip and a presta-to-schrader adapter. The chuck is screwed to a 1/4" hose barb fitting. If you want to make one of these there are a couple of things to remember: you must remove the little check valve from the chuck (take it apart and the little valve just falls out) and buy a good quality ball chuck. I’ve tried the one from Harbor Freight (for ~$2.50) it leaked badly. The one I used costs about $8 (http://www.amazon.com/…_30332190_TE_3p_dp_1). This works well and is no more inconvienent to use than a Lezyne screw on pump head…
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The Lezyne right angle adapter for their pumps. I’ve found this tends to blow off if it’s not set just right. More like the old Silca crack pipe - works best when held on by a friend.
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