I have two sets of aero wheels that use valve ext. The problem is I cannot get enough air in the tire with a pump. Some air is going in but most is backing up in the pump hose which makes the air guage think the tire is full, so I stop putting air in it. Then when I get out for a ride I feel like I am riding on tired that are low on air. Is there some trick I am missing?
TP
The valves have closed (locked) and the air isn’t going into the tube. It can be a problem with valve extenders. When you put the extender on you have to really make sure that you lock the valve open. Some of them just won’t lock open and they will rattle back down as you ride and lock themselves again. Now your problem is how to get them open. Try pushing something down the valve extender to let the air out of the tire. Then you can take the whole thing apart, locking the valve extender open without loosening it in the valve body and start over. It really is much easier to get long valve tubes.
It’s also possible that the valve is stuck; you need to tap the valve to let just a bit of air out, thus unsealing the valve. Happens all the time.
Ken Lehner
Is this the same situation as using a disk adpater to inflate tyres? I have Hed 3’s where the footpump will not fit inside the recessed section without the use of the 90 degree adapter piece. I find it very difficult firstly to get the adapter to lock onto the valve and even then the air seems to escape out the sides. I find the gauge giving apparent false readings at times. The adapter even comes close to popping off unless I hold it on. It looks as though the adapter is not deep enough to lock onto the valve. Has anyone else experienced this and what is the solution?
Right on Ken! This is a good habit to use on all valves all the time.
There are two great valve extenders, one by Problem Solvers that is basically a valve extender with a valve of its own that allows you to open and close the tube valve extenally. The second is by Tufo, on tubes or tubulars with removable valve cores, the tube valve core can be removed, the extension rethreaded, and the valve core threaded back into the extension. I prefer the Tufos, but both work much better than a plain valve extender.
Before these, I always carried a small piece of tephlon tape, (plumber tape) to wrap the thread on the valve stems, this worked well, but did not solve the problem of the valve partially closing.