Defective pump?

[Grits]

How hard should it be to remove the air pump from the presta valve? I have to wiggle mine back and forth to get it off. I have had 3 broken presta valves since I got my new bike in July. It is a Joe Blow floor pump I have had several years. I am trying to be extra careful now when taking it off, but maybe I just need to get a new one?

[VeloVT]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question :o, but you are flipping the lock lever back down before you try to take it off, right?

[tulip]

I've broken some valves by wiggling the pump, but not with my floor pump, only with my small pump that I take on rides.

I've found success by flipping the lock to the open position and striking the pump with my closed fist (outside of my hand). One clean hit usually does it. This means, of course, that the position of the valve when you are pumping is at 12:00.

[Grits]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question :o, but you are flipping the lock lever back down before you try to take it off, right?

Not a dumb question, but yes, I am flipping it back down.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Loosen the screw valve on the end of the pump hose (the part that connects to the tube valve) so that it's a little easier to put the thing on and off your tube valve. A little loosening goes a long way- easy does it. It should not be too tight when putting it on and off to pump your tire.
AVOID wiggling the thing as you take it on and off- a sure fire tube valve breaker.

[aicabsolut]

Yeah, you're better off trying to just yank it off straight than wiggling. Just watch out for your spokes. With a sticky pump and bladed spokes, bad things can happen.