Pedro's Bike Pump

[Flur]

We purchased the Pedro's Prestige floor pump and my DH tossed the tag on the pump that told us how to use it. Does anyone have one of these pumps? We've both played with it and I'm convinced that the lever s/b up when pumping b/c it leaks air when it's down, but then when I flip the lever down to take it off the valve I can't get it off. DH says I'm doing it backwards and that's why I'm having trouble. Which one of us is right? I really don't want to break a valve by doing it wrong...

[OakLeaf]

I don't have that pump - but FWIW,

(1) the picture of the pump on the website shows the lever flush (down) - which should be a neutral or open position.

(2) my Serfas pump and my Specialized pump both operate with the lever raised to close the seal.

(3) It's normal for the pump to be tight coming off the valve. For the rubber gasket to seal when the lever compresses it, it's got to be making contact even when it's open. Try using one hand to hold the wheel at the valve while you pull the pump head off with the other hand.

HTH (and that you get a reply from someone else who actually has that pump )

[HillSlugger]

Can you get info from the Pedro's website, or send them an email?

[singletrackmind]

I've got a Pedro's (domestique) with the dual head such as your prestige has and the lever flips up to seal
as does my specialized and my other floor pump I can't remember the name of right now.

It can be a bear and a half to get the thing off if you push it all the way down onto the valve. If it's not on far enough it doesn't open the valve so you have to find the happy medium.