Tire inflation?

[shadon]

This seems like it should be so basic...but....it's not.

In prep for my ride tommorow...I went to check and fill my tires...back tire no problem. Front tire...not so much. I attached the pump to the valve and it seemed instead to remove air from the tire...suffice to say I now have a front tire that is to soft to ride and has less air in it than it started with.

What the h*ll am I doing wrong???

[DirtDiva]

I dunno. I've bent one of the Presta valves on my bike and I have to be quite careful when I fill that tyre. Mostly it's a problem when I'm trying to get the thing screwed back up fully though... Hope you can get it sorted ASAP.

[shadon]

of course I go off to the closest LBS...and it filled right up. and got the typical bike shop dude shrug..."I dunno..maybe it's your pump" as she (yes she) walked away.
So no I need to salvage the day with some sort of ride...ggrrrrr

[Running Mommy]

It may be your pump! IF you have a pump that has a head for both presta and schraeder valves, it may be the pump. Occasionaly my pump will not recognize that I just inserted a presta valve, and it blows air out the other side!
I thought I was nuts until my husband had the same problem with it. I guess there is a little mechanism inside that doesn't always work?? Because it does it every once in awhile, but for the most part it works. Frustrating for sure!
I could see where it seems like it's taking air out because the pump is pressing on the valve and so air is being released.
Anyway, that's my best guess. Sorry- no real "answer" for you!

[Geonz]

It makes a difference on my bike where the valve is. If it's down between 5 and 7 o'clock, I can't seem to get it to work. I'd have thought pointing down owuld be best... but 11 or 1:00 work best. Getting just the right angle seems to be the trick. (I have the same issues a little bit with the car tires... but my plan is to take them in tomorrow ...)

[shadon]

It may be your pump! IF you have a pump that has a head for both presta and schraeder valves, it may be the pump. Occasionaly my pump will not recognize that I just inserted a presta valve, and it blows air out the other side!
I thought I was nuts until my husband had the same problem with it. I guess there is a little mechanism inside that doesn't always work?? Because it does it every once in awhile, but for the most part it works. Frustrating for sure!
I could see where it seems like it's taking air out because the pump is pressing on the valve and so air is being released.
Anyway, that's my best guess. Sorry- no real "answer" for you!

Hmmmm...I think I'm gonna go find a presta specific pump then. I don't need agrevation like that...it completely through me off my grove for getting ready for the ALC...

Now to work on riding down hill.

[mellic]

I would take Geonz advice before you buy a new pump. Turn your wheel so the valve is at the bottom and then try.

[Geonz]

At the top! At the top! (Or wherever it hasn't been... but for me, the bottom was where it didn't work.)

[bcipam]

When you attached the pump nozzle, did you set the "hold" lever? In otherwise, the nozzle goes on and you usually pull the lever up (or down depending on the pump) to latch the nozzle on adn hold in the air. If you don't air comes out.

[Bella]

I also have a dual Schraeder/Presta pump and succeeded in deflating one perfectly good tire. It was nothing but a struggle to re-inflate. I haven't found the magic formula yet - but I dare say I don't feel like experimenting.

[Dianyla]

I've also got the (notso)Smarthead pump that senses schrader vs. presta head. I found that if I don't push the presta valve in far enough it tends to just leak air out as I pump, eventually deflating the tire. I think those pumps work by assuming that a schrader valvestem will only go in about 1/4" inch and a presta will go in more like 3/8" or even more like 1/2".

[Melody]

If any of you are really hating the head on your pump, I really recommend one of these:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RY.ID=47&MODE=

It's a replacement head for a Silca pump (dual schrader/presta) and should fit any standard hose on a floor pump. To access the shrader portion, just unscrew the presta head.

My husband and I have had numerous problems with breaking valve stems, leaking heads, etc. etc. That all went away when we converted our pump to this head. There's also no lever to pull. To use, just slip the head on the stem and start pumping up the tire.

Mel

[Trek1500]

Maybe a little off topic, but does anyone use a CO2 inflator? I have one, but haven't used it because I'm not sure how it works. Do you just release a little of the CO2?

[DebW]

I've had the opposite problem with a few presta valves that got so sticky that I couldn't get air into the tire. I'd have to let some air out by hand just to free up the valve. And I agree with Geonz that if often matters where the valve is - the chuck needs to be straight with the valve, so try moving the valve or the pump around until it is. It may also be useful to unscrew the pump head, remove the rubber gasket, and oil it.

[Bella]

Maybe a little off topic, but does anyone use a CO2 inflator? I have one, but haven't used it because I'm not sure how it works. Do you just release a little of the CO2?

I used it at home as practice and of course carry them with in case I flat out on the road. The ones with the shut off valve are great because you don't have to use the entire canister.

Because CO2 is cold, your tires will deflate by next day - don't be alarmed. Just refill by traditional pump.