General Cycling Discussion - Broken Frame Pump?

Ok, I got another situation.

1. I recently acquired a frame pump that requires a considerable amount of force to pump up to on 40 psi, and I cannot get it over 70psi on my road tires. In fact, I have ripped two of my road tire with it.

2. So here is the question, is there a way to fix it? If not, should I keep it with my mountain bike? (it seems that those tubes are least fragile at the value then presta.) or should I just toss it? (I guess I could always toss at a driver if one barks at me.)

Thanks.

something is wrong. Are you sure that your pressure gague is right?

Take the pump apart and clean the tube and the plunger washers and lube them up. should work fine.

If it is a Zeffil (sp?) it should be fixable but it it worth fixing since the price is cheap to start with.
Joe

Ripped two tires? Do you mean you tore the valve stem out?

I mean the value stem was ripped. It did not get to the extent that it was tore out, but it did compromised the intergity of teh tire at the base of the value, and I do not know how to fix those kind of rips.

With frame and portable pumps, theres are rare breed of high quality ones that can pump up to high pressures with EASE, whereas the rest for some reason (beyond the laws of physics) just don't work.
You have to just read the forum, and find a pump which is recommended by someone, and you know that model will be good to use.
With the valve stem problem, frame pumps usually come with a hose so it doesn't put pressure on the valve stem. In a new pump you could look for a hose.

It's not beyond the laws of physics. It is because of the laws of physics.

It has to do with piston size. If the area of the piston is 1 square inch, pumping to 100 PSI means you'll have to apply 100 lbs of pressure on the pump handle.

If the piston is 1/2 square inch, pumping to 100 PSI means applying 50 lbs of pressure to the handle, but pumping twice as many times.

For an easier-to-pump bicycle pump, look for one with a narrower body. I first bought a $15 pump that would (with great struggle and suffering, and I'm no weakling) get my tires to 65 PSI. I broke the pump actually :) so I took it back and got one for $5 more that was narrower and longer (longer means one stroke will pump more air, length does not affect the effort required to pump one stroke) and pumps my tires to 80 psi with no problems. Plus the new one has an 8" or so hose whereas the old one had no hose (end of the pump clamped onto the valve stem).

The new one, which I would recommend, is an Aztech (I think?) "Road Morph".

I've had two frame pumps, and both are a waste of time. I've had to beat my brains out just to get the pressure up to 30 lbs, and my tires need 100 lbs......so now I use a CO2 unit, just two cartridges will get me close, so that I can get home where I have a Blackburn floor pump.