Bicycle Mechanics - Floor pump use

Hey,

Forgive me in advance, I'm new to all of this.

When picking up a new bike I was recommended a Lezyne floor pump, which I ended up buying. I didn't have a Schrader and the accessories were free, why not take the most expensive one they sell, right?

Anyways, I don't think I understand how to use it, which is odd because, well, it's a bloody pump.

Yes, remove the cap, open the valve, thread the tip onto the valve, pump. What happens on the gauge on my pump seems odd, though, it jumps up about 50psi per pump and decreases almost as fast as it increased. If I let it sit after giving it a few pumps it will return to 0, but the tire's far from deflated. In fact, I can't really feel the difference by squeezing the tire before and after inflating after a few days of riding. There's no obvious hiss or leak, so I don't quote understand what's happening.

Right now I just try to watch the peak of the needle with each pump and stop when that peak has reached about 110psi, seems odd though. It happens on both the front and rear tires.

I'm somewhat apprehensive about deflating a tire to see how well it pumps up just in case I can't re-inflate.

Any idea whether I'm just an idiot or what I should try? Thanks in advance!

With a Presta valve, you should unscrew it, and then press down on the top of the valve (burping it) to release air before attaching the pump head.

This ensures that the valve is "open" and ready for inflation.

Try that.

I'll wait here.

Good choice in pumps, btw. Heard great things about them.

That's beautiful, worked like a charm. The needle still slowly descends, but I assume that's normal to some extent. Thanks!

The pump seems really solid, pretty too!

That is normal ... just as you say ... to some extent. It's back-pressure coming from the tire. No surprise, you should see very little of it when inflating a brand new (0 psi) tube.

Glad you're doing more with the pump, now, than just getting that all-too-elusive upper body workout ;)

Want the VERY BEST chuck for a Presta? This works as good as it looks. But DON'T DO IT! Unless you want to Pimp You're Pump

Like I did:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp?catid=14&imageField2.x=26&imageField2.y=9

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4576&zenid=c231a01998130552eaf5e615c091b4e4?disp_order=4

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp323/nagognog/IMG_0370.jpg

Wat the VERY BEST chuck for a Presta? This works as good as it looks. But DON'T DO IT! Unless you want to Pimp You're Pump

Like I did:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp?catid=14&imageField2.x=26&imageField2.y=9

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4576&zenid=c231a01998130552eaf5e615c091b4e4?disp_order=4

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp323/nagognog/IMG_0370.jpg


And now, Panthers, tell us just how much that little beauty will set our unsuspecting viewers back....

Drum roll, please.... :)

BTW, GSmith...

Congrats on picking a great pump. I have a Lezyne Alloy Drive. Awesome pump. As far as floor pumps go,I have owned a Silca (nice), a Park, 2 Blackburns (still have a Tower4), a Specialized and a couple plastic POJ's... The Lezyne is the best of them all - and now you'll be spoiled for anything else (unless you are a pro wrench like certain other posters and build your own (^^^).

Wat the VERY BEST chuck for a Presta? This works as good as it looks. But DON'T DO IT! Unless you want to Pimp You're Pump

Like I did:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp?catid=14&imageField2.x=26&imageField2.y=9

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4576&zenid=c231a01998130552eaf5e615c091b4e4?disp_order=4

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp323/nagognog/IMG_0370.jpg

Is that pump an SKS? What is the chuck on that pump? The link doesn't seem to relate to anything here.

em

From previous posts, I think his IS an SKS, and I KNOW it's a Hirame pump head (http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4576&zenid=c231a01998130552eaf5e615c091b4e4?disp_order=4).

I'm not ashamed to admit that I looked.

Neither am I ashamed to admit that -- at least for now -- I passed ;)

That is normal ... just as you say ... to some extent. It's back-pressure coming from the tire. No surprise, you should see very little of it when inflating a brand new (0 psi) tube.

Glad you're doing more with the pump, now, than just getting that all-too-elusive upper body workout ;)

If the tube is a presta, the back pressure leaking out is from the pump...not the tire. The pressure inside the tube will close the presta valve unless you depress the plunger.

Schraders do the same except you have to depress plunger and hold it open to get air in them. They fill the hose as soon as you flip the thumb lock on the chuck.

The pump is a 75th year anniversary SKS Rennkompressor* - which costs about $75. The Hirame chuck went for $60 when I bought it, but now I see they have gone up to $70.


* - Made in Germany