General Cycling Discussion - Question - switching between valve styles on my air pump

I got a new air pump (a Specialized Air Tool floor pump, if the model matters) on Ebay. One of the main reasons I got it was because the nozzle is supposed to be able to fit on both Schrader and Presta valves. My problem is that right now it only seems to work on Schrader valves, but not Prestas. (The nozzle will fit over a Presta valve, but only in the same manner that a Schrader-only nozzle would because Prestas are narrower than Schraders... in other words it isn't a snug fit that could actually fill the tire with air.) The pump didn't come with any instructions, so I'm wondering if there is something I have to do with the nozzle to make it switch to Presta mode. I did notice that there is a plastic ring at the end of the nozzle that can unscrew and come off, but I don't see how that makes the nozzle fitting any different.

So, how do I get my pump to switch to be able to fit onto Presta values also? Does anyone here have experience with these kind of air pumps? What am I supposed to do to make it work?

When you lock the head it should fit snug (the lever should be straight up and down in order to lock). From what I understand, on the older models the rubber insert is kept in for presta and removed for schrader.

That is what I did at first because I didn't think you had to do anything to switch... just go from one style valve to the other without doing anything. But that doesn't work. When I lock the nozzle onto a Presta valve with the little lever thing, the fit isn't as tight as it is on a Schrader, and then when I pump it like that, there is air leakage around the nozzle/valve and it doesn't fill the tire. I noticed this and then assumed I was doing something wrong, so I asked on here. But if I'm doing it right, why isn't it working? Maybe there's a problem with the pump?

Did you unlock the presta valve itself? Is the rubber insert the same size on both ends or is it thicker on one end?

Sometimes you need to loosen or tighten the ring on the end of the nozzle (where the valve slips in) to expand the rubber ring/washer/bushing on the inside of the head.;)

Twist yellow cap to tighten inside rubber bushing for smaller dialmeter presta valve. Loosen to relieve tension expanding the hole diameter for the schraeder valve.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/4510226646_e82858fa7f_o.jpg

Pfft. Mr Know-it-all. :rolleyes: *makes smooshed face at you*

Hey I tried. Not bad for a Joe Blow Pro kinda girl. :p

Pfft. Mr Know-it-all. :rolleyes: *makes smooshed face at you*

. :p

Nah! Actually it's the same on any pump. IF I switch my frame pump over from SCH to Presta (flipping inside rubber bushing) or vice versa, I must make sure to tighten down the cover enough to make the rubber bushing "smoosh" down to get a grip on the valve to form a seal.:D

Not sure about your specific pump, but on the two I have (Canondale and Serfas) you have to unscrew the cap, and reverse the plastic and rubber piece inside. I usually keep one pump set up for Presta and one set up for Schrader.

Aaron :)

Not sure about your specific pump, but on the two I have (Canondale and Serfas) you have to unscrew the cap, and reverse the plastic and rubber piece inside. I usually keep one pump set up for Presta and one set up for Schrader.

Aaron :)

Yup. That's how mine works too (Topeak Morph)

Not sure about your specific pump, but on the two I have (Canondale and Serfas) you have to unscrew the cap, and reverse the plastic and rubber piece inside. I usually keep one pump set up for Presta and one set up for Schrader.

Aaron :)

My Specialized Air Tool is the same pump the OP is questioning. It is called a "smarthead", no need to flip the rubber bushing like those in framepumps that I have (Blackburn) and a couple other floor pumps. Smarthead is designed to eliminate the need to unscrew and flip the rubber.;)

The Joe Blow Pro you don't have to do either of that. It just squishes down more for presta. So there!

The Joe Blow Pro you don't have to do either of that. It just squishes down more for presta. So there!


I had a JoeBlow but it fell apart so double "so there" to you!:D
I was just trying to help the guy out with some info. Seems you're trying to turn this into a "top me" contest. Please refrain or I will report you to the mods!:roflmao2:

Not sure about your specific pump, but on the two I have (Canondale and Serfas) you have to unscrew the cap, and reverse the plastic and rubber piece inside. I usually keep one pump set up for Presta and one set up for Schrader.I've had pumps that work like that as well. Kind of a pain, but doable.


The Joe Blow Pro you don't have to do either of that. It just squishes down more for presta. So there!I like my Joe Blow Sports, with a double-sided head, one schraeder and one presta. Super easy.

Yeah, you can't flip the rubber washer inside because the way it's designed doesn't allow for the plastic ring to be screwed over it when it's on the other way. I tried that also originally.

Anyway, I tried unscrewing the plastic ring a little bit as Mr. Beanz suggested, but that only makes the fit looser. So what I did then was loosen it, put the nozzle on the valve, and tighten the ring while the pump nozzle was attached to the valve, and that seemed to work.

Also, I think before I wasn't pushing the nozzle onto the valve far enough, because apparently you have to have it way onto the valve so it goes past the wider part of the nozzle's rubber washer (for Schrader valves) and into the narrower part (for Presta valves). At first, it seemed a bit unusual to me to have to push it in so far, but I guess it's necessary with the way this "smarthead" pump is designed.

So thanks everyone for helping me figure this out! I really appreciate it. Now I don't have to keep using my valve adapter all the time. :)

Anyway, I tried unscrewing the plastic ring a little bit as Mr. Beanz suggested, but that only makes the fit looser. So what I did then was loosen it, put the nozzle on the valve, and tighten the ring while the pump nozzle was attached to the valve, and that seemed to work. . :)

I used the wrong words, jsut talking off the top of m head. I should have said use the cap to adjust tension/grip on the valve. Tightening the cap would squish the rubber bushing and actually increase the grip on the presta. Either way, you can adjust it to a good fit /connection by using the cap to adjust grip on either style of valve.

Yes, that's what I figured out... tightening the ring while the nozzle is on the valve to grip it better, rather than trying to put the already tightened nozzle onto the valve.