ultra-g

I bought one of these Topeak Joe Blow Floor Pumps back in June.

I used it probably 4 times a week to pump up the tires on my bike and now 6 months later it doesn't work anymore.

What a cheap piece of garbage. I got so frustrated when it stopped working.

I ended up pumping up my tires with the Topeak Road Morph frame pump I also bought 6 months ago and almost popped an artery in my neck trying to pump the tire up to 120psi.

Pieces of garbage.

From now on I'm just going to drop by a bike shop every other day and use their shop pump, I'm not wasting another penny on a pump to use at home.

brentj

From what I have heard, Topeak has pretty good customer service. You should give them a call and try and get it replaced. Just an idea.

slvoid

Try to get em replaced.
I too got a joe blow pump (the big yellow one). I use it every sunday to pump up my commuting bike to 90 psi shraeder and once every saturday morning to pump up my road bike to 120 psi presta.
So about twice a week and it's given me no problems so far. Which is the part that failed?

RegularGuy

I've been using a Joe Blow floor pump for 8 or 10 years. I replaced the pump head last year. The thing rocks.

They did have a recall on one model of Joe Blow pump. The lens on the gauge could blow off. Other than that problem (which was remedied by the recall) I've never heard of anyone having a problem with the Joe Blow.

Topeak has excellent customer service. I've dealt with them twice. Each time I sent one email, received a reply saying the parts I needed were being sent free of charge, and within a week the parts arrived. Email them.

Raiyn

My experience with Topeak has been much the same. Topeak customer service is top notch.

Cyclepath

My ten year old Zefal Doubleshot is still going strong. I wrote to Zefal in France for spare head parts just to have them. They were sent promptly for free, but i've never needed them.

Gus Riley

I agree!!! I had a Joe Blow Pro for a short time. Its fateful day occurred when I was about to go for a ride and it decided to "blow" its pressure gauge lens into my face (it was not the model covered by an earlier recall...I checked prior to its lens flying into my face). It did this twice and in the process couldn't move (blow) a feather. It died a glorious death as I wrapped it around the nearest tree...several times! I have pictures of the murder somewhere around here! I felt great!!! But then it occurred to me that I probably could have gotten with Topeake and had the thing replaced. But then on 2nd thought, I realized I DIDN"T WANT ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF &^%4!!

I went down to the LBS and purchased a Specialized floor pump and so far it has been a super relationship
!

Raiyn

Seems to me you need this more than you need a new pump

Gus Riley

Maybe so. When attacked I will either flee or fight...that was a fighting moment, a moment of self defense! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

dobber

I did that once with a TEAC tape monitor. Damn piece of garbage, drove me nuts. One day I'd had enough an pitched the thing down the basement steps then took a baseball bat to it.

Next day I wrote a scathing letter to the manufacturer. They apologized for the problems and offered to replace the unit with another..............if I'd be so kind as to send em the original unit.

25 years later, I'm still waiting. Wonder what they did with that box of broken plastic and twisted metal?



And staying slightly to topic, why do people buy floor pumps when for a little more you can get a nice power compressor / inflator?

Cyclepath

I've never been attacked by either a bike pump or tape monitor, but if i were i think self-defense
could justify the use of deadly force.

A compressor? Hardly seems worthwhile just to top off a few pounds of air pressure.

Not to mention the fact that it was probably made in Stalinist China, & 10 years from now Washington will be telling us they are the new Evil Empire, since we were so obliging as to empower them by purchasing their products (which Washington allowed to be sold here in the first place....)

SinGate

Same here; I used mine 2 or three times a week during the riding season with no problem for the past two years.

khuon

I'm reminded of the printer scene in Office Space.



I've never had a problem with my Topeak Twister which I've had for about 5 years now. I can easily pump my tyres well pass 150PSI if need be (I go to 130PSI though) and it's been totally reliable. I top off before every ride on nearly a daily basis. It's a little difficult to do things like take a full-sized compressor/inflator to the trailhead. However, I've been tempted to install on-board air in my Jeep for several years now so I can air the tyres back up after a trail [offroad driving] run but I'm sure that would run me quite a bit more than a $45 floor pump. OTOH, that floor pump isn't going to be very useful for my Jeep's tyres.

markw

One word on floor pumps. Silca.

ultra-g

I unfortunately took the "Office Space" therapy route and destroyed the pump in my violent fit of rage when it no longer pumped. I don't think Topeak will cover that.

RegularGuy

Try them.

One of my dealings with Topeak's customer service went something like this. I overtorqued a quick release bolt on an old seat post rack. It snapped in two. I took a picture of the damage and sent it to Topeak with a note explaining that I had broken it myself, by my own most greivous fault. I just asked how I could obtain a replacement part. They sent it free of charge.

If you didn't like the pump, send them an email about it. Tell them what was wrong with it. Tell them you got medieval on it's butt. See what they do.

The worst they can do is say "Sorry, Charlie."

At the very least they will know what was wrong with their product when you used it.