yashinon

This question I am hoping will help others. Over a period of time, I have had the top of two presta valves bend and eventually break off. Both tubes were original from the LBS, therefore I am not sure which brand they used. I use a 'joe blow' floor pump and its a pain to place on the valve just right.

Questions:
1) What is the best way to inflate tubes with presta valve?

2) I have read that cores are replaceable, how can I tell if the core of my tube is replaceable?

Any other tips or recommendations appreciated!

NormanF

Get a dual head Schrader/Presta head floor pump.

To inflate a Presta valve, you will need a screw on Presta valve adapter. Makes inflating a tire a lot easier.

Open the Presta valve screw all the way to the open position and press to let all the air out.

Install the valve adapter by screwing it head down all the way on the Presta valve screw until the seal is secure

Take your floor pump Presta head and push it down the thread end of the valve adapter and flip the lever to lock it into place.

Now pump until you can feel the tire is inflated.

Once inflated, flip your lever open and remove the Presta head. Then unscrew and remove the valve adapter.

Final step is to screw the Presta valve screw all the way down until its in closed position. Replace your Presta valve cap.

That's it.

yashinon

Thanks. I read that you do not need to unscrew the presta value screw all the way but just enough for separation. Also does the Presta valve adapter convert the valve to a schrader valve?

Wanderer

It doesn't convert it, just allows a shrader type chuck to mount on it. The force of the air opens the presta valve, not the depression of the "stem".

DorkDisk

Two turns and a push is enough. But four turns is all it takes from open to closed

keep the chuck level to prevent bending. Micro pumps bend them the easiest. With floor pumps it's usually the hose pushing /pulling so find the proper distance

with modern dual head pumps I don't see why you would bother with an adaptor. Just run the presta side.

avidone1

I too have bent presta valve heads, but I was able to straighten them back up.
I find the best way to fill my presta valved tires is to position the tire so that the valve is at the bottom
this allows me to align the chuck on the pump so that it lines up over the valve very straight.
I then apply pressure straight down and when in proper position use my other hand to lock the chuck in place.
Inflate tire to desired pressure.
Using one hand, grip the chuck firmly assuring that it is absolutely straight
Using the other hand, flip the lever to unlock the chuck,
then using both hand to guide and pull, remove the chuck in a sharp singular, straight up motion.
I have a moral objection to schrader adapters.

ptempel

I'm with @NormanF on the dual head presta/schrader floor pump. I have the Pedro's floor pump:

Robot Check

Cheap and cheerful. Never had any issues with it so far. Also never had a presta head break with it. I did have the valve core screw out with a mini pump once. But that was with a cheap tube over a year ago. Just stay away from cheap crap tubes and get a decent floor pump and you should be good to go. @avidone1, I still carry a schrader adapter. Its rare, but nice when you get a flat and are not near a bike shop (but near a gas station, quick check, etc). My mini pump is ok but will only inflate to 90 psi or so. Oh, I also don't bother with the valve cap or lock ring on the tube. They are the first things I throw out when I install a new presta tube. Will keep the valve cap for schrader but its not needed for presta.

DorkDisk

Those adaptors are good to have, but if you don't regularly use gas stations or bike shops to fill up, it might be a waste of a buck.

I've had one since 1992 and I used it once to try it out - never used it again, and I've been riding constantly. I see it pop up once in a while and it feels good knowing I have one because I like tools

In a pinch (no pun intended,) a presta valve cap (if you still have it) can be cut off at the tip and threaded in backwards to make a schraeder adaptor. This is also something I've never had to do on the road or trail

Edit: I wouldn't bother straightening bent presta valves if they still function properly as this can actually break it.

DorkDisk

This is the lady that threads the lock rings on. Each. Tube.

ptempel

Eeek. Hate to say "don't do it!" since she will be out of a job perhaps?

CT Sean

You lost me a bit here. If the pump has a presta head and the tire has a presta valve, what is the adapter doing?

Pompiere

Because of all the stories about how easy it was to break Presta valve stems or tear them loose from the tubes, I bought a Topeak Road Morph pump. It has a short hose to connect to the valve, and a small foot peg that flips down so you can use it like a floor pump. It easily pumps to over 100 psi. Robot Check

I also carry a Schrader adapter, since, where I ride, there are few bike shops, but every farmer has an air compressor.

practical

If you have Prest valves, it might be a good idea to use an Schrader adapter as one of your valve caps. That way if you need to inflate your tire and a Presta valve pump is not available, you'll be able to use the adapter.

NormanF

No. The adapter creates a secure connection for your Presta pump head, allowing you to inflate the tire with minimal effort. If you put the Presta pump head directly on a Presta valve head, its likely to leak and you'll tire of getting air into the tire. Install the Presta valve adapter first.

DorkDisk

I think you may need a new pump. Pump heads should not leak while inflating, regardless of valve type

fietsbob

push on pump heads like Silca Pista work fine .. Note the smooth band on a P/V stem that is where the air seal is Best.

throwing away the ring nut is an OCD thing .. the wire bead tire is not glued on like a SewUp.

the ring-nut keeps you from pushing the stem in when starting from a Low PSI in the tube..

you open the valve lock nut enough that when you burp the valve to un stick it , it opens.

giantcfr1

I suggest using the lock ring as opposed to advice above. Too often riders wonder what that annoying click noise is when they are on a rough surface, or dancing up a slope. 9 times out of ten it's the valve rattling in the rim hole. My road bike tubes don't have them so I have to use blu tack. I tried the cut tube over the value but that doesn't seem to work.

oaxaca

The presta valve adapter just allows you to use a schrader valve pump... And will most likely just make the process slightly more of a pain in the ass. And opening the valve all the way just lets you pump a tiny bit faster due to less restriction.

I'm guessing your pump is 95 percent of the issue. I only say that because with my pump its effortless to hook up to prestas 10/10 times and seals perfectly. Works great with schrader too, you just have to push it onto the valve whereas with a presta it just sets on it with no friction and you flip the lever...

I have a bontrager charger presta/schrader pump. pretty sure it was 27 dollars.

So yeah. Get a better pump, I say.

ColdCase

After a month of trying to track down a rattle, I noticed the lock nuts had backed off and the valve/nuts were rattling

DorkDisk

I disagree. The limit is the diameter of the main stem minus the diameter of the threaded rod. As long as the volume of air allowed in matches or exceeds this capacity, there is no bottleneck. Two turns and a push is enough for max flow

rumrunn6

but you can not use a regular gas station pump cuz there is nothing to depress the pin or stem inside the gas station chuck

Wanderer

Yes, you can, if the presta valve stem is screwed all the way up.

oaxaca

I mean... I was half joking because I don't understand what you have to gain by NOT opening the valve all the way, but if you want to get all technical about it, the "limit" (as in maximum air flow rate) is going to be determined by the drag coefficient of the passageway, the surface area of the smallest opening, and the difference in air pressure between the pump outlet and the tire tube. If the tire is at 90 psi and you're letting air out, or if the tire is empty and you are pumping hard with a floor pump, the drag at the stem end is going to be significant because the air is passing at a high velocity around 90 degree angles (and by "significant" I mean significant enough to warrant the semi-truth semi-joke statement about pumping "a tiny bit faster.") If you're pumping into a tire with 90 psi, its going to be negligible, and the size of the passage probably will be too, unless you pump super crazy hard.

More importantly if you're using a combo pump "two turns" as in two 360 degree rotations of the nut probably won't be enough to even allow the pump head to seat, because the recess is too shallow (not sure about dedicated presta pumps, as i've never owned one). I can see somebody who doesn't know much about it listening to your advice and then thinking they need to buy an adapter to use their combo pump with their presta valve because it doesn't seat.

And... Once again, what exactly do you have to gain by not just backing out the lock nut to the end?

rumrunn6

I don't think that stem would reach up thru the adapter far enough. at least not the ones I tried

oaxaca

It seems like if anything, this would be the one situation where you wouldn't want to screw out the lock nut all the way (now I've answered my own question. haaa) because if its only out a couple turns, the stem might stay extended enough to depress the stem in the chuck but still let air in. Also, If you make sure to screw the adapter piece as far down as it will go... No?