Fly2High

Guys,
The pump V CO2 thread has me thinking about possibly getting a CO2 inflator ans since I have been a pump guy, I was looking for suggestions and experiences you have had with the CO2 inflators as to what to look for, which ones not to look for, which have been great and reliable and which have been problematic.

Let me know which you like and which you did not like.

Do you prefer the style that is just a nozzle and screwing the cartridge controls the gas flow or do you like a on off valve or a valve that has a knob to slow the flow down.

Do you like the kind that have a container to hold the cartridge or you like just a nozzle type.

Thanks everyone.

Frank

rpenmanparker 

I have had the full cylinder type with trigger flow control for many years and find it perfectly fine. Just works. By leaving the head only partly screwed onto the cylinder, it is possible to carry a cartridge inside it without puncturing the seal. So it doesn't take up extra space in the bag.

Big Lebowski

I keep the Portland Design Works "Shiny Object" in my seat bag. It takes very little space and is reliable. It has the on-off valve to control the flow. I've used it on the side of the road during my commute and it worked flawlessly. Just be sure to practice once in the garage. The key for me is to remember that the valve must be in the closed position when screwing-on the CO2 cartridge.

https://www.ridepdw.com/goods/inflat...-inflator-only

Jakedatc

small package.. easy to use. you screw the cartridge on then push it onto the valve... done.

Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Elite CO2 Tire Inflator - REI.com

Carbon Unit

The Air Chuck is all metal so it won't crack or fail over time. It is tiny and weighs 18 grams. It is the only CO2 inflator I will ever use.

By the way, you can keep a partially used cartridge attached to an Air Chuck for six months and it will not lose much gas.

Amazon.com : Genuine Innovations G2673 Air Chuck Elite Inflator : Sports & Outdoors

redlude97

another +1 for the air chuck. its never let me down

Lazyass

I don't like the kind that has a container. I use this one, bought it at a motorcycle shop. The knob gives you good control of the airflow, you can slow it to a trickle. Better than the ones like the Air Chuck above. I don't like those kind. And it's $12.49.

DOUBLE TOUGH - Mini Tire Inflator - Inflators - Tire Accessories - Tires - Cycle Gear

Ben I.

I got a Lezyne Trigger Drive and have been very happy with it. Compact, easy to use, and solid.

Lezyne Trigger Drive CO2 Inflator

SpeshulEd 

I have to agree, this one is my favorite out of the ones I own/tried.

I first purchased this one, it can be used with either a threaded or non threaded cartridge. You can flip the cartridge backwards in the plastic sleeve, taking up less room. The outside part is plastic, the inside part is metal. And when you screw in the cartridge, it's locked until you push the lever to allow the co2 out.
Spin Doctor Quickshot Pro CO2 Inflation System

I wanted one for my second bike, so I went smaller the second time around and went with the shiny object. The size and control valve make it very convenient and easy to work with. I bought mine from Amazon with a nice little leather sleeve for the cartridge.
Amazon.com : Portland Design Works Shiny Object CO2 Inflator with 16G Cartridge : Sports & Outdoors

Most recently, I purchased this Giant one for my third bike, unfortunately (fortunately), I haven't needed to use it yet so I have no idea how great or not great it is.
Control Blast 1 CO2 Inflation Kit (Inflation) - Service Gear | Giant Bicycles | United States

GP

My old air chuck failed - an o-ring came out on the street and was lost forever. It lasted several years though so I bought another.

Personally I carry one cartridge and a mini pump. If I get more than one flat my day sucks anyways so I'm not in as much of a hurry.

rm -rf

Yes. It worked perfectly the first time I ever had used CO2. It's easy to control the gas flow. The 20 gram cartridge is for MTB tires.

NealH

The Lezyne Trigger Drive worked great the first time I used it, then marginal the second time. I'm still trying to figure out why it froze up. I am reading this thread because I do not trust it and, want to get something else. The Portland Design model looks decent and I'll probably try one of these. That Double Tough motorcycle model looks decent too, and is inexpensive.

Jakedatc

yea.. and get your CO2 off amazon for like 1/3 the price. 12 packs are cheap

Carbon Unit

I have buying my C02 from these guys for years. Good prices and no complaints with the product.

Boxes of 10 16 gm threaded - Redrock Minnesota

However, this deal on Amazon looks is a better deal

https://www.amazon.com/Mosa-Gram-Thre...s=Co2+threaded

Just noticed it is the same seller.

Marcus_Ti

Last time I bought CO2 was 6 years ago. Got 2x25 packs of 12g unthreaded carts from Wally World for $0.50/cartridge IIRC. Still have over half that lot left.

Nice thing about CO2 guns that fully enclose the cart, you can save and get unthreaded carts, which are more readily available. With the Innovations enclosed inflator you can flip a cart around backwards inside it and have it safe and sealed forever until you need it, saving space for more carts in your saddle bag (or jersey pocket)....also don't have to worry about freezing your hand holding the damn thing.

GeneO 

I have this too to replace a larger inflator. Just had the opportunity to help someone witha flat on a mountain bike ... it works on Shrader too.
Very compact and work well.v Hope it works a second time... LOL

redtires

I'm currently carrying one of these. Having used it once, I like it. I can throw one cartridge in my small seat bag and I'm covered if I get two (or more) flats.

melloveloyellow

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...-inflator.html

Fly2High

Have you seen Amazon where many of the ones recommended also have complaints about o-ring failure, some part of the valve breaking or no longer puncturing the cartridge seal? I would like to get one for when time is critical but if so many have had failures and the top one posted in reviews and customer recommendations, I would like something reliable that will work when needed.

If these things are so simple, why are there reports of issues? You would think the simpler something is, the less problems they could have.

If the o-rings can come out, why aren't they putting a screw in plate to hold the o-ring in place? It is not like these things just came out on the market. They should have matured by now.

Frank

gpburdell

To paraphrase an old quote: "Nothing can be made foolproof because fools are too damn ingenious."


You have to take online reviews with a grain of salt. It's sometimes difficult to tell whether a bad review is due to a defective device or if the real problem is the owner using it improperly.


Even if it is a defective device is it a one in a thousand or far more common?


Always test something you plan to depend on. Deflate your tire at home and try out your new pump or CO2 inflator a couple times to ensure both that you know how to work it and that it does in fact work. Weigh the CO2 carts you test with before and after so you know what a full cartridge should weigh; this helps avoid carrying a dud.

KevinF

This. I have some generic C02 inflator that fully encloses the cartridge. Works with either threaded or non-threaded cartridges. As said above, the unthreaded ones can be bought cheap at WalMart. I think I bought the same 25-pack years ago and I probably still have about 10 of them left. (I've probably used more in checking to see if the damn thing still works then I've used roadside). A 12-gram cartridge will get you plenty enough pressure to get home; 90psi if I remember correctly.

DTSCDS

I like this one:
Planet Bike Red Zeppelin
I like that it screws onto the stem. Seems pretty secure. If I were to replace it I might try the PDW Shiny Object. I'm a BIG FAN of their products.

flar

I'm one of those "Murphy's Law" people who would fumble the inflator mid-operation and vent the CO2 out, so I'd prefer an inflator that threads on.

To that end, I've been looking at the Lezyne Pressure Drive CFH which is a pump/CO2 system that has its braided hose do double duty as a CO2 inflator. Screw the hose onto the cartridge and the valve, then back off the CO2 cartridge to start inflation. The thing that attracted me to it (other than having both a pump and an inflator in one unit) was the fact that it threads on both ends so even a clumsy oaf like me can use it without having to worry about slipping and draining off CO2, though I did see someone say something negative about the "back off the cartridge" style of controlling the flow of CO2.

On the other hand, a device like the trigger drive also threads onto both the valve and the cartridge and is incredible tiny. The only downside is that I'd prefer a control mechanism that doesn't require you to press in the direction of a wobbly stem on an uninflated tire. If only it had a separate control knob. Lezyne has a new control drive that does have a knob, but it doesn't thread onto the valve any more and seems possibly larger than shiny object. Are there any tiny shiny object style inflators that thread onto the valve?

flar

Spoke too soon - the Red Zeppelin mentioned right before my post looks like it has the threaded connections on both ends and a control knob - if only there were an all-metal version and a little smaller would be nice...

Marcus_Ti

How much the cart fills varies with what size tire you run and the rim size.

I've switched to running 28mm Sector tubeless on Belgium+ rims (25mm brake-to-brake, and 20mm internal)...which IRL results in a 32mm tire when inflated and measured with a caliper. a lone 12g cart is only half a fill or so from zero. Another nice trick with the small carts and enclosed CO2 guns is to keep a dime with you. When you mean to inflate, put the dime in the bottom of the cart holder before twisting the cart holder (and cart) into the inflator head. Makes a nicer seal and you loose less gas.