today i blew out the o-ring on my innovations microflate, leaving me stranded to beg for a pump from a passing rider. it's the worst, and the second time it's happened to me. of late i've been carrying a mini morph, but today we were just going for an easy hour ride so i left it.
i'm pretty much over co2. costs too much, fails too often, and with 2 cartridges weighs more than the mini morph.
anyone else blown out the o ring on your inflator?

I blew one out recently too. Luckily i had two. The one that died was one without the springloaded valve. The springloaded one has yet to fail. (Fingers crossed)

My SKS AirGun inflator has always worked flawlessly. I don't put it to that much use though since I don't get that many flats. I think since I've had it (5 years), I can count the number of times I've used it on one hand and still have fingers with which to pick my nose. I view CO2 as a temporary fix anyhow as it leaks out of your tubes faster. For me, it's quick and convenient and gets me back on the road to go hunt down an air pump. I also keep a Presta-Schrader adapter with me.

I've had zero failures with Innovations CO2 over two years. I carry a micro pump as a backup (Topeak). It fits in my jersey pocket. And one CO2 cartridge and adapter. That's worked for 17,000 miles. I'll let you know when that system fails. On longer rides (50+ miles) I sometimes carry two spare tubes.

Same thing happened to me once. Luckily it was close to home and I was able to get up to 70 psi to limp home. I did switch to the new model as a result, though.

I kinda fell into the trap of thinking that the O-rings on my CO2 inflator were somehow different from every other O-ring on the planet and didn't require maintenance.

i have also shot my o-ring...ahh the red light district

I never heard of this happening. But I carry a backup hand pump.

Always carry a pump.

Not for the gram counters.

Exactly.

O ring??? *heads to garage*

Never had a problem there.

Has anyone else experienced tires inflated with CO2 slowly losing CO2?

I've had two tires go completely flat before my next ride a couple of days later, but couldn't find the smallest leak after I got them off the bike and they worked fine when reinflated with air. I have also had a couple go soft, but not flat. A fellow biker at my office said he had experienced this also.

Never had a problem with the zefal regulator in 3 years. Less complicated and smaller that other units with triggers. It also comes with a presta / schrader adaptor so you can top up at the fuel station.

CO2 has molecules that are small enough to escape between the tube's butyl rubber molecules. So a tire inflated with CO2 goes flat quicker than one inflated with air.

CO2 should always be replaced with air after the ride. It's only meant to get you home.
Somehow CO2 diffuses through the tube and tire much faster than air but it's not because of the size of the molecule. If you search through the archives you'll find that this has been a popular discussion.

The Innovations MicroFlate with 16 gr cartridges is all I've used on the road since 1998. Never had a problem.

Al

I love my CO2 pump. It's never let me down. I use the Innovations Ultraflate model.

Mine wore off the puncture part so that it wouldn't open the cartridges. Then when I twisted harder it cracked the other side and send CO2 spraying all over my hand (cold!). Haven't used CO2 since, and I've found a mini pump that gets the job done with 120 psi and all.

REAL men use pumps

I switched to mini-pump too.

Plus for CO2: Fast, compact
Minus: expensive, had problem with it freezing valve causing it to break/ ruin tube, more than one cartridge makes it weigh more than pump.

They wear these?

Well, with those pumps all you have to do is close your eyes, click your heels, and say "There's no place like home... There's no place like home... There's no place like home..."

And 7 speed derailleurs, VCR's and film cameras (none of that newfangled digital technology for them). We shall boldly march into the 1980's at your side....

Hey now...... I still have a five speed Crescent sitting in my basement.

I don't understand why people say it is expensive. I buy 12g unthreaded carts at Walmart for less then a dollar. How many flats are you having?

I've used my CO2 for years (I bet 100 flats) and never had a problem. I am going to go check the o ring though.

Bob

i would've taken pics of the offending o ring, but i chucked the whole lot in the first trashcan i saw.
the first time i had it happen(about a year ago) i tried putting the o -ring back in, eventually seating it back in place, only to have it blow off immediately. i like the speed of co2, but i just can't trust it anymore as my sole means of inflation.

When I started looking for a means of inflating a tube on the road I seriously considered Co2, but the potential for problems just kept me coming back to the tried and true pump. Ya, it's heavier, but so am I. I know it'll work 100% of the time and I don't have to worry about having a cartridge available. I'm sure it's worked good for many, but the pump is a sure bet.