For a couple of months now, I've had my old Topeak Joe Blow pump sequestered in the garage with a cracked gauge mounting stem that was leaking air. The glass was also cracked and on occasion, the entire rubber casing and glass has popped up under high pressure nearly flying off. So I've been suffering with a cheap Nashbar floor pump. Similar in design, with heavy steel barrel, pump mounted, gauge and twin-head like the old Joe, but nowhere as easy to get on/off and a shorter than comfortable hose. I really missed the old pump.

I thought this might be one of the older Joe Blow comps that had a recall, but it didn't match. It has no "comp" or "turbo" or "sprint" designation. I think mine is probably from the early 90's before the internet. The gauge was probably broken in my recent move across town, having gotten run over or wedged under a literal tonne of furniture or other boxed goods. And calling Todson, they had good customer support but my pump was so old, they told me it was end-of-life'd and maybe time for a new one. I agreed.



Luckily, I found a gauge on Amazon a few days ago and ordered it. It arrived this afternoon. Free Shipping and only $9. It's an Interstate Pneumatics G2111-160, 2 inch diameter 0 - 160 psi air gauge with 1/8 inch tapered pipe thread. The gauge itself fits slightly more snug inside the rubber surround housing for the pump, but slides in with just a little effort from the bottom. I wrapped the 1/8 inch NPT nipple with some teflon tape and then screwed it onto the pump and used a 15mm cone wrench on the square back to tighten.

Before, the pump was hissing under pressure, and above 60 psi, the glass and rubber housing on the gauge might pop up and explode off or bruise a knuckle or worse. But now silence and steady pressure. It feels good to have the old friend back in service. The problem now is what to do with the extra floor pump(s) I ordered already. LOL!