Floor Pump Maintenance?
 

I bought a Serfas FP 200 SE from REI. I'm using it to fill Topeaks Tubibooster to 160psi so I can set the beads on my tubeless 700c x 32mm tires. The pumping seems really hard after reaching 120psi and to 160psi. This is the highest pressure I've ever tried to get. Does it get any easier on the pumping the more I do it or is there some maintenance I could do on it to make it easier pumping. The manual for the Tubibooster says never to use an air compressor to fill it and don't leave it charged. I didn't want pay for another pump by getting one of those expensive floor pumps with a big air chamber.

I would absolutely expect it to become harder to pump as the pressure goes higher. More pressure means more force resisting the plunger moving downward. Higher pressure also means more friction on the dynamic seal inside the pump. It's possible the pump is damaged in some way resulting in excessive force required, but damaged pumps usually suffer from the inability to go to higher pressures.

Larger diameter pumps will be even harder to pump at high pressure than smaller diameter pumps.

Have you actually tried the booster with your tires? I'd be surprised if you needed anywhere near 160psi to seat 32mm tires. FWIW, I have the same Serfas pump and easily seated 43mm Gravelkings w/o any booster. Just removed the valve core and pumped fast. Try putting 100psi in the booster, see how that works. It's a good idea to first mount the tire with a tube, etc so you have only one side to seat.

I have 2 old pumps with Leather cups, after over 30 years of keeping the leather soft with boot grease, they still work

though I'm about due for new Leather discs. ..


Tubeless? Meh, too much work? get an air compressor..




...

Silca! My 35 year old has finally reached the end of its second leather cup. Just keep them lubed and with rebuilds the last a lifetime. Also the relatively narrow barrel allows higher pressures easily.

Haven't used it yet. Only have 2 months use on the sealant, so it shouldn't need a top off yet. I could do some trials. I've also read to use some silicon grease on the plunger's O-ring. Haven't figured how to get the plunger out yet though.

Please pardon me if this too obvious but you won't need your booster when you add sealant. Just remove the valve core, pour in some more sealant, replace core and pump. You don't need to break the bead. I would not mess with the pump internals.

Yes, that's what my plan was. This is for when I have to replace the tire from wear or unrepairable leak or need a different type of tire tread or width. I tried pumping up the Tubibooster tonight and when I got it up to 130psi, the gauge showed all the air was leaking out somewhere. I think it was coming from the plunger heating up because I tried it a second time and it wouldn't hold air at all. I can always stop pumping before it heats up and detach the Tubibooster and let the pump cool down before pumping again.

Heating up was the problem. I let it cool down at 130psi for 10 minutes and then continued to 160psi.:beer:
I planned to only use it for putting on a new tire or completely cleaning out the Stan's boogers. I use a syringe to measure and top off as needed.

Sealant? valve stem @ 12:00 let the stuff settle to the bottom for a while, .. less tendency to clog up the valve that way..