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tire pump wont switch modes

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Old 08-15-13 | 06:47 AM
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From: s.e. michigan

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tire pump wont switch modes

i have a good floor pump the kind that can pump up both schrader and presta. its probably 6 or seven years old and has gotten plenty of use. anyway go to pump up my prestas this morn and its stuck in the schrader position. didnt have time to check it out but will some oil help? or has this pumps time come. what do you guys think?
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Old 08-15-13 | 06:53 AM
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Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.

You need to look at how the pump works and figure out what the problem is before deciding how to fix it. We don't know how the pump goes from Presta to Schraeder or anything else about it, so brand/model or clear pictures of the pump head would help. Telling us where you live (city, not just SE MI) might help us to direct you to local resources.
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Old 08-15-13 | 08:07 AM
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If it's one of those pump heads with adjacent and parallel ports for schrader and presta stems, I've had that problem too. I usually get it to work by whacking it against a hard surface to free up the mechanism and/or covering up the other port with my finger and giving the pump a really hard fast stroke. It can be an annoyance and the pumps I use now have different heads. You might put a different head on that pump.
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Old 08-15-13 | 08:11 AM
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You don't say whether it's a 2 holer or a one hole smart head. Sometimes, the 2 hole ones will stick internally, and a slight impact will free it up.
I have one with a smart head that sometimes takes some fiddling to get it to fit on a Presta.
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Old 08-15-13 | 11:23 AM
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the pump is a wrenchforce from rei. its a two hole design. i will try some lube and a few smacks
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Old 08-15-13 | 11:52 AM
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I think I'd skip the lube.

I had a cheap 2 holer that would tend to stick on Presta. I assume the higher pressure for those tires lind of "welded" the seal.
IF I gave it a quick, firm stroke (or 2), it would loosen the offending part.
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Old 08-15-13 | 12:51 PM
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I would cut it off and replace it with a presta only head with no moving parts, like a Silka.
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Old 08-15-13 | 12:52 PM
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I just have 1 SV , Medai, 2nd one a Silca., both are about 30 years old..

Last edited by fietsbob; 08-15-13 at 12:55 PM.
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Old 08-16-13 | 12:21 PM
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for those of you interested i applied some light oil in the holes and let it set awhile. a few smacks on the workbench and good as new
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