KC8QVO

A couple questions here that stumped my local bike shop last time I was in. First off, are there any good and compact dial pressure gauges for presta valves? Like something with a dial the size of a quarter (about an inch in diameter maybe)?

Also, so far no one has understood exactly what I'm after with this one but I figure I'll give it a go here - there may be someone that knows what I'm getting at. I would like to find a hose adapter for pumps that fit a schrader valve. I am not talking about the screw-on fittings that go on the Presta valves and convert them to a quasi-schrader valve, I mean an actual hose pigtail (maybe 6-8" long) that has a schrader valve stem on one end and a real Presta fitting/snap lock on the other (like what is on my hand pumps for my road bike). Does such a thing exist?

The reason I ask about the hose with an actual schrader valve to convert to a presta is I have a compressor that has a schrader valve on it but it is really finicky about the fitting adapters. The peg inside isn't long enough to open the pin on the presta valves with the adapters.

rpenmanparker 

Generally you don't use a hose pigtail, but rather cut off or otherwise remove the existing head and install a new head on the existing hose. In the past a hose clamp was usually needed to get a good seal. Nowadays the replacement head often comes with a integral connection for a properly sized hose. See two examples below:

Lezyne Dual Valve Pump Head > Accessories > Inflation > Floor Pumps | Jenson USA Online Bike Shop
Pump Parts and Accessories Cycling Products - WesternBikeworks

Regarding dial pressure gauges, just Google "bike pressure gauge dial" and a large selection will appear. In general these are a big larger than you are describing, maybe 1.5-2.0 inches in diameter.

HillRider

A Presta valve shouldn't need a pin to open the valve stem, it should open just with the external air pressure. If it's sticky, "burp" the valve by depressing it with your finger before threading on the adapter.

Bill Kapaun

Who fires up a compressor and waits for it to pump up to top off a bike tire.
A floor pump is faster, fits Schraeder or Presta and has a gauge.

Grand Bois

My compressor is on all of the time and I have fittings with gauges and quick releases for both valve types. A floor pump is certainly not faster. My floor pump has been gathering dust for years.

You can't fill a tire with a bike on the stand with a floor pump unless you figure out a way to install an extra long hose.

rpenmanparker 

That's not always true. Maybe I am just short and keep my stand set low, but I can reach the valve stem fine with the stem on the bottom of the circle and a standard pump on the floor.

Grand Bois

You must be very short.

bobotech

Actually I'm curious about this. I bought a standard compressor air filler like the ones at the gas station with the pressure reader thing that pops out of the body at my co-op. It has 2 filler hoses that you can swap out at the pump handle so you can use either the presta or schrader.

The presta head is that larger brass head but the insides are missing. You unscrew the cap and the gasket comes out but there is a large empty space inside like something is missing. I know I have seen that pump head posted here before. I just don't know what brand and if its possible to get replacement parts.

Sixty Fiver

Installing that extra long hose on my pump was pretty complicated.

My compressor has a single line and I usually don't bother switching out the die grinder or other tools to fill tyres... my daughter likes the compressor as she is pretty small and pumping up her road tyres to 100 psi is easier with the pre-set on the compressor.

HillRider

The Silca Presta head looks just like you describe. It's a large brass "bell" with a screw on ring the compresses a rubber washer. There are no internals and a Presta head needs none as there in no need to push any spring loaded pins out of the way. All it has to do is form an air tight seal around the valve stem.

Here is what they look like:

Robot Check

Any bike shop and most internet dealers should have replacement washers as this is the only part that eventually wears out. Here is the washer:

Robot Check

bobotech

That is it I think! It looks like the Silca head. I will test it and see if it works. The gasket is in place, I was just expecting a reversible setup like on most pumps. Didn't realize that it was a presta only but at least I know its complete now.

rpenmanparker 

5'8". You decide. The hose on my pump reaches about 36" from the ground.

Soil_Sampler

SILCA - Manufacturers of the finest pumps and tools for bicycles

fietsbob

Since its for your compressor , it stays at home, get one of these ..

EVT | 3-in-One Inflator

Hopslam

Google prestaflator they did have a very small guage + a lot of other things you may find of interest

JTGraphics

This was my solution to making my own Presta adapter