Looking to pick up a second hand Silca and thought I'd look into whether there are significant differences between years of production, as far as quality, capacity, serviceability, and efficiency are concerned - if particular years or models are more desirable, why and how to identify? I know there have been some recent deluxe editions made but I'm not looking for some kind of boutique pump, just something solid and serviceable. Thanks, folks

Well my experience is only with one fairly recent version. I think it is the one before the current one out now. It has triangular base and a wooden handle. The body is aluminum, so I have a little guilt about thoughts of putting a Columbus sticker on it! I think the triangular base would make it a little more stable than the smaller base versions, but this thing will pump to such high pressures, you really don't need to put much oomph in it for regular road tires anyway.

Like this one, mine is white. Wiggle | Silca Pista Floor Pump (Classic Design) | Floor Pumps

I recently bought it NOS for about $100 and really like it. A good argument can be made for a cheaper pump that will work just as well, but it makes me happy and I feel like it's the last pump I'll ever need to buy.

Recently, a forum member had these up for grabs.

Another forum member and I bought them.

Aside from Patina, these should last forever.

I'm rebuilding the innards of mine this winter and it should be good to go for the rest of my riding years.

Might put a new head on it as well.

qHig6CA by gomango1849, on Flickr

With parts available from the new Silca ownership a Pista pump of any vintage can be completely overhauled and serviced, mine is >30 years old and still as reliable and accurate as on Day 1.

-Bandera

I prefer the Super Pista over the standard pista (as shown above) unless you need to carry the smaller pump frequently and have limited space. I own (and have owned) plenty of both but nothing newer than the iteration with triangular shaped base and wooden handle. The plastic handle of the Pista was never good ergonomically and the small base with only one foot pad also is a compromise, tho the early Super provided a much better wooden handle, and bigger size for greater capacity, the base on these is still less than ideal, being just slightly bigger than the standard and still only a one-footer. My DIY fix is to cut an add-on base from whatever scrap wood I have and bolt that onto the metal bases, they actually come with one hole already from factory so I just drill another. I learned this "trick" from a friend's Silca pump and have made a bunch for myself and others. I countersink the fasteners and if feeling really thorough I glue ribbed rubber to the bottom of the wood for even more "stickiness" to the floor.
Lastly the 2 I have with aftermarket (fancy expensive) Japanese pump heads really are slick to use, but I never paid full-boat for any of my pumps or these heads. I buy 2nd-hand.

I didn't get to choose which style I got. When I saw a floor pump at Goodwill for <$5 that said Silca on the barrel, I grabbed it. It is the older style with plastic handle, but it works fine. I don't buy lottery tickets, but sometimes I still get lucky.

I wish I could replicate your luck with "accurate." My gauge began reading about 25% too high after 25 years of use. The two Silca replacement gauges that I've bought in the last 10 years both read about 20% too high.

The "new" orange Silca head rubber may last longer than the old black one but, after a hundred or so uses, wants to slip off of any valve stem that doesn't have threads on it. Suggestions anyone?
Brent

Silca claims "+/- 3% accuracy" for their "210psi replacement gauge for all Pista and Super Pista pumps from the 1960's to 2013". I'd contact the folk at Silca for advice regarding both your gauge accuracy and valve gasket sealing, they are quite responsive in my experience.

-Bandera

I've had good luck finding the regular Silcas at the usual 2nd hand sources for cheep:



Black = $2
Blue = $3
White = $0.99

The blue and white work fine, the black needs a new seal.

I also have a Super Pista, which I bought new 25+ years ago. Needs a new seal.

Personally, I can't tell much difference between the regular and super. Both work great.

I'll give $6 for the Blue one. Double your money!

...I’ve had 30 years experience with a Pista (which was lost somehow at a Leadville 100) and now have a second hand Super Pista which I cleaned and rebuilt a while ago. I kind of like the base of the old Pista (metal) and the wood handle of the Super Pistachio (plastic triangle base). Both are good models and completely rebuidable.

Silcas are all similar that, when in proper shape, feel solid, take a lot of strokes to pump, and last and last. I prefer them over other pumps for the most part but a good quality pump from anyone is still a good pump.

I never liked the brass chuck though and replaced the whole line with a cheapie Nashbar chuck.

+1 Mine's 30 yrs also and still going. Picked up a second one last year to keep at the office. Mine are Columbus tubing, thermoplastic handle and cast base.

There's a couple of different pump heads, one is Schrader-reversible with a wire lever to clamp the head in place. I think these are mostly unpopular but it's been my go-to pump for over 20 years. Not sure if they still carry these rubber inserts. I find modern pump heads (eg Joe Blow) to be superior to Silcas in general.

Feel the same way about the pump heads. But that's not a big deal to change.

Wish I had sources like that

Here's mine, just repaired/replaced the leather washer, works great!



I replaced the hose and head from Nashbar. It may be sacrilege.

Link here:
Nashbar Replacement Hose for Nashbar White Floor Pump

Black and Blue were rummage sale finds, white was a thrift.

Finding Silca pumps is a byproduct of looking for LPs.

Looks like the type I'd like to get - wide base, decent handle.

My super pista looks like matt's and my base broke and I had to fix it with washers and stuff. I'd get a more vintage one.

My base is plastic and definitely feels plasticy. I think the best pump is a super pista handle, and pista base. Or if someone just created a metal version of the super pista base.

Truth be told mine is second hand and has held up in 8 years that I have bought it. Silca’s Website and service has kept it fairly easy to maintain.

I did not know there WAS a plastic base! I have regular Pista with one-footer cast metal, Super Pista with a very similar one-footer cast metal, and Super Pista with a metal "triangular" base (I'm sure it's not plastic but maybe was a short-lived production). I don't think I'd buy a plastic based pump, especially when the bases are so small as are typical of vintage Silcas.