canklecat

I always intended to replace the Nashbar Earl Grey I bought in 2015 for $20, figuring at that price it wouldn't last long. But it won't quit working. The only thing I dislike about it is the awkward pivoting clamp lever. But I've never disliked it enough to replace it. Back then some cycling magazine review ranked the Earl Grey second only to the Lezyne Steel Drive for value, and the Lezyne cost twice as much -- still a good buy at around $50.

I think the only pump I've ever serviced was the leather seal in a 1970s Zefal frame pump that I used for years before selling it along with my '76 Motobecane, tools and entire kit around 2004 when I thought I'd never ride again after a nasty car wreck busted up my back and neck. Live and learn. I'm kinda glad to have been wrong. Somewhere out there that Zefal pump and Mirage are probably still chugging along at least as well as I am now.

In retrospect, after getting into servicing spring piston airguns with leather seals, I probably only needed to refresh that Zefal seal with the right oil. Back then European craftsmen used a lot of this green grease that eventually dried into this weird brittle plastic-like substance. Turns out the leather piston seals could often be restored with an oil that was resistant to dieseling.

Salamandrine 

Au contraire, I love Silca frame pumps. I actually only ever had one, but it lasted forever, pumped up at least a million tires, and it was always my main pump. I was too cheap to buy a floor pump. Was still going strong when it was stolen from my sister's garage about 10 years ago.

The campy steel heads are the way to go, btw.

merziac

Yes they are.

Roger M

What kind of nozzle are you both using for pumping up bike tires with a compressor? I've seen the Park Tool unit, but I'm not interested in spending that much money.

merziac

Yes they are.

BFisher 

Adapter is for Presta valves.

My compressor is a 1hp, 7 gallon Craftsman that I bought around '06. Oil lubed. Let the tank fill while I get my stuff together, and then fill the tires in seconds.

merziac

Quick connect on the hose from the compressor, inflator of your your choice, HF, HD, ACE, gauge, no gauge with nipple to match hose then Presta adapter or clip on Schrader foot on the hose from the handle.

You still have to spend a bit for two setups and wrangle some clamps and hose to attach them, I have two separate ones and don't rely on the gauges that much.

blakcloud

I have two Silca floor pumps that are over 30 years old and still going strong. I also have the latest and greatest Silca Super Pista Ultimate with the Hiro head and I hate that head. Last I have a Lezyne CNC Floor Drive but with the latest head as the original ABS 2 head was total crap. The old Silca's are what I usually grab first, the newer Silca would be the one I would grab last.

tricky 

You inserted one line into your original post, IAB replied with one line and then you reply with 7. Is this pump thread a trojan horse to start a convo about police?

Olefeller77 

I use a compressor and Harbor freight hose end. For a hand pump I have a solid red Nashbar from early 70s (?) For pressure I rely mostly on feel.

RobbieTunes

I'm steadily seeing nashbar as an option.
I can't use feel as a pressure gauge.
I can barely hold an allen wrench for 3 minutes without dropping it.

RobbieTunes

Nope, just conjecture. I'll bet Dave was surprised it was only 7.
This is a pump thread, but I'm glad you're counting.

Mad Honk 

Robbie Tunes,
Too bad you don't like Specialized pumps. I got one taking up space in the shop that is new and has never been used. Even has a spare hose and head to go with it. Of course I will need to have some of your skin in the game, in sending it to you. PM me if you get the bug for it. Smiles, MH

Hobbiano 

I can't see cranking up a compressor just to fill a few bike tires, and I have a nice little Makita but unless you leave it plugged in it's not really ready to go.
I use an SKS Rennkompressor floor pump with a Hirame Yoko head but the stock head works well too. It seems to be a high quality pump. Parts are easily obtainable.
I also have an older Specialized Airforce, that still works well after many years. It has a very stable base. And I have an old Silca that still works but its been rebuilt a few times.
I like using a good floor pump and I don't mind having to maintain it once in a while if it becomes necessary.

79pmooney

I bought a Specialized about 12 years ago that has needed lube and attention once. (This was before I learned of Specialized's ethics regarding rights, etc.) It's a workhorse. Lever chuck that works well.

But .. if I were in your shoes, I'd simply get a Zephal HPSX frame pump and use it for everything until COVID is over and you can shop properly. Yes, more work and pump strokes. Around 100 strokes for a road tire at 100 psi. But there isn't a tire out there it cannot pump. You can hit any pressure you are ever going to want for the road. They last years, decades. Parts are available. And the upper body workout never hurt a cyclist.

( watches a skinny, no upper body engineer/40 something TTer pump his tires to 120 psi 44 years ago on the HPX predecessor. The pump was the one the at lived on my race bike. 3 bikes, the pumps, no floor pump. They did everything.

Oh, no gauge. You will need to calibrate your fingers.

Ben

Pompiere

I got one of these from my kids. I have a press-on Presta adaptor that makes it a snap to inflate bike tires.

Ryobi inflator

iab

iab

Thread hijack.

Bought some JagWire and Newbaums.

Anyone pissed?

scarlson 

I got something similar (Black and Decker brand, but same "market level") as a gift as well. I can beat it in terms of speed, but probably not endurance, with the Meidai! Working one tire of a car with the Meidai and one with the electric, I can be almost as fast as a man with a compressor. Who needs compressors?!

gugie 

Dunno, didja twine and shellac the Newbaums?

I'm neutral on JagWire.

natterberry 

I have the Nashbar Earl Grey. I’ve always gotten along with it.

In fact, my father commented on “how big the dial was.”

The Golden Boy 

I have an SKS Rennkompressor- and a different head that SKS sent me.

I also have a Leszyne, I think it's a Floor Drive.

I prefer the Rennkompressor but I wish it had a more accurate dial.... "that looks somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 or so. Or maybe 50. I guess that might be 35. **** it, close enough for government work."

Classtime 

The aluminum base of my Silca Pista broke about 10 years ago. I fixed it with a piece of a big washer. I spilled solvent on the gauge and it is hard to read now but I can still over inflate my tires with it like I did before I needed glasses or spilled the solvent.

RobbieTunes

​​​​​​JagWire is kind of offensive...
....and why would you do that to the Newbaums? Gladys is so pleasant.

madpogue 

I know this isn't P&R, but I gotta say, watching the co-ordinated moves of the bike cops in Seattle is.... impressive.
Put a mirror on the floor underneath it and learn to read numbers backwards. Or make a pseudo-periscopic contraption out of two mirrors in a 90-degree v-shape, to reverse the reversal. Rube Goldberg would be proud.