![]() |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 21953366)
Tried to pump up a tire today. Got to about 25 psi and it started leaking around the chuck gasket.
Anyone know of a good replacement gasket for this older chuck? I don't thing the current one, 242, will fit. You could also try e-mailing Silca with pictures of your chuck and gasket. I'm sure they can either tell you definitively, or would be interested in figuring out the answer to update their product description. |
The rubber "gasket is 13mm OD and about 9mm deep(best guess) Of course it has the standard hole for a Presta vavle
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b723cf5d2e.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9265a50cab.jpg |
Love these pumps - usually can be had at church sales for a buck or two.
The blue one is my daily driver. The others need a "vaseline job" and hose work. https://live.staticflickr.com/4499/3...2f723533_k.jpg |
I tried mine again today, the older one. I discovered that I was not pushing it on the valve far enough. Once I had a good engagement, I was able to pump it up to 125 with the gauge indicating 120. The check valve isn't working well so I will have to check it out.
I was surprised how easily it pumped to that pressure @ Thinktubes If you find another one for a couple of bucks, buy it and lets talk! |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 21962698)
The rubber "gasket is 13mm OD and about 9mm deep(best guess) Of course it has the standard hole for a Presta vavle
The barrel of your chuck appears to have threads on both ends. I'm curious - are both ends identical? Some related chucks are reversible - you can flip the barrel to go between presta and Schrader, with the cap having threads letting it screw on a Schrader valve. The hose barb actually swivels within its cap, sealed by an O-ring. Mine came without lubrication for that O-ring and it I had it for years before realizing the barb and cap weren't a single solid piece! |
[MENTION=524607]luns[/MENTION] - The barrel does have threads at both ends.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1dfde837_b.jpgP1040805 on Flickr The gasket is 8mm long in its present form I suspect it was a bit longer new, before being compressed by the cap. hard to get good pictures lately, may need a new cameral. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d7bd448_b.jpgP1040801 on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...88125da0_b.jpgP1040804 on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...62a0703d_b.jpgP1040803 on Flickr Here is the interesting part, the opposite end of the barrel. The barrel is not a straight through bore but has a partition with a small hole in the center with this gasket on the other side. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...83730d61_b.jpgP1040806 on Flickr Know idea how a shreader valve is accomidated. This is the end piece on the hose https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f7e9af51_b.jpgP1040811 on Flickr |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 21963713)
[MENTION=524607]luns[/MENTION] - The barrel does have threads at both ends.
The gasket is 8mm long in its present form I suspect it was a bit longer new, before being compressed by the cap. hard to get good pictures lately, may need a new cameral. Here is the interesting part, the opposite end of the barrel. The barrel is not a straight through bore but has a partition with a small hole in the center with this gasket on the other side. I haven't used the current replacement 323, but did recently replace the 242 on my '03 Pista. The new red material works very well, and was day and night compared to the worn and hardened old black rubber.
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 21963713)
Know idea how a shreader valve is accomidated.
This is the end piece on the hose The cap on the hose end looks much like the part on my reversible chuck. The seam between my barb and the cap fit so precisely the seam was literally invisible. If you try twisting the cap relative to the hose, does it move? It may take a fairly firm twist, and it may feel like the barb actually twisting in the hose instead (this is what I thought I was originally doing using the old chuck on Schrader), but you can take a sharpie and draw a radial line on the inside face of the cap to see whether that's actually the case or not. |
Originally Posted by unworthy1
(Post 21953784)
Ditto the handle: the stock oval plastic is the worst thing about these standard Silca floor models, I would replace with a more comfortable and LARGER wooden handle: you won't be able to source a metric threaded insert (easily) in US, so I do as many of the Super Pista pumps: drilled through wood, washers on top/bottom and a lock nut on top.
https://www.amazon.com/Z-Threaded-In...dp/B07V8ZS86N/ Unit cost seems very reasonable to me, but I'll be forever looking for things to do with 24 spares. |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 21948979)
Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
(Post 21948971)
Replace Columbus sticker and since, it's Molteni Orange, consider some version of an Eddy Merckx sticker. Otherwise you're good to go.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2e4cf1d776.jpg |
Originally Posted by luns
(Post 21964208)
This insert appears identical to the one in my early '00s Super-Pista handle.
https://www.amazon.com/Z-Threaded-In...dp/B07V8ZS86N/ Unit cost seems very reasonable to me, but I'll be forever looking for things to do with 24 spares. The oval plastic has a brass threaded insert and it's molded in place. Personally I would look for a screw-in insert that was also brass (or steel) because these cast zinc jobs do not inspire confidence: that's the (soft) metal you find used for very soft substrates like MDF. Seen too many things like that crumble (looking at you, IKEA). I would want stronger metal cause I'd use a harder wood for replacement handles. YMMV of course! |
Originally Posted by unworthy1
(Post 21953784)
...and since I used to do furniture work I tend to make them a ‘bit prettier than just a 2x6 "drop". But nothing more than scrap, I would not buy new wood just for that
You motivated me to dress-up my 2x8 drop with a piece of scrap Australian Blackwood as a veneer to the old fir base. Leftover scrap from an acoustic guitar build that went awry... https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...adbd2c931.jpeg |
Wow, That is mo' pretty than I go for: I just use plywood! But now I'll have to snap some pix (...sigh...)
|
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...71b8a654f2.jpg
This is the Silca pump mentioned by Juvela. I asked Silca for dating and they told me around 1960; to me i think it is older than that with a brass tube beautiful Cast Aluminum foot rest and the hose is special stainless steel webbing i believe. Like motorcycle heavy duty hydraulic brake hose. |
As I promised (or threatened?) I took a pic of two of the Silcas I have at home with wooden "extra bases" I made and added. They are both black Super Pistas but the one in foreground with the typical base has the "capsule" shape I made most often. I added this to Regular as well as Super Pista pump bases. The one in background has the later "triangle base' so I tried something different shape-wise, but didn't want to try to follow the base outline cause I wanted the footprint to be closer to that of the capsules. Tho mostly I use scrap plywood this "capsule example" happens to be a solid plank; the other is plywood with an exotic wood veneer, I think it's teak (or something "close" they now substitute since real teak is endangered). Maybe I'll snap pix of the others at "the shop" but they are just variations on the capsule, only with different veneers on the plywood or perhaps a nicer close-grain solid pine plank.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b71486483.jpg |
Interesting to add a base. I would not drill a hole in mine.
In addition, mine is slightly bent, and trying to bend it back may brake it. Looking at the bottom, it looks like it should with most of the wear on the non gauge side. My suspicion is that it was used on grass, gravel, or soft dirt that caused the bend over time. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dd750de7_b.jpgP1040756 on Flickr |
[QUOTE=luns;21964588]Not that I would actually do it, but I'm imagining decal A below (from Cyclomondo):
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2e4cf1d776.jpg[/QOTE] Hmmmmmm. |
I took some snaps of one (Standard not Super) that I made a replacement wooden (white oak in this case) handle with an "experimental shape" to replace the lousy black plastic "oval". It was a choice as much dictated by style as by ergonomics, but I can say it is far more comfortable than the "oval". And the base is my go-to "capsule" shape, this time plywood with an oak veneer. This handle has a steel threaded insert (M10) I filed down a little: worked out fine, and not expensive when you buy 25 of them!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f55bf30dda.jpg Have to figure out some elegant "hose-caddy", the rubber band ain't doin' it! https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e2d4e489e0.jpg the steel threaded insert |
I rarely use mine. I still have not found the correct gasket for the head. It goes on and I am able to pump a tire up to the desired pressure, but the valve has to be forced deep in to the head.
The oval handle is not comfortable unless you use one hand! What I find a bit puzzling is the brass piece with the gauge and out put of the hose. It looks like it was meant to be used with the left foot. I have been using the right one. This pump is more of a show piece for me than a commonly used pump. My compressor is used to take the tire up to its max pressure then finished off with the white pump. I am reluctant to drill holes in the base or replace the handle given the challenge of the head. It will remain fully original, otherwise. |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 22051304)
I rarely use mine. I still have not found the correct gasket for the head. It goes on and I am able to pump a tire up to the desired pressure, but the valve has to be forced deep in to the head.
The oval handle is not comfortable unless you use one hand! What I find a bit puzzling is the brass piece with the gauge and out put of the hose. It looks like it was meant to be used with the left foot. I have been using the right one. This pump is more of a show piece for me than a commonly used pump. My compressor is used to take the tire up to its max pressure then finished off with the white pump. I am reluctant to drill holes in the base or replace the handle given the challenge of the head. It will remain fully original, otherwise. Otherwise I just replaced my hose and head with this. It's a bit sacrilegious but I use the pump plenty. |
My pump for reference.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30563ad2ba.jpg
I've had a couple of classic Silca's one was black exactly like the OP'rs, but lost it while supporting a Leadville 100 team as a mechanic somewhere. This one had a bad leather washer which I replaced and a bad hose, which I replaced with this dual head Sunlite thing which is my favorite chuck head. Way more functional but these pumps are better for 28c tires and smaller to dial in the exact PSI needed. |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 22051304)
What I find a bit puzzling is the brass piece with the gauge and out put of the hose. It looks like it was meant to be used with the left foot. I have been using the right one.
I am reluctant to drill holes in the base or replace the handle given the challenge of the head. It will remain fully original, otherwise. The example I just posted above with the oak handle had a warped base and when I screwed it to this wooden base it flattened out without cracking (maybe I just got lucky). You can sometimes re-orient the gage so it's right-side-up in the position you use the pump (I like my gages on the left, but sometimes they are upside down in that case), and sometimes that won't work. No idea why I have examples of same pumps with "original, factory" gages in both orientations: it's not like they sold them in "left-hand or right-hand" versions. Apparently Silca didn't think it made a difference, and when I can't flip the gage and still have it seal I just adapt to reading it upside down. |
Slight drift here. How do you determine what model you have and what the differences are between them?
I bought this off of Craigslist several years ago. I use it , but my Park pump gets the most use. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e280f3404.jpg |
That one is a Super Pista due to longer (taller) body (which you have to compare with the Standard to see) plus the larger wooden handle, top cap with built-in hose "caddy", this also is a more modern Super Pista due to both the Trangular base AND the gage "shroud" plus the larger graphics on the barrel. Earlier Supers came with the same base as the Standard Pista (and was extra-unstable due to that) plus these wooden handles were both drilled thru with curved washers and a top Nylock nut or with a threaded insert (as yours has).
And my slight side-bar: I think every OEM wooden handle I have seen has been Beech, and even tho I think I'm good at wood species ID I could be wrong. Did not think of Beech as a common lumber in Italy, (EDIT: wrong! Beech is a common wood in Italy, especially for furniture. Interwebs sez so, BUT now revising my opinion to allow it may be Boxwood) so any of you woodworkers out there who want to go down a tangent.... ;) |
Originally Posted by mechanicmatt
(Post 22051530)
Is this the gasket for the head you need?
Otherwise I just replaced my hose and head with this. It's a bit sacrilegious but I use the pump plenty. Sunlite twinhead pump hose kit I don't know. Just ordered one. I sent measurements to Silca and they tole me I needed the 272 which is way too big. I can still upgrade my other chuck with it. |
.
...I know that the original Silca Presta chuck is a wonderful thing, but I finally got tired of dicking around with it. Stuck one of these on it. Works fine, and I put the old chuck in a parts drawer labeled "pump". https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...633f47cb4e.jpg Apparently Tpeak has stopped making and selling these, and now sells something similar (but not identical) in a silver metal version. I can't vouch for those, because I've never used one. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:19 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.