My friend and I have Silca Impero presta pumps which mount parallel to the seat tube. The presta end of mine is a hollow plastic piece that eventually wore through the paint on the top of the bracket. His however has a Campagnolo presta head that has a curved head with rubber tubing to protect the paint.

He told me that he bought and swapped over his head in the 70s. Does anyone recognise this Campagnolo part and can it still be bought?

Ian

Go on e bay and search for campagnolo pump head. Be sitting down before you look at the prices.

Vintage Campagnolo Pump Head 1030 2 for Silca Pumps NO36BUS | eBay

Oh dear! (pun intended) that is too much to pay. I think I'll buy a Zefal HPX Classic pump for less.

HPX Classic - Zéfal

Ian

You know, the plastic Silca/Campy pump head was no great shakes, but did work OK. You could always think of coating it with something to prevent paint rub. Like, Plastidip maybe. Not sure how well it would stick to chromed plastic. Or, maybe put a piece of clear self-stick tape on the frame, etc.

Or perhaps a couple strategically placed dabs of clear silicone on the head.

I did the dip. Works well.

You can buy "heat shrink tubing" in black, clear and many other colors. Cut a small pieces and place one over each ear. Apply some heat to shrink the tubing and it will grip the ears. You can get this at Home Depot, Lowe's, Fry Electronics,... many places.

I've just bought the Zefal HPX Size 3 (23 UK pounds) after reading all the reviews. Thanks for all your suggestions though.

Ian

Nice job, SJX.

You can also get little rubber feet at the hardware store, some of the smaller ones work OK, but not great.
I have some white ones on one of my Silca pumps.
I still have a set of NOS Campy blue feet. But they're later, dark blue ones and not the pale blue ones.

Thanks! It was a real challenge! You can mix to the desired color if you get th kit! Did several tools at the same time. Thought the yellow would go well with the cable housings and bar tape!

Those are all good suggestions for the Campy head, but I thought the original q had to do with a stock Silca head like this one.

Anyway, Beemer, the hpx is a great pump; I have several in use and no complaints.

I think so, Due Ruote. And I inferred that it was that plastic head that wore his paint some. Which seems a bit odd, being plastic. But there is a lot of vibrating going on.
I was thinking maybe a piece of clear something or a dab of clear Plastidip in the crotch of that head might do the trick.

Smart call. Those Zefals work better than Silcas ever did. But in certain bikes, you simply have to use Silcas or risk the wrath of the C&V aesthetic gods, at which point the metal Campy heads are the only viable choice.

Here is the damage after a little scraping off the loose paint. Of course its all fixed now.



Ian