Looking to get mini pump that doubles as ball pump.
#1
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Bikes: 2012 Gary Fisher Simple City 3, 2015 Raleigh Back Alley
Looking to get mini pump that doubles as ball pump.
I have an Air Tool Pro floor pump that I've owned for about 10 years that's mostly been great. It annoyingly seems incapable of being adapted to inflate a ball, though.
I'm looking at the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive or the Silca Pocket Impero II. How do I know if the chuck will work with a ball valve adapter? Does anyone have experience using one of these as a ball pump?
I'm looking at the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive or the Silca Pocket Impero II. How do I know if the chuck will work with a ball valve adapter? Does anyone have experience using one of these as a ball pump?
#2
Biker

Joined: Jul 2008
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From: New Mexico
Bikes: Boone McReynolds, Centurion Pro Tour
Any dual head pump will allow you to inflate balls with a needle that is inserted in the Schroeder fitting. Any presta head can be switched (invert rubber washers) but that takes a minute or two.
#3
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From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Almost any pump head, except for my Presta-only Hiro head. But yeah, stick a needle in the Shraeder head and pump away!
#5
Biker

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From: New Mexico
Bikes: Boone McReynolds, Centurion Pro Tour
Almost! all presta pumps will work for shrader if you unscrew the collar, remove first rubber grommet, remove 2nd grammet, reinsert both of these but in the reverse position as previously inserted and replace collar. I can't testify about the previously mentioned Hiro pump but its worth a reexamination. My apologies for misspelling shrader, it was early.
#7
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Almost! all presta pumps will work for shrader if you unscrew the collar, remove first rubber grommet, remove 2nd grammet, reinsert both of these but in the reverse position as previously inserted and replace collar. I can't testify about the previously mentioned Hiro pump but its worth a reexamination. My apologies for misspelling shrader, it was early.
#8
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#9
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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
#10
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Maybe one day soon Silca will offer up an "Ultimate" level mini pump that's Schraeder compatible.
#11
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Jameth: squirtdad is correct, the Tattico is a good pump. I have one and am using it to keep my grandsons 12" balance bike aired up. I wouldn't count on Silca making an Impero type pump with schrader option. Being presta only is part of what makes that pump so efficient. I have gone to a mini foot pump recently because using the mini pumps on 2"+ wide tires has aggravated Some old injuries.
#12
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Jameth: squirtdad is correct, the Tattico is a good pump. I have one and am using it to keep my grandsons 12" balance bike aired up. I wouldn't count on Silca making an Impero type pump with schrader option. Being presta only is part of what makes that pump so efficient. I have gone to a mini foot pump recently because using the mini pumps on 2"+ wide tires has aggravated Some old injuries.
#13
The Tattico is literally a solid choice here. Not the lightest or most compact of mini-pumps (I carry mine on the bottle mount), but it is effective and durable. I have a few other cheap pumps that can inflate balls!
#14
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Fargo ND
Bikes: Time Scylon, Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike
I wound up with two Tatico pumps. Mine are the now discontinued model with a Bluetooth pressure sensor. The second was a warranty replacement and Silca told me to keep the first one.
They are mechanically solid. So much so that they can safely be used as a collapsible billy and dog repellent. And the pump seems very likely to last my lifetime.
Not magic. You still have to work to get a 25 or 28 tire above 80 PSI, but that is true of any mini pump.
They are mechanically solid. So much so that they can safely be used as a collapsible billy and dog repellent. And the pump seems very likely to last my lifetime.
Not magic. You still have to work to get a 25 or 28 tire above 80 PSI, but that is true of any mini pump.
#15
I wound up with two Tatico pumps. Mine are the now discontinued model with a Bluetooth pressure sensor. The second was a warranty replacement and Silca told me to keep the first one.
They are mechanically solid. So much so that they can safely be used as a collapsible billy and dog repellent. And the pump seems very likely to last my lifetime.
Not magic. You still have to work to get a 25 or 28 tire above 80 PSI, but that is true of any mini pump.
They are mechanically solid. So much so that they can safely be used as a collapsible billy and dog repellent. And the pump seems very likely to last my lifetime.
Not magic. You still have to work to get a 25 or 28 tire above 80 PSI, but that is true of any mini pump.
#16
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Just buy a $10 ball pump and don't try to force one pump to do both. There just isn't an upside.
#17
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#18
Sunshine
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
That is a question which should be constsntly asked when it comes to tools and products in general.
It applies to bikes and is discussed here all the time.
To answer you-
- I do not think 2 pumps equals 'many'. Sure it is more than 1, but it is hardl 'many'.
- Having a separate ball pump means you don't have to remove the mini pump from your bike and potentially forget to put it back.
- A mini pump for normal bie tire filling before ridesas fast or convenient as a florr pump.
It applies to bikes and is discussed here all the time.
To answer you-
- I do not think 2 pumps equals 'many'. Sure it is more than 1, but it is hardl 'many'.
- Having a separate ball pump means you don't have to remove the mini pump from your bike and potentially forget to put it back.
- A mini pump for normal bie tire filling before ridesas fast or convenient as a florr pump.
#19
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From: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.
A little off topic, but I with a recent flat on my neighborhood commuter bike (first one since I’ve owned it), I discovered a nice feature with the pump I’d purchased to mount on the bike but hadn’t ever used. It’s just a department store pump. But when I had to use it, I discovered that it’s adjustable in that one setting is for high volume, low pressure…i.e. the beginning of pumping up. Once it’s mostly full with bit of pressure, you switch it over to low volume, high pressure setting to complete the inflation of the desired higher pressure.
Dan
Dan




