Silca chuck vs Hiro - any recommendation?
#1
Thread Starter
member

Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Bay Area
Bikes: 2016 Cervelo R3, 2021 Carbonda Gravel, 2019 Ibis HD4, 2016 Ibis Mojo HD3, 2016 Specialized Demo 8 II, 2015 Specialized P26
Silca chuck vs Hiro - any recommendation?
In the last several years I tried multiple different Lezyne chucks, e.g. quick release, angled, etc and they all equally suck. I often need to add air to 4 bikes (my family weekend bike ride) and that is a time you can appreciate a good, easy on/off chuck. I narrowed it down to either regular Silca or Silca Hiro. All my wheels are presta and I don't have disc wheels to worry about, I will use it on both road and mountain bikes. I really like the idea of "slip-on" chuck, like the original Silca, but worry that it might not hold up well on higher pressure road wheels. The "Hiro" on the other hand seems to be a bit more work, where you need to lock/unlock it each time, and when you do it on 8 wheels, it adds up. Any suggestions?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 2
I have a silca pista pump i purchased new in the 70s with a standard press on presta chuck. It has been a workhorse and the chuck works great. Just make sure to keep an extra or 2 seals for the chuck and the pump piston seal. Cheap parts and the pump works fantastic. Standard press on chuck is cheap and in my opinion has always worked better than I ever imagined.
#3
Stevoo
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 220
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
Bikes: Road and mountain tandems, single bikes too.
Silca now has the new red rubber gasket for the venerable tried and true presta chuck.
They work wonderfully. The pkg says they will last longer etc.
So far I like the new gasket.
Can't go wrong with the simple Silca presta chuck.
They work wonderfully. The pkg says they will last longer etc.
So far I like the new gasket.
Can't go wrong with the simple Silca presta chuck.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 2
I guess I will get some of the new red seals. How about that pump blood for the leather pump piston seal? Does that work good for the leather?
#6
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Probably worth the hassle for the locking. Are you servicing a club or team that you're doing 4 bikes at a time?
#7
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Presta valve stem, note the smooth band between the coarse thread on top
and the larger finer ring nut thread , below..
that band is the best seal for the Silca gasket to grip.. gasket wear is negligible, then..
and the larger finer ring nut thread , below..
that band is the best seal for the Silca gasket to grip.. gasket wear is negligible, then..
#8
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,361
Likes: 5,271
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
I've found the original brass chuck on the Silca track pump has served me well for almost 40 years. When it starts to move on the valve stem with pressure, that's an indication you need to replace the gasket. They usually last several years for me. The last time I had to replace it, I got the urethane gasket from EVT instead of the official Silca gasket. It has held up well but it has only been a couple years now, so I can't definitively claim that it is better than the original butyl rubber gaskets from Silca. I see that Silca is now offering their own synthetic elastomer gasket which appears to be quite similar to the EVT gasket, and about the same price.
#9
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 219
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From: Bay Area
Bikes: 2016 Cervelo R3, 2021 Carbonda Gravel, 2019 Ibis HD4, 2016 Ibis Mojo HD3, 2016 Specialized Demo 8 II, 2015 Specialized P26
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Ithaka
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