Ive had to change both front and rear tubes and only had smooth Presta valve tubes on hand. My pump head wont lock on. Works fine with threaded valves but I dont want to change the tubes unless they get punctured or need to be rerplaced. Is there any easy, simple fix to get the pump to lock onto a smooth valve??

It depends on the pump.

Some have a rubber grommet thingie in there, and if you tighten the opening at the head it will compress the grommet and make it grip tighter/better.

That's what she said

lol

My pump is doing the same thing...on threaded valves. Will have to try this fix.

Oh how I miss Junior High.

I've got a Blackburn pump that does that. Pretty much the only solution is to not use the smooth valves or use a pump that threads onto the valve.

L-e-z-y-n-e

two quick fixes if you are using a floor pump.

fix a) use saran wrap on the tube valve to increase its diameter and make an airtight seal with pump head.

fix b) the one foot method. use one foot to balance and the other to hold down the pump head to keep it from slipping off. sounds dumb but it works.

I have to opposite problem, threaded stems are way too tight for my pump. I have to sand off the first half inch of thread.

In your case I would also sand the the first half inch of stem, but use a coarse grit, perhaps it will give your rubber just enough grip.

I use presta but Tufo tyres, they want 220psi, I like 180ish;psi, the pump always pops off around 160psi so I attach the pump, and use whatever's on hand to secure it, vettape is good but only one use, multi strand electric fence wire is good, many uses, just a loop around the tyre and it stays,jmho,ymmv

My head broke and my LBS owner told me to remove the head and just push the hose over my smooth valves. Auto blows off at around 115-120psi...

Presta-Schraeder adapter.

If replace your existing pump head with a Silca style head ($15 on Ebay) and install with zip ties or a radiator hose clamp, it will work perfectly. As a bonus, you will extend the life of your pump twenty years.

What pump are you using? My Joe Blow Pro locks onto smooth valves no problem. Same with Lezyne, but it screws on. Smooth valves shouldn't give you trouble - get a better pump, or pump head.

Sometimes the rubber piece in the pump head dries and hardens a little, and then won't grip. Unscrew the cap on the head and put a thin rubber O ring in there. That'll tighten it up.

I wrap teflon tape around my threaded stem. Works great and I don't swear near as much.

Why didn't. I think of that. Thanks!

...

I wrapped a small strip of duct tape around the stem near the bottom of the dust cap threading and the pump seems to grab onto this real well.

maybe pump head is worn. I was able to buy new pump head for about $6

This. Works, easy, cheap.

Best advice on this thread.