CO2 pumps

[fauxpas]

Do those co2 pumps actually work?

I have seen sellers on ebay state they will do 120psi.

http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/3b/d4/82_1_b.JPGhttp://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/4d/05/5e_1_b.JPG

[Eastway82]

Do those co2 pumps actually work?

I have seen sellers on ebay state they will do 120psi.

Yes, they do work. I've got a couple. One's just a simple adaptor which you screw on the valve, then screw the cylinder onto the adpator - you have to get it right first time as there's no control! It gets a 700C x 23 up to over 100PSI no problems. The other one has a release lever and is more controllable, but also more bulky. It's also Shrader valve only so only any good for an mtb or similar. Because those fatter tyres need more volume to fill them, one cylinder will only take a 26 x 1.5 tyre up to about 40-45psi.
I'd recommend taking a spare cartridge with you if you do decide to go with a C02 pump - otherwise if you get it wrong first time (or you get a second puncture) you're stuck!

[1id10t]

I'd recommend taking a spare cartridge with you if you do decide to go with a C02 pump - otherwise if you get it wrong first time (or you get a second puncture) you're stuck!
You can also buy the hybrid models. They take the C02 cartridge but can also be used as a conventional pump. I have one of these but have not yet used the C02. Still, as Eastway82 says, it's good to have spare cartridges just in case.

[capwater]

The screw on models are nice, but you have to buy cycling specific canisters whereas the unthreaded models take cheap bb gun cartridges found at WaltMart.

[wooliferkins]

Good one shot fillers, gap in the market for refilling canisters, SKS make nice ones.The screw on models are nice, but you have to buy cycling specific canisters whereas the unthreaded models take cheap bb gun cartridges found at WaltMart.

[Sore-arse]

Eastway82 says:

It's also Shrader valve only so only any good for an mtb or similar. Because those fatter tyres need more volume to fill them, one cylinder will only take a 26 x 1.5 tyre up to about 40-45psi.

I have some great news for you...go into any bike shop and ask for one of those bronze or brass screw-on adapters. They're very cheap, and if you use tubes that have a threaded Presta Valve, you screw this adapter onto your valve and it converts it to Schrader.
I have a cheap plastic track pump which had a thumb-lock that was only effective with Schrader. On a Presta, it let go/blew off at about 80psi.
Screw on the little adapter onto the Presta Valve, and 120psi was achievable...needed a bit of extra muscle (because it was weak plastic) but the thumb-lock held tighter than Bill Gates onto his Microsoft market share....

[Retro Grouch]

CO2 rocks!

The good news is, you are much more likely to get your tire reinflated to over 100psi than with any wimpy little frame pump.

The better news is that it only takes a couple of seconds to get there.

[fauxpas]

If I hand pump close to 100psi, can I then just use the co2 to top it up and not waste the co2?

My hand pump pumps OK to a point then does the inevitable hiss out the sides if I don't hold it perfectly tight...

[Sore-arse]

Do you have a thumb lock? does the thumb lock not work so well on Presta but very well on Schrader? If so, then get my bronze/brass adapter, screw it on your valve, then set your pump to Schrader and the pump should hang on much better...

[jandbzpapa]

[QUOTE=fauxpas]If I hand pump close to 100psi, can I then just use the co2 to top it up and not waste the co2?


I dont know why you would want to do that
1. It takes a lot longer to pump up the tire with a frame pump (3 seconds with co2)
2. The cartridges (non threaded) cost obout $.50 each at walmart

save time and energy and just use the co2 I have found that 1 cartridge will fill one tire.

[fauxpas]

The effort for me only comes after 80psi or so. I find it hard getting those last ones in, not from lack of strength, but pump deficiencies.

The reason I wanna pump manually to high pressure then top up with co2 is cost... $2 a bulb...

[jandbzpapa]

The reason I wanna pump manually to high pressure then top up with co2 is cost... $2 a bulb...[/QUOTE]
$2 a bulb??? you must have the threaded. 12 gm non threaded are about $.50. Make sure when you buy tour pump it takes 12 gm non threaded

[shokhead]

Since i dont put 120 in my tires in the first place a 12g works just fine for a flat fixer. I have the combo pump/co2 and the best part is its small enough to fit in my saddlebag so i dont have anything hanging on my bike. Much cleaner look.