Track pump technique

I have recently purchased a blackburn sport tps-2 and it seems quite tricky to get it to inflate in
a consistent manner.

There seems to be a fine line between pushing the head too far onto the presta valve, or not
far enough.

Sometimes I will plug the head onto the valve and the pressure gague seems to rise too far with each
pump action, but sometimes it will inflate more consistently with a rise of about 5psi with each
action, which seems better.

The other tricky bit seems getting the pump head off the valve without loosing loads of air in the
process. I'm wondering if I should flick the release lever and pull the head off, or if I should
simply pull the head off without flicking the lever, but I'm worried I might damage the pump seal if
I do this, but it's a lot quicker and less air gets lost.

 

Adrian Boliston wrote:

> The other tricky bit seems getting the pump head off the valve without loosing loads of air in the
> process.

As long as the valve isn't being pressed down, the big hiss you hear from any track pump is only
compressed air escaping from the hose. It's not coming from the valve so no air from the tyre is
being lost.

I don't know the Blackburn model so can't help with how to use that specifically.

~PB

 

On Tue, 8 Apr 2003 23:45:53 +0100, "Adrian Boliston" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Sometimes I will plug the head onto the valve and the pressure gague seems to rise too far with
>each pump action

This could be because the pump head hasn't engaged properly and so the valve is still closed, when
that happens you are just pumping air into the hose so it will get real full, real quick )

I find with presta valves it helps to just dab them with your finger to release a little air before
you apply the pump head, helps stop the valve sticking in place. Maybe you could try that?

Bob
--
Mail address is spam trapped To reply by email remove the beverage

 

Adrian Boliston wrote:
> I have recently purchased a blackburn sport tps-2 and it seems quite tricky to get it to inflate
> in a consistent manner.
>
> There seems to be a fine line between pushing the head too far onto the presta valve, or not
> far enough.
>
> Sometimes I will plug the head onto the valve and the pressure gague seems to rise too far with
> each pump action, but sometimes it will inflate more consistently with a rise of about 5psi with
> each action, which seems better.
>
> The other tricky bit seems getting the pump head off the valve without loosing loads of air in the
> process. I'm wondering if I should flick the release lever and pull the head off, or if I should
> simply pull the head off without flicking the lever, but I'm worried I might damage the pump seal
> if I do this, but it's a lot quicker and less air gets lost.

You can usually hear the valve opening and closing as you pump (and feel it too). At a certain point
during the pumping downstroke you feel the built up pressure release as the air goes into the valve.
Obviously you need to generate a higher pressure outside the tube before the air will go in, and its
this pressure that ecapes when you pull the head off.
--

-Alex

----------------------------------
[email protected]

http://alexpg.ath.cx:3353/cycling.php http://www.westerleycycling.org.uk
----------------------------------

 

"Adrian Boliston" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have recently purchased a blackburn sport tps-2 and it seems quite
tricky
> to get it to inflate in a consistent manner.

A little bit of spit on the valve helps lubrication. Releasing a little air reduces valve stick.

T

 

Call me Bob <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

<snip>
> I find with presta valves it helps to just dab them with your finger to release a little air
> before you apply the pump head, helps stop the valve sticking in place. Maybe you could try that?

I do that on every type of valve, with the exception of "Woods", not because you can't but because
luckily you hardly see them anymore. It definitely does away with the initial valve stick and lets
out that little whiff of pleasant rubbery smelling air (or is that just me

Have fun! (and pass the innertube - sniff, hmm...)

Graeme

 

Call me Bob <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...

> I find with presta valves it helps to just dab them with your finger to release a little air
> before you apply the pump head, helps stop the valve sticking in place. Maybe you could try that?

You should always do this with presta valves, or you might blow the gauge on your track pump.

--
Dave...

 

I hope the other replies have probably answered your question.

Did your Blackburn pump come with any contact details for the manufacturer? I have a track pump with a broken part in the connector, but I've been unable to find Blackburn on the Web.

Chris Walker

 

<snip>
> Did your Blackburn pump come with any contact details for the manufacturer? I have a track pump
> with a broken part in the connector, but I've been unable to find Blackburn on the Web.
</snip>

Try http://www.blackburndesign.com/

Regards,

Pete.

---------------------------
Peter Connolly Derby UK

 

On 9 Apr 2003 21:30:25 +0950, ChrisW scrawled: ) but I've been unable to find Blackburn on the Web.

You'd be far more fortunate if you were unable to find it in real life. Believe me: I've
lived there.

J-P
--
There is no such thing as the State / And no one exists alone; Hunger allows no choice / To the
citizen or the police; We must love one another and die.