Can't pump the wheels up!

Johnny Bitte

Hey all,
Bet this will be something silly.
I have a bike but the valves on the wheels are not the usual ones so went to Halfords and got the attachment that the guy said would work with it.

When I attach it and try to pump I doesnt work. The valve does open so te air won't go in.

Pics to follow

Muller_1

If is a presta valve you need to open the valve and then press it once or twice to release it before trying to pump it up.

Hail 2 Da Thief

http://bicycletutor.com/presta-valve/

-Chris-

Looks to me like they sold you the wrong attachment.

kona

-Chris- wrote: »

Looks to me like they sold you the wrong attachment.

Thats a presta attachment, so its the correct one.

As the lads have said, just unscrew the top of the valve and pump it up. I would reccomend getting a track pump, hand pumps are sh!te

Johnny Bitte

Well thats brillaiant, all the air is now out of the tire and the pump still wont work.

I opened the valve and attached the pump and as soon as i did the aire began leaving the tire.
I think the apator it dodgy and doesnt make a full seal.
Back to halfords I guess.

Thanks for the help anyway Muller_1

kona

The_Goose135 wrote: »

Well thats brillaiant, all the air is now out of the tire and the pump still wont work.

I opened the valve and attached the pump and as soon as i did the aire began leaving the tire.
I think the apator it dodgy and doesnt make a full seal.
Back to halfords I guess.

Thanks for the help anyway Muller_1

Hand pumps are crap, and those adaptors usually are dodgey!

victorcarrera

-Chris- wrote: »

Looks to me like they sold you the wrong attachment.

Your tube has a presta valve and the connection you have is the old raleigh type.
Ultimately you need to get the correct connection or pump.
The raleigh connection can be used to get you going although the threads are not a perfect match.
Heres how.
Screw the connection on about threes turns only so as it doesn't depress the valve tip. (any more and the air just escapes) It leaks a little but you can get up to about 50psi OK.

kona

victorcarrera wrote: »

Your tube has a presta valve and the connection you have is the old raleigh type.
.

Sorry but thats incorrect, its the correct adaptor.

victorcarrera

kona wrote: »

Sorry but thats incorrect, its the correct adaptor.

It looks very like this which is dunlop/raleigh with valve shown.
The thread pitch looks different on the close up OK.

papac

IIRC The old Woods (those in the links above) valves used the same adapter as the presta.
When I worked in my Dads shop a million years ago the were only two adapters- Woods/Presta and Schrader.

@op Those connections are sh1t for high pressure in any case. Get a track pump immediately,forthwith and without further ado.I have an Argos one which is grand for about 20 notes.

News just in. Sheldobn agrees with me. The old dogs for the hard road.....http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_w.html#woods
and the pups for the boreen.

xz

victorcarrera wrote: »

It looks very like this which is dunlop/raleigh with valve shown.
The thread pitch looks different on the close up OK.

Hate to agree with Kona, but HE is correct,it is a presta adaptor as sold by Halfords

-Chris-

I didn't think presta valves required a threaded attachment, that looks like a schrader attachment to me.

papac

-Chris- wrote: »

I didn't think presta valves required a threaded attachment, that looks like a schrader attachment to me.

naw. schraders are bigger and have a doodah in the middle to depress the valve insert. that is all.

-Chris-

True, it's missing the middle bit.

kenmc

-Chris- wrote: »

I didn't think presta valves required a threaded attachment, that looks like a schrader attachment to me.

Easy way to remember it:
PResta: Presta = Road bike*
SChrader: Schrader = Car (& MTB)*
*yes you can get MTB wheels with Presta valves, but I've never seen a road bike with schrader wheels.

ednwireland

-Chris- wrote: »

I didn't think presta valves required a threaded attachment, that looks like a schrader attachment to me.

my lezyne road drive does !

its got a hose adapter which screws onto where the dust cap fits rather than pushing over the valve, (its also reversable for schrader confusingly )

papac

I bet the OP's head is wrecked by now.:D

tomasrojo

papac wrote: »

IIRC The old Woods (those in the links above) valves used the same adapter as the presta.
When I worked in my Dads shop a million years ago the were only two adapters- Woods/Presta and Schrader.

@op Those connections are sh1t for high pressure in any case. Get a track pump immediately,forthwith and without further ado.I have an Argos one which is grand for about 20 notes.

News just in. Sheldobn agrees with me. The old dogs for the hard road.....http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_w.html#woods
and the pups for the boreen.

I have Woods valves on my old bike-trailer wheels. The adaptor pictured does allow a Schraeder connector to fit Woods valves, and also Presta valves. A mini-pump with the Presta setting will also pump up Woods valves.

Pikeman

Have the same problem as the OP. Wish I could change to schraeder. Have tried a few different pumps now but can never seem to get the wheels pumbed up correctly on the presta valves. I spend an eternity trying to inflate before I finally give up. Why is it so difficult (for me at least)?

G2ECE

Just get a track pump (floor pump), that pumps both, I have a BBB one and it does the trick everytime in a matter of seconds. Cost me around €30 I think.

RedB

Pikeman wrote: »

Have the same problem as the OP. Wish I could change to schraeder. Have tried a few different pumps now but can never seem to get the wheels pumbed up correctly on the presta valves. I spend an eternity trying to inflate before I finally give up. Why is it so difficult (for me at least)?

Loosen the valve thread on the outermost tip and tap it to ensure it is free to move. Then screw on your pump adapter over that section onto the main thread and pump away. When finished, remove the pump adapter carefully so it doesn't dislodge the valve and retighten the thread on the tip. Replace outer cap.

Pikeman

Yeah, I've pretty much done all that but can never get it. Is there a knack to it or what?
Had Schraeder valve bikes all my life until this one and never had a problem pumping tyres-I don't understand why it's so difficult. Probably just me it seems

RedB

Pikeman wrote: »

Yeah, I've pretty much done all that but can never get it. Is there a knack to it or what?

Yeah, I found there was a bit of a knack initially but it came with practice. Are you using a hand pump? Could it be a dodgy pump, valve or slow puncture?

Colonialboy

Its not a silly question, those things can be tricky.
My advice is take the wheel off and bring it, the pump and the adapter with you to the bicycle shop you got it from.
Proceed to show the mechanic there your problem and dont leave until you get the right adapter.

Better still take everyones advice and get a track pump preferably one which has a double adapter.

small world ...I think I overheard you in a bike shop on Sat with your missus asking the same question...

kona

Pikeman wrote: »

Yeah, I've pretty much done all that but can never get it. Is there a knack to it or what?
Had Schraeder valve bikes all my life until this one and never had a problem pumping tyres-I don't understand why it's so difficult. Probably just me it seems

Your wasting your time and effort with a hand pump, they are a ****e design best left back in the 80s.

Get a track pump, save yourself the stress, time and effort and probably punctures buy getting a tool that does the job properly.

TBH I'd bet its nothing to do with yourself not being able to pump the tyre up, its the fact that Handpumps and adaptors are crap, If they cant handle 2 PSI they wont handle the 40 PSI you need.

Track Pumps are e30 and will save you grief and are alot easier to use. Believe me, the extra e20 or so is worth it. Nothing is worth grief and hassle and wasting of time.

el tel

Two fatal mistakes made by the op. You don't pump up wheels. You never go to Halfords for technical assistance or advice.


:pac: