Using a bike pump to top up air pressure

mickrock

Do any of you do this? I'm thinking of investing in one.

This fella added 7 psi in about 30 seconds of pumping:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZBjA0Fxx8Q

leeroybrown

I do it all the time. Reasonably quality personal use stand pumps with a built in gauge can be had for about €20. They're used to put as much as 120PSI into road bike tyres so 30PSI into a larger sized car tyre is well within their range and just a bit more pumping.

Mycroft H

They'll keep you fit but they work

leeroybrown

Mycroft H wrote: »

They'll keep you fit but they work

It's actually quicker and a lot less work than the old foot pumps a lot of people have lying around.

Del2005

mickrock wrote: »

Do any of you do this? I'm thinking of investing in one.

This fella added 7 psi in about 30 seconds of pumping:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZBjA0Fxx8Q

No I just plug the compressor in, much easier.

jprboy

Yes, each of our cars has such a pump.

I check pressure on both cars at least once a week and top up if necessary.

Saves messing around with the air at fuel stations.

And also handy if you have a slow puncture and you're miles from safety and don't want to or are unable (like my OH) to change a tyre.

And good exercise as another poster pointed out !

slimjimmc

mickrock wrote: »

Do any of you do this? I'm thinking of investing in one.

This fella added 7 psi in about 30 seconds of pumping:

Old technique. It used to be a common method of inflating up a tyre back in the days when people used to use tyre levers and a sledge hammer to change their own tyres. I remember many of my relatives kept one in their car boot in preference to foot pumps. Damned sore if it fell over onto your toe

dr.fuzzenstein

Del2005 wrote: »

No I just plug the compressor in, much easier.

Yep, always have an old Lidl 12V air compressor in the boot. The drawback, of course, is that if there's no 12V around, it won't work, but with two cars, an old electric fence battery and a 12 volt charger (runs beautifully off that) that never happens. I do have an old footpump as emergency backup, but this pump strikes me as a better deal.
Go for it, because it would also be great for the bike, an airmattress and whatever else inflatable you have lying around, you will never own a pump and think buying it was a waste.

And as was said, tire pumps at petrol stations are 99% not there, broken, useless, inaccurate, not worth bothering with.
In fact I am going mostly to automated terminals for my fuel.
I'd like to see air, water and paper towels at a petrol station, but 99% of them can't get these three things right, it's hardly rocket science. But rocket scientists don't seem to be running petrol stations.

Overheal

jprboy wrote: »

Yes, each of our cars has such a pump.

I check pressure on both cars at least once a week and top up if necessary.

Hopefully you don't experience that much permeability in a week? Remember the PSI will change with temperature.

A lot of service stations also offer Nitrogen fills, which permeates even far less through the tyre than standard air.

dr.fuzzenstein

Overheal wrote: »

Hopefully you don't experience that much permeability in a week? Remember the PSI will change with temperature.

A lot of service stations also offer Nitrogen fills, which permeates even far less through the tyre than standard air.

If they do, I'd like to know where. No, really.
I don't think it's in Limerick, only Chawkes gets it right, i.e. they have a working airhose, I don't think there is another service station that even has an airhose, nevermind a working one.
I guess I'm spoilt from Germany, things you can count on is air, bucket of water with squeegee and sponge, paper towels and so forth. Even some tools for motorists in trouble.
In the beginning I once got in trouble in Ireland, managed to coast to a halt in a petrol station and asked if they had a jump starter. No. Jump leads? No. Hammer and screwdriver (starting to get funny looks now) No.
In short, the guy behind the till could not for the life of him figure out why at a petrol station a situation might arise where these items may be needed.

jprboy

Overheal wrote: »

Hopefully you don't experience that much permeability in a week? Remember the PSI will change with temperature.

A lot of service stations also offer Nitrogen fills, which permeates even far less through the tyre than standard air.

No, as stated only top up if needed.

CiniO

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I guess I'm spoilt from Germany, things you can count on is air, bucket of water with squeegee and sponge, paper towels and so forth. Even some tools for motorists in trouble.

This...
It's so bad that they are non existent here. Especially in winter when roads are gritted and there's plenty of sh1te on windows and lamps, and no way to clean it during the journey.

corkgsxr

Overheal wrote: »

Hopefully you don't experience that much permeability in a week? Remember the PSI will change with temperature.

A lot of service stations also offer Nitrogen fills, which permeates even far less through the tyre than standard air.

Useless useless all the air is sucked out first.


You should try a foot pump with a van. Mines needs 65psi.

A lot of garage pumps won't go that high

Del2005

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Yep, always have an old Lidl 12V air compressor in the boot. The drawback, of course, is that if there's no 12V around, it won't work, but with two cars, an old electric fence battery and a 12 volt charger (runs beautifully off that) that never happens. I do have an old footpump as emergency backup, but this pump strikes me as a better deal.
Go for it, because it would also be great for the bike, an airmattress and whatever else inflatable you have lying around, you will never own a pump and think buying it was a waste.

And as was said, tire pumps at petrol stations are 99% not there, broken, useless, inaccurate, not worth bothering with.
In fact I am going mostly to automated terminals for my fuel.
I'd like to see air, water and paper towels at a petrol station, but 99% of them can't get these three things right, it's hardly rocket science. But rocket scientists don't seem to be running petrol stations.

I've a electric compressor and always have a 12v compressor in the boot. I have battery and 12v pumps for airbeds etc. I gave up blowing things up with manual labour a long time ago. I rather using a cup of tea when doing tyres and beer for every other thing that needs air.

If you want paper etc at a station the fuel will cost more, there's no margin on fuel. I have water and wipes in my car all the time, if you're big enough to drive your big enough to buy your own items for cleaning. Next you'll be wanting attendants to pump your fuel and clean your windows while checking the oil.

Esel

I often removed, patched and refitted a punctured motorcycle tube, then re-inflated using a regular, handheld bicycle pump. It used to take 10-15 minutes pumping to get back to full pressure, with a few breaks and changes of arm of course.

I agree that the hand-operated pump shown above is better than a foot pump, and probably sturdier and more reliable too. 12v compressor is so much easier, although they can burn out easily if allowed to overheat. I carry another one for this eventuality, but nowadays I never run the one I'm using for more than 5 minutes at a time before stopping and allowing it to cool down.

dr.fuzzenstein

Del2005 wrote: »

I've a electric compressor and always have a 12v compressor in the boot. I have battery and 12v pumps for airbeds etc. I gave up blowing things up with manual labour a long time ago. I rather using a cup of tea when doing tyres and beer for every other thing that needs air.

If you want paper etc at a station the fuel will cost more, there's no margin on fuel. I have water and wipes in my car all the time, if you're big enough to drive your big enough to buy your own items for cleaning. Next you'll be wanting attendants to pump your fuel and clean your windows while checking the oil.

I use automated terminals these days.
What, you think a few wads of paper and a bucket of water will ruin a petrol station? It's exactly that "fcuk you" attitude why I am not using regular petrol stations. They want you to buy petrol, a danish, a coffee, a few groceries, phone credit (with a generous little something slapped on top for themselves), some have the cheek to charge for air but as soon as you look for something that will cost them a few cents it out of order, broken or missing. Petrol station rest rooms being "mysteriously" out of order for years spring to mind.
If they can't be fcuking arsed to get it right, they shouldn't bother in the first place and just turn every petrol station into an automated terminal. If someone is too incompetent to keep a bucket of water topped up, he shouldn't run a petrol station. Typical whiny attitude from Irish businesses who are incapable of running a shop properly. And then they stand there looking at their feet going "why isn't this working?"

In Limerick there are two places that get this right. Chawkes has pretty much everything because they are properly run and there's the automated terminal station on the Dock Road, where you get fuel and nothing else but because overheads are low, prices are keen.

Esel

There should be a legal distinction between 'service station' and 'petrol station'.

Not in this thread about pumping air, though.

dr.fuzzenstein

Esel wrote: »

There should be a legal distinction between 'service station' and 'petrol station'.

Not in this thread about pumping air, though.

I think I could possibly manage to muddle through life if there wasn't. :P
The Irish have become wayyy to much obsessed with having everything written down in law, and that's coming from a German!
Soon there will be a law on how to wipe your bum (3 pieces of toilet paper, one up, one down and one to polish).

dgt

Sure you'd get **** cramp in no time with an auld hand job pump..... Nothing beats a small portable compressor and your own pcl gauge :cool:

ScottStorm

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Soon there will be a law on how to wipe your bum (3 pieces of toilet paper, one up, one down and one to polish).

That would be entirely an utterly futile technique on my bum.

darragh o meara

The pump will be fine but if your buying one, one that pumps on the pull as well as the stroke will work better.