Handpumps and removable valve cores ..arrghh!!!! (advice sought)

jon1981

Hi,

So got a puncture this morning on the way to work. No problem I thought, walked the bike work ( I wasn't far from the office thankfully), replaced the tube, found the offending piece of glass in the tyre wall, slapped tyre back on. Began pumping with my screw on valve pump, got it up to a pressure that felt sufficient for my 25mm conti gp4000s (yes they puncture )
... As I unscrewed the pump the damn inner core came away with it, instant deflation! Oh and my pump fell apart also ( double whammy)


So firstly, I need a new pump? Any ideas?

Secondly, solutions to removable inner core? Is that might fault for not tightening them with a pliers or something before I put them on? Should i get a pump with the clamp that you hold in place rather than what I have now which is a flexible hose that screws on?

I've 2 hours left for next day delivery on Chainreaction, recommendations welcome

J

oh and I don't need a new bike ( I got one and I've satisfied s-1 )

07Lapierre

Co2 inflater's... they don't screw onto the valve, so shouldn't have any issues with valve core coming out.

inflate the tube by hand with a small pump so that the tube is seated correctly, then use the Co2 inflater.

I have this pump:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-race-rocket-hp-pump/rp-prod74898

(it doesn't screw onto the valve, so again, no issues with valve cores coming out)

petethedrummer

Zefal HPX pumps are the best I have used.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/zefal-hpx-classic-alu-pump/rp-prod128553

This is the second best I have owned.
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-air-tool-road-pump-EV145020

smacl

I've been using this life line mini-pump for a few years now, and find it an excellent pump and great value. Press on adaptor with clamp, so little risk of unscrewing valve inner.

Darkglasses

Related question, if the core falls off, does it always result in deflation eventually? I've broken two off by accident and just carried on with them.

jon1981

Darkglasses wrote: »

Related question, if the core falls off, does it always result in deflation eventually? I've broken two off by accident and just carried on with them.

I guess if it snaps off but leaves the some of the core in place it might not result in deflation. In my case, it was instant as all that was left is a big hole.

jon1981

Thanks for the advice so far, I'm leaning towards a mini pump as I want it for both club cycling and commutes to work. It seems I need to overly tighten the core before inserting the tube.

Looking at this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/lezyne-pressure-drive-mini-pump/rp-prod24666

@ 07Lapierre
It seems that pump you suggested is still screw on?

07Lapierre

jon1981 wrote: »

@ 07Lapierre
It seems that pump you suggested is still screw on?

Sorry, wrong link:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-pocket-rocket-mini-pump/rp-prod2904

mirrormatrix

+1 for the Topeak, it gets up to a pretty high pressure given its size.

I also have the Lezyne and it's a waste of time. Has left me phoning for a lift on one occassion. The only way to ensure safe use is to use thread lock on all cores before bringing the tube anywhere.

jon1981

mirrormatrix wrote: »

+1 for the Topeak, it gets up to a pretty high pressure given its size.

I also have the Lezyne and it's a waste of time. Has left me phoning for a lift on one occassion. The only way to ensure safe use is to use thread lock on all cores before bringing the tube anywhere.

Is threadlock some sort of glue like substance?

smacl

jon1981 wrote: »

Is threadlock some sort of glue like substance?

This stuff Never needed it for a valve core though.

Raam

07Lapierre wrote: »

Co2 inflater's... they don't screw onto the valve, so shouldn't have any issues with valve core coming out.

Some do... including mine. Lost count of the number of cartridges I've wasted as a result of pulling out the core with it.

jon1981

I think I'll invest in either this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/stans-no-tubes-valve-core-remover/rp-prod138109

or this

http://www.wiggle.com/lifeline-valve-core-remover/

(damn p&p is nearly 4 euro for a 1.35 euro tool)

These will be handy as I know when I'm cycling with my wife or friends I'm bound to have this problem again. I was also looking at the Presta to Schrader adapters but i presume that would cause the same problem when you go to remove the adapter.

endagibson

mirrormatrix wrote: »

The only way to ensure safe use is to use thread lock on all cores before bringing the tube anywhere.

Everytime I get new tubes, I take the valve cores out, smear a wee bit of Loctite on the threads and screw them back in. No issue after that.

Wishbone Ash

mirrormatrix wrote: »

...I also have the Lezyne and it's a waste of time. Has left me phoning for a lift on one occassion....

What model do you have? I have a Lezyne and it has never let me down. I have also come to the rescue of others with it. Lezyne products are generally very reliable.

(The flexible connector must be screwed to the pump prior to screwing onto the valve. If you screw the connector onto the valve first and then screw the pump onto it, it won't work. I don't know why though!)

jon1981

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

What model do you have? I have a Lezyne and it has never let me down. I have also come to the rescue of others with it. Lezyne products are generally very reliable.

(The flexible connector must be screwed to the pump prior to screwing onto the valve. If you screw the connector onto the valve first and then screw the pump onto it, it won't work. I don't know why though!)

I gather some of the problem might be screwing it on too tightly? I believe there is an air release valve for easy removal, any use?

Wishbone Ash

jon1981 wrote: »

I believe there is an air release valve for easy removal, any use?

Yup - it releases the pressure inside the pump prior to removal.

Mr. Grieves

This happened to me on the side of the road before, valve core kept unscrewing after I'd inflated the tube. Solution for me was to screw it in as tight as I could by hand and then put some oil from the chain onto the exterior threads to stop the pump binding to the core. Saved me ringing for a lift home. Since then I've just made sure to use tubes without removable cores.

jon1981

I was looking at other tube brands at lunch, most seem to have removable cores though, what brands you looking at?

Carawaystick

I'd get a cheap track pump from Lidl for work while you're at it.

07Lapierre

Raam wrote: »

Some do... including mine. Lost count of the number of cartridges I've wasted as a result of pulling out the core with it.

Get a "Push on" type inflator! Did you not learn after the second time?

Mr. Grieves

jon1981 wrote: »

I was looking at other tube brands at lunch, most seem to have removable cores though, what brands you looking at?

I'd have said the opposite, most (cheap) ones don't have removable cores. The lifeline ones on Wiggle for example.

jon1981

Mr. Grieves wrote: »

I'd have said the opposite, most (cheap) ones don't have removable cores. The lifeline ones on Wiggle for example.

I see so it's a potential trade off between lower quality tubes for non removable cores ( assuming cheap == lower quality)

Mr. Grieves

jon1981 wrote: »

I see so it's a potential trade off between lower quality tubes for non removable cores ( assuming cheap == lower quality)

Well I imagine non removable cores are cheaper to make. The Lifeline ones are decent quality in my opinion.

Nisio

It happened to me twice on my commuting bike so I changed from presta to schrader valves, that might not be an option with Road bike wheels.

jon1981

Nisio wrote: »

It happened to me twice on my commuting bike so I changed from presta to schrader valves, that might not be an option with Road bike wheels.

Yeah, I don't think they'll fit through the hole in the rim.

smacl

Carawaystick wrote: »

I'd get a cheap track pump from Lidl for work while you're at it.

I'd go the extra few quid for a decent low end track pump, like the Joe Blow. Still cheap enough, but works well, is reliable, and will last better.

koutoubia

Speaking from hard earned experience here.
If you have removable cores or not get a couple of screw valve extenders that screw on over the valve.
Put a bit bit of that stretchy plumbers tape on your your valves to create as much as an airtight seal.
The ones I have came with a thread for threaded pumps and can be used with push fit pumps.
So when you unscrew the the pump it takes the extender with it and not the valve.
I got mine from Planet X as far as I remember.
I will link them later when off the phone.

jon1981

I ordered both a Schwalbe and Conti tube and tried out the screw on pump. As expected the Conti valve core came out when i removed the pump, the Schwalbe stayed put, i tried it with another Conti tube I had and same result.

Conti don't tighten the valve core very much it seems. And now I think of it, I've only had this problem with Conti tubes.

Jakey Rolling

This happened to me today, after pumping up 3 times and the valve core unscrewing each time I was absolutely fuming and ended up calling for a lift home. I thought I must be a complete idiot until reading the comments above.

As it happens I had ordered a hybrid CO2 mini pump on Thursday from Wiggle, just bad timing to get my first flat in 2 years.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-hybrid-co2-mini-pump-race/

Would be nice if my LBS had advised me of this issue when I bought the Topeak Pocket Rocket so I could have avoided using tubes with removable valves. How many cyclists are aware you need to disassemble new tubes and apply threadlock etc - most would just chuck the new tube in their pocket and expect it to work when needed.

/RANT

doozerie

I don’t recall this being an issue with removable cores when using my Lezyne track pump, which screws onto the valve, at home but I have had the problem with my Lezyne Road Drive, which also screws on, at the side of the road. I’m assuming the difference is that the hand pump gets hotter (smaller air chamber, more plunges involves, so more friction) so its extender binds tighter to the removable core. I’ve found that tightening the valve core can solve the problem, but whether it’s consistently a reliable solution I certainly wouldn’t swear to.

From memory, I think that Lezyne introduced the pressure release “button” on their v2 extenders for hand-held pumps specifically to address this issue. I guess that releasing the air trapped inside the extender might make it easier to unscrew from the core without taking the core with it. Didn’t work for me that time on the side of the road though, could simply be because the valve core was just too loose for anything to work though.

Something else to try in a pinch is to unscrew the extender from the pump end first, then leave the extender dangling from the valve for a couple of minutes to cool down before unthreading it there. It’s a long shot though.

Most of the tubes I use on my road bikes are latex these days, I’ve yet to encounter one of those with removable cores, so that kind of solved the issue for me.

Generally speaking, I still prefer screw-on pumps to push-on ones. I used push-on ones for years with little or no trouble but at some point in time I seemed to become much more prone to bending and snapping the threaded rod in the valves (as the rubber seal in the pump head wears, the risk of this happening increases a lot). Sometimes you get away with that and the tube stays inflated, sometimes not, I had enough of the latter that I moved to screw-on pumps.

I carry a Zefal full-length push-on pump on my commute bike, it’s still the best hand pump I’ve found when it comes to inflating a tyre quickly and to close to the pressure I’d get it to with my track pump, for but for my other bikes I much prefer the carrying convenience of the (much smaller) Lezyne Road Drive.

tomasrojo

doozerie wrote: »

I don’t recall this being an issue with removable cores when using my Lezyne track pump, which screws onto the valve, at home but I have had the problem with my Lezyne Road Drive, which also screws on, at the side of the road. I’m assuming the difference is that the hand pump gets hotter (smaller air chamber, more plunges involves, so more friction) so its extender binds tighter to the removable core.

Maybe that's it. I've never had this problem, but I went from large-bore screw-on pumps to clamp-on mini-pumps.

I think maybe once the core came out, but I have a mini Leatherman in my standard toolkit, so it was easy enough to just screw it back in. As far as I remember!