Track pump gauges.

All My Stars Aligned

Just a quick question; how accurate do the gauges on track pumps tend to be? I've a Topeak Joe Blow, it's at least six years old at this stage, and to my mind the gauge seem to read very low. Have any of you found similar?

Eamonnator

I have a Joe Blow, about the same age as yours, mine seems to be as accurate as it ever was. I also have a Topeak travel track pump, which is two years old. I have compared the pressures on both, they read the same.

cdaly_

I had a gauge go bad on a Blackburn pump. Same thing, reading too low. Replacement gauge was about a tenner.

Wishbone Ash

Apologies for going off topic and hijacking this thread:

I bought a Joe Blow recently and when I wish to check pressure, I have to release some air first, as it won't allow any inflation and then re-inflate to the desired level. Is this normal? Never had to do it with any previous track pumps and it means that I can't actually check the current pressure.

Maidhci

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Apologies for going off topic and hijacking this thread:

I bought a Joe Blow recently and when I wish to check pressure, I have to release some air first, as it won't allow any inflation and then re-inflate to the desired level. Is this normal? Never had to do it with any previous track pumps and it means that I can't actually check the current pressure.

No, not from my experience - I have a Topeak Joe Blow Turbo Track Pump and I don't have to release air prior to inflation or pressure checking. There may be a few different models of the JB on the market which may account for the different experience.

Fian

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Apologies for going off topic and hijacking this thread:

I bought a Joe Blow recently and when I wish to check pressure, I have to release some air first, as it won't allow any inflation and then re-inflate to the desired level. Is this normal? Never had to do it with any previous track pumps and it means that I can't actually check the current pressure.

I have to do this with my Joe Blow 2. There is a flat part on the side of the connection which I have always assumed was there specifically to push in the valve and release some air before fitting the connection. Whenever I am pumping my bike I release air like that, then fit it and start pumping. Otherwise, like you say, I can't push air past the valve, though you can force a bit into the fitting itself i think, certainly you can move the pressure guage by doing this. The fitting will burst off before any air will continue into the tube.

this is the only track pump I have ever had and I assumed all pumps worked like this.

jamesd

Fian wrote: »

I have to do this with my Joe Blow 2. There is a flat part on the side of the connection which I have always assumed was there specifically to push in the valve and release some air before fitting the connection. Whenever I am pumping my bike I release air like that, then fit it and start pumping. Otherwise, like you say, I can't push air past the valve, though you can force a bit into the fitting itself i think, certainly you can move the pressure guage by doing this. The fitting will burst off before any air will continue into the tube.

this is the only track pump I have ever had and I assumed all pumps worked like this.

My Joe Blow 2 is the same.

Matt Bianco

You need one of these bad boys but remember accuracy comes at a price

https://rouleur.cc/shop/rouleur-products/silca-superpista-ultimate-floor-pump

Maidhci

Maidhci wrote: »

No, not from my experience - I have a Topeak Joe Blow Turbo Track Pump and I don't have to release air prior to inflation or pressure checking. There may be a few different models of the JB on the market which may account for the different experience.

Technically speaking, it is impossible to know the pressure without letting some air out. No matter what brand of pump. The released air from the tyres is what is changing the the pressure reading. It doesn't go back in the tyre when you are finished reading it.

Wishbone Ash

Thanks lads - at least I know I'm not alone!

Matt Bianco wrote: »

You need one of these bad boys but remember accuracy comes at a price

https://rouleur.cc/shop/rouleur-products/silca-superpista-ultimate-floor-pump

£375 sterling! :eek::eek::eek:

BeerNut

All My Stars Aligned wrote: »

I've a Topeak Joe Blow, it's at least six years old at this stage, and to my mind the gauge seem to read very low. Have any of you found similar?

I'd had mine for six years when, last year, my tyres began to pop every time I pumped them to the usual pressure. I guessed that the gauge was out. Seems I may have been right.

All My Stars Aligned

Matt Bianco wrote: »

You need one of these bad boys but remember accuracy comes at a price

https://rouleur.cc/shop/rouleur-products/silca-superpista-ultimate-floor-pump

:eek: