Raleigh71

I used to use the Silca push-on but got tired of having to replace the rubber part frequently at like $8-10 a pop, and it was too hard to push on and get off. Then I went with a lever-type that originally came with some long-gone pump I had that leaks using the Presta side of it at the higher pressures. Anybody have a favorite pump head they're satisfied with?

mpetry912 

The Silca Hiro is very nice. I do have to replace the grommet about once a year.

if you get the genuine Silca polymer grommet it may last longer. And of course you can tighten the ring for a better "bite" if it starts hissing.

/markp

SJX426 

the original that Silca tried to copy but failed.
Amazon.com: KUWAHARA HIRAME Pump Head Yoko with Hose Band : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

I have both and the Kuwahara is the one I use all the time.

zandoval 

I am not good with my pump heads. I get them gunked up, cracked with heat, stepped on, bent, over all abused. So now I have gone to cheap disposable pump heads. I use them till they start having problems then just replace them. My pump gets allot of use by me and the neighborhood.



Amazon 7 USD

choddo

I love this beastie.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Topeak-Joe-...htm?sku=404305

I lnow it’s the full thing, not what you asked for, but it has taken quite a beating and still like new.

mpetry912 

I also have both and they are more or less equivalent in function. the Kuwahara grommet is hard (er) to find. you can get it out of Japan.

/markp

smd4

The Silca Hiro is much more versatile. No hose clamp needed. It works perfectly for me. It’s hardly a “failure.”

Raleigh71

Thanks for all the great information, gents! The silca sounds like a quality item, and I like the fact that you can get the rubber inserts in the USA without getting them from Japan. I'd have to get used to the fact that it costs more than alot of the bikes I've had in my life. The two-per-package el-cheapo disposable pumpheads noted above are probably the most sensible. I'll mull it over.

smd4

Unfortunately, like everything else, they have gone up in price.

3alarmer 

..
.....FWIW, I've had good luck with this: Topeak Twinhead Bicycle Floor Pump Upgrade Kit. You can buy the head gasket rebuild kit for about ten bucks

cyccommute 

Frankly, I hate the dual sided lever type pump heads. They can be very finicky. The Silca presta chuck is superior but, yes, it does wear out. You can find a replacement grommet for much less like these. They are also a bit less stiff.

An alternative to the Silca chuck is the SKS pump adapter. I’ve used it extensively at my local co-op and it’s amazing how robust it is for something so cheap. That’s as long as someone doesn’t take it apart and lose the parts because they don’t understand how to use it

top506

This:

https://ride.lezyne.com/collections/...s1p-chuck-v111

Top

smd4

It threads on? What a PITA.

cyccommute 

Yup. I thread on a Silca chuck which works quite well. But I wouldn’t thread it onto the valve.

smd4

My Hiro threads onto the hose. Which is why it’s so practical. But no, it doesn’t thread onto the valve.

tFUnK

Another vote for Lezyne thread-on. The most secure and confident connection I've encountered. Sure it pulls out the occasional valve core but I always tighten my valve cores down before using.

There are high quality slip-on chucks but their design seems to wear out quicker (especially when used with threaded valve stems) and may be more prone to bending out a valve pin. They are quicker to use, but I like to take my time to ensure a good contact when airing up anyways - so no issue for me.

Biker Pete 

same here!

smd4

So you’ve never used a Hiro? The Lezyne’s only drawback is that it pulls the valve cores?? Seriously?

tFUnK

I've used ones similar to the Hiro on occasion and recall then being fine. The lever action felt positive from what I recall, which was nice. If I recall the lever can sometimes hit the spokes but that's no big deal.

Yes I think the major flaw with the Lezyne is it can pull out a core which is super annoying. But since I'm used to it I know how to avoid it. I like that it threads on and doesn't really put pressure on the valve stem like some of the other bulky chucks do (not talking about the Hiro, but in general).

Gresp15C

Well, you asked for favorites. Here's mine.

https://www.mcmaster.com/3536N2

It's just a basic threaded Schrader chuck, with optional Presta adapter. Works fine.

MudPie

For $3, this Park head isn't a bad deal. Park isn't the sexiest brand out there, but they work and usually have replaceable parts for their products.

https://www.jensonusa.com/Park-Tool-...mp-Rebuild-Kit

John Valuk

I didn't expect to like the Lezyne ABS-1 Pro HP, but it really surprised me.

cyccommute 

The point of the Presta valve is that it is a check valve and doesn’t need a secure connection to put air into the tire. Schrader valves do because the pin in the valve has to be depressed to let air in but Prestas don’t.

cyccommute 

I’ve had a couple of Park Tool pumps and was very disappointed in that head. I don’t know if it gets junk in it or what but that head tends to fail to close the low pressure side and are kind of a pain to use. The rest of the pump isn’t anything to write home about either. Both of the ones I had had head sealing problems and had pressure gauges that failed.

The Topeak Joe Blow is a better pump with a head that works better.

I currently have a Lezyne CNC Floor Drive which, with the exception of the silly screw on chuck is a very good pump. Don’t make the mistake of getting the Steel Floor Drive. The one I had used a plastic check valve in the pump which melted. A Lezyne representative told me that it was designed for any more than light use and suggested the CNC Floor Drive which has much more robust parts. Wish I’d known that before hand.

Raleigh71

I appreciate all the great discussion gents! It seems like some pump heads work for some folks and not for others.

I've decided to go el-cheapo or that Topeak upgrade kit and see how it works out. (See images)

I'm inclined to avoid anything Silca, given the bad experience I had with their high end pump years ago described here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...orth-crap.html

And after recently pulling the valve stem off the tube, I'm done with the push-on Silca head. And BTW, those inexpensive Silca grommets ain't no $3. Add in the shipping and they're $10 for a 3 cent part.

We'll see how it goes.