Ithaka

I just bought a Topeak Pocket-Rocket Master-Blaster frame pump, and was thrilled to see it arrived. I've never had Presta before, so I've been messing with the interchangeable heads on the pump, finding out that the valve itself has a little screw you need to undo, etc... Now I bought the Topeak pump because it has great reviews, but I can't inflate this tire to full pressure for anything. I've been at it for... thirty minutes?

I've got the valve unscrewed, I've got my pump setup for Presta, and I've got the thing locked to the valve. I can get maybe 75% air into the tire, but then I can hear the motherfu**er letting air out if I wiggle the pimp minutely while pumping. Is this to be expected from this piece of **** pump, or am I doing something horribly wrong?

please help me

demoncyclist

Frame pumps are for on the road use only- for fixing flats. I prefer the Morph pumps because the hose and footpeg allow you to get more ooomph in your stroke without moving the head. That being said, for general inflation purposes, a floor pump is your bff.

AlphaDogg

Get a floor pump.

jim hughes

You'll never get there with a frame pump or compact hand pump.

10 Wheels

https://www.ehow.com/video_6204021_use-bicycle-pump.html

Shimagnolo

+1
Portable pumps are only for putting in enough air to get home, or to get to the next gas station where you can use your Schrader<->Presta adapter.

fietsbob

maybe you are too wound tight on this.. chill man..

I +1 on getting a floor pump, top up the tires at home with it.

the other one , is to repair punctures on the road.

maybe you need the rehearsals to be more casual,
set a cool one with in easy reach

IthaDan 

I have yet to find an interchangeable head pump that doesn't have issues with presta valves. I have, however, had better luck running most interchangeable head pumps with a schraeder adapter.

OP: do you and I live in the same town?

peterw_diy

The old Zefal HPX frame pumps were always good for at least 100-120 psi on Presta in my experience. But, given the choice, I would prefer any floor pump to any frame/portable pump. Even with a lockring on the Presta stem, portable pumps are a hassle for high-pressure tires.

Lexi01

+1 again

Floor pump will be the best $80 you'll ever spend (probably $15 in the states)...

ultraman6970

Advice from old man....

Get any pump as long is decent... many floor pumps are not bad but the problem is the darn head designs, here is when you can diferentiate a good one from a bad one and pretty much nothing can excel the Silca presta pump head.



So get something you feel comfortable with, cut the head and put a Silca preste head in place, be sure to use a metallic clamp to tight the new head to the tube really well.

I been using one for like 6 years and still working great, by far one of the bests presta heads in the market!

My issue with pumps is that they try to be innovative with a head chuck design that or it sucks straight forward from day one.... and it sucks to pay 200 bucks for a floor pump when the head chuck thingy has to be replaced before a year. The silca is just plain simple... you put the thing in the valve... pump the air... no leaks.. remove and done. Removable parts? just the rubber thing that is inside that will last maybe 10 years before replacement if you dont use the pump that often.

Good luck.

Hendo252 

You don't tell us what pressure you want, or what pressure you are achieving.

As best I can tell, that pump is designed for 120 PSI max. But pump specs are like restaurant menus; they tend to be optimistic (think "Jumbo Shrimp")...

If the pump is rated at 120 PSI you'll to ably only get half of that easily, and 80 PSI or so if you are lucky.

It is only a $20 pump, after all.

Best to buy a pump that is better suited to your needs.

WickedThump

+1 My circa 1975 Zefal Hp is good for 120 psi.

hueyhoolihan

i use a small pump i can put in my pack. i don't even know the manufacturer. i use it for pumping up tires when i get a flat on the road. with the hope that it will get me a few dozen miles, if necessary, to someplace with a compressor or floor pump. nothing more.

i don't doubt that yours is a POS, but i suspect your expectations are too high. i have to say your frustration as regards the pump was entertaining .

hueyhoolihan

yes, some "on the road" type pumps are better than others. generally, the more expensive and heavier, the better (for pumping up tires that is).

WickedThump

If I have to carry a pump, I want one that'll deliver full pressure. I just got a CO2 inflator, but haven't had an opportunity to try it out.

fietsbob

Note a presta stem, typically, has a unthreaded ring,
between 2 different threaded portions.
the Silca pump head ,[seen in #11] air seal gasket goes around that ring.

Silca track pump here is 30 years in service.

for 10 of that I was pushing the head on too far,
then it was hard to remove under pressure, and gasket wore too much.

seedsbelize 

I have yet to figure out how they come up with those max pressure figures. I can never get more that 75% of rated pressure, and have broken presta stems, out on the road, just trying to get more than 80 psi on a pump rated at 115. Get a floor pump for use at home.

daredevil

The best mini pump in my experience is the Topeak Road Morph. It will get you up to any pressure you need. Not as good as a floor pump obviously but pretty darn good.

Jed19

True. I have been able to get 120psi into my titres two different times with this pump after flats.

Jeff Wills

Another vote for the Morph pumps. I have no problem at all getting to 110psi on the road. I have a floor pump for normal checks and topping up.

daredevil

I just bought a second so I could have one at work and home. Didn't really need it.

It's got a sweet universal head on it though. No muss no fuss, hook it up and go no matter the valve.

drbenjamin

After years of swearing at my Presta pumps (including an old Silca with the head pictured above) I tried a Lezyne pump and haven't looked back. The reversible head screws onto the valve stem so that no matter how much you shake and twist, you never let air out until you unscrew the head. Perfection. I have the short frame pump too and have absolutely no problem hitting 120 with it, other than my hands get a little sore because it is pretty small.

MNTC

+1 for the Lezyne. I have a "Pressure Drive" frame pump and it's good for 100psi of its rated 120 without much effort, a little muscle gets you to full. Mine has never leaked air at any pressure.

onespeedbiker

To OP, my guess is you don't have enough stem for the pump head to seal properly. If you are using a the stem nut, take it off to give yourself more stem; with a hand held pump you want about 15mm of thread to keep the pump sealed on the stem. I use a Zefal HPX frame pump (I actually have two that are shred by a dozen bikes) it's rated at 160lbs but will go higher if you have the arm strength to do it.

I have 2 Silca floor pumps. One is the smaller version that originally had a screw on brass Schrader chuck the I changed out with a topeak two sided chuck that worked pretty well. About 5-6 years ago I bought the Silca Super Pista which came with their presta only chuck (same as ultraman6970); it is my go to pump/chuck and works even on undersized stems (fietsbob explained the Silca can seal on the stem cap threads. Anyway I'm guessing you need to pickup some tubes with longer stems (they came in various lengths and even have extenders for the taller rimmed aero wheels.