My pumphead keeps leaking. Anybody have a favorite?
#26
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
One issue I hadn't considered is: The diameter of the tubing varies, and the pump heads might not be compatible. My "Ascent" pump has a 10 mm diameter air tube whereas another pump I have has an 8 mm air hose. The larger pump air hose wasn't compatible with the replacement pumphead which was designed for 8 mm hoses.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 571
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 366 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
175 Posts
I thread onto my valve stem every time, and it isn't that big of a deal for a couple of bike wheels. It does take an extra second, but the connection always works perfectly. Also, I think the head is more durable because it has no levers and isn't really any wider than the hose. If I was doing dozens of wheels, I would look for something else.
#28
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
I thread onto my valve stem every time, and it isn't that big of a deal for a couple of bike wheels. It does take an extra second, but the connection always works perfectly. Also, I think the head is more durable because it has no levers and isn't really any wider than the hose. If I was doing dozens of wheels, I would look for something else.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,795
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3514 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,776 Posts
This shouldn’t happen when done properly. It’s just a PITA to have to screw it on and screw it off every time. Get a Hiro or Hirame and don’t think about it anymore.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,706
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 840 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
251 Posts
Interesting convergence: I use Hirame or Lezyne ABS-1 Pro, depending on the pump. A good feature of that particular Lezyne chuck is that it immediately turns at the right angle, mitigating problems with unscrewing a wrong part. Another good feature is the pressure release button for Presta. I use both Presta and Schrader versions of Hirame. A good source for the Hirame heads is Alex's Cycles. When I buy something that will serve me a long time, I buy replacement parts within the same order, so I have a ton of Hirame washers in stock.
#31
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,433 Times
in
2,540 Posts
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.
I went back to my Nashbar L'Orange V2, which has a unique (I think) screw-out/flip-over barrel to handle Presta/Schraeder
I tried opening up the SKS head to see if I could fix it, but got nowhere. Is there anything to make it work properly?
#32
Full Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Tampa
Posts: 311
Bikes: Gunnar Sport 105/UDi2, previous: Lambert, Giant FCR3, Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105, Specialized Roubaix SL4 Comp UDi2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times
in
11 Posts
I like the EVT 2-in-1 pump head. It has a urethane pump washer that EVT says is, "More durable, works better, lasts longer!"
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
Posts: 1,634
Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 209 Times
in
127 Posts
Years ago I replaced the Silca head and hose with the Topeak Smarthead kit, with the lever. I'm not sure they still sell them or not, but they don't leak. As noted here, there are better pumps around though, so whether not it's worth buy a new head is up to you. I was gifted a floor pump so never use my Silca anymore. I can't even recall the brand, but it's much more efficient than the Silca.