Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Avoid inexpensive CO2 Cartridges?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Avoid inexpensive CO2 Cartridges?

Old 08-06-19, 10:57 PM
  #26  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,520

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by terrymorse
Did you unscrew the Presta valve?
yes actually he did it wasn’t snug in the chuck head and no air transferred when I tried I didn’t want to push hard like I do w schrader tubes anyway he couldn’t get it to work either and it was his tube personally I stay away from presta tubes

Last edited by rumrunn6; 08-06-19 at 11:01 PM.
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 08-07-19, 12:06 AM
  #27  
MAK
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Delaware
Posts: 1,695

Bikes: Yes, I have bikes.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Liked 106 Times in 65 Posts
I use a Genuine Innovations head with threaded cartridges. The head is plastic (the treads are metal) and it's pretty much the cheapest one they sell. I get my cartridges from <CO2 Cartridges - Page 1 - Redrock Minnesota> and I've never had a problem. You can get whatever size corresponds to your tire needs and the bulk prices are great. The cartridges have no brand or other markings on them so they are truly as generic as they can be. Again, never had a problem.

I have heard that buying the bulk cartridges from Walmart or other gun shops or departments can be a problem because they have oil at the spot where the head punctures the cartridge and the oil can be bad for the tube. That said, I ride with some pretty experienced and intelligent riders who swear by the Walmart bulk cartridges so they must be fine.
MAK is offline  
Old 08-07-19, 06:02 AM
  #28  
Trsnrtr
Super Modest
 
Trsnrtr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,386

Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC

Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10885 Post(s)
Liked 4,558 Times in 2,088 Posts
Originally Posted by MAK

I have heard that buying the bulk cartridges from Walmart or other gun shops or departments can be a problem because they have oil at the spot where the head punctures the cartridge and the oil can be bad for the tube. That said, I ride with some pretty experienced and intelligent riders who swear by the Walmart bulk cartridges so they must be fine.
That's been an argument for years for buying the higher priced ones but air guns are full of rubber seals and if the oil was bad for your tubes, I would think it would be hard on those seals.Then again the o-rings in airguns may be oil resistant, who knows.

Regardless, I've been using the cheap ones for years with no problems.
__________________
Keep the chain tight!







Trsnrtr is offline  
Old 08-07-19, 02:35 PM
  #29  
Fendertele
Junior Member
 
Fendertele's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 142

Bikes: Trek Domane SL5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 28 Posts
Used my first cartridge a few weeks ago. All went well. My spare cartridge was 25g so I bought another 25g. Got home and found out it was too large for the dispenser. The spent cartridge was 20g and the LBS had initially given me two different sizes. Nice to find this at home.
appreciate the info on economical cartridges. Going to buy a box.
Fendertele is offline  
Old 08-08-19, 05:43 AM
  #30  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Originally Posted by terrymorse
I've been using the Genuine Innovations Airchuck for as long as I can remember. Push to inflate, really hard to screw up.

Thanks, I just put that on my list. I got a Planet Bike Red Zeppelin awhile back, then discovered it will barely fit in my Lezyne Road Caddy mini-bag. The plastic valve knob is too bulky. So I'll move the Red Zeppelin to my other bike with a larger saddle bag and get a smaller one for the Lezyne bag.
canklecat is offline  
Old 08-08-19, 05:52 AM
  #31  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
I wouldn't expect any problems from the light oil used in CO2 cartridges for airguns and similar tools. I've never experienced or heard of it causing problems with neoprene or rubber seals, clogging up air nozzles or hardening and leaving any film or residue.

But it would require a special device to use on bike tires and would be bulky compared with threaded cartridges and minimalist chucks. And would probably require a couple of standard size CO2 cartridges for some tires.

It could be useful for folks who already use larger saddle bags and mostly need CO2 due to disabilities, arthritis or limited hand/arm strength. When my shoulder was broken last year (hit by a car) it was about two months before I could use a manual pump, and I just didn't ride outdoors during that time. I used an indoor trainer and had to use only my one good arm with a floor pump.
canklecat is offline  
Old 08-08-19, 06:13 AM
  #32  
freeranger
Senior Member
 
freeranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,576

Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 418 Post(s)
Liked 688 Times in 429 Posts
The one time mine failed was when I was using it on a friend's flat! Luckily, I carry 3 cartridges (maybe overkill?) That was a non-threaded cartridge. May have been a fluke (likely from what others have said), but now I use threaded cartridges. The inflator is a Genuine Innovations Ultraflate Plus, so don't think it was the inflators fault, leaving only user error or the cartridge. Luckily, it doesn't see much use, so the extra $ for threaded cartridges isn't a biggie.
freeranger is offline  
Old 08-08-19, 01:29 PM
  #33  
Phil_gretz
Zip tie Karen
 
Phil_gretz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,006

Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times in 806 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
personally I stay away from presta tubes
That must get pretty complicated. Even in the U.S., they've become quite popular since 1979 or so. How do you find rims that accept Schrader? Do you drill them out? Custom order?
Phil_gretz is offline  
Old 08-08-19, 04:12 PM
  #34  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,520

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
That must get pretty complicated. Even in the U.S., they've become quite popular since 1979 or so. How do you find rims that accept Schrader? Do you drill them out? Custom order?
no biggie, I think only 2 bikes in our family’s stable of 7 bikes needed a quick reaming w a bit. The amount of material removed is insignificant

Last edited by rumrunn6; 08-08-19 at 04:19 PM.
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 08-10-19, 10:55 AM
  #35  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,304

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 758 Times in 407 Posts
Reading this thread has convinced me to, after all these years, give these CO2 inflaters a try. I'm ordering the XLAB one posted above. And I'm also ordering a case of CO2 cartridges. But I have a question about the CO2. I read one review that says CO2 is a temporary "get home" inflation because it seeps from the tube/tire more quickly than just plane air does. So, my question is...can you get just plane compressed air (threaded) cartridges? And also...how many CO2 and/or compressed air cartridges are needed to inflat a single road tire?

Dan
_ForceD_ is offline  
Old 08-10-19, 02:00 PM
  #36  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,520

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
That would be a little scuba tank and no haven’t seen that anywhere so just add more air at home or bleed the tire and refill at home
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 08-10-19, 03:30 PM
  #37  
terrymorse 
climber has-been
 
terrymorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,002

Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3335 Post(s)
Liked 3,435 Times in 1,737 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
can you get just plane compressed air (threaded) cartridges? And also...how many CO2 and/or compressed air cartridges are needed to inflat a single road tire?
A compressed air cartridge the same size as a CO₂ cartridge would not hold much compressed air. I estimate a 12-gram CO₂ cartridge would hold less than a gram of air at the same pressure. Practically worthless.

A single CO₂ cartridge is enough to inflate one road tire.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse


terrymorse is offline  
Old 08-10-19, 11:15 PM
  #38  
Geekage
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 191
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times in 21 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
can you get just plane compressed air (threaded) cartridges? And also...how many CO2 and/or compressed air cartridges are needed to inflat a single road tire?
This is a complete system with hose and valve that, according to the seller, "can fill up 1 tire (700x25) from total flat to 100 PSI and will be left with little more air in"

So, that's a little more than an equivalent 16 gram cartridge in the size of a water bottle.

I'm not sure you really want that.

Many of the ideas about CO2 cartridges and refillability have already been addressed ad nauseum in the paintball world: refillable 12gr cartridges, larger bulk fill tanks (and necessary burst discs), etc.

re: how many cartridges? It really depends on the tire and cartridge. Look up "CO2 inflation chart" to get a rough idea. For example, a single 12gr co2 cartridge should get my 700x28c tires up to 60psi. Not my usual 70 psi but still more than I often let my tires drop to.
Geekage is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 01:51 PM
  #39  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,304

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 758 Times in 407 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
Reading this thread has convinced me to, after all these years, give these CO2 inflaters a try. I'm ordering the XLAB one posted above. And I'm also ordering a case of CO2 cartridges. But I have a question about the CO2. I read one review that says CO2 is a temporary "get home" inflation because it seeps from the tube/tire more quickly than just plane air does. So, my question is...can you get just plane compressed air (threaded) cartridges? And also...how many CO2 and/or compressed air cartridges are needed to inflat a single road tire?

Dan
OK, so I got my inflator (XLAB) and a 12-pack of 16g threaded CO2 cartridges. This is my first foray into "pump-less" inflators so I have a few questions. 1) I'm strictly a road cyclist, and my bikes all have 700c x 25 tires. How many CO2 cartridges are recommended to take along? 2) My hope is to NOT have to carry a pump with me on rides. Are these systems reliable enough for that? And 3) Is it recommended to keep the cartridge and inflator separated until needed, or should I go ahead and keep a cartridge screwed into the inflator? (I'm thinking it's probably better to do the former.)

Dan
_ForceD_ is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 04:48 PM
  #40  
RGMN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 565
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 241 Post(s)
Liked 231 Times in 152 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
OK, so I got my inflator (XLAB) and a 12-pack of 16g threaded CO2 cartridges. This is my first foray into "pump-less" inflators so I have a few questions. 1) I'm strictly a road cyclist, and my bikes all have 700c x 25 tires. How many CO2 cartridges are recommended to take along? 2) My hope is to NOT have to carry a pump with me on rides. Are these systems reliable enough for that? And 3) Is it recommended to keep the cartridge and inflator separated until needed, or should I go ahead and keep a cartridge screwed into the inflator? (I'm thinking it's probably better to do the former.)

Dan
1. Take at least 2 cartridges. I've been using CO2 for at least 20 years and I've used 2 cartridges on a single ride twice. One time I took out both front and rear on the same object, the second time I didn't get the object that caused the puncture out of the tire.
2. If you have a good system AND know how to use it they are plenty reliable. Try it at least once at home, more if you feel you need to too be comfortable using it on the road.
3. Keep the inflator and cartridge separate until you need to use them, unless it is designed to hold the cartridge with so it can't be punctured by the inflator like this GI unit. I can't fit the cartridge with the inflator attached in my cycling bag so that solves that problem.

Another hint - if you use threaded cartridges put a short piece of tape around the threads. I've had cartridges and tubes it the bag so long that the threads on the cartridge wore a hole in the spare tube. Not fun to find when you go to fix a flat.
RGMN is offline  
Likes For RGMN:
Old 08-26-19, 07:27 AM
  #41  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,304

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 758 Times in 407 Posts
So I've made the switch to CO2 inflation. I spent a cartridge to make sure I know how to work the thing properly. With the inflator, I take two cartridges (that I keep in a seperate bag together so the abrasive threads destroy anything), a spare tube, and some patch "Scabs." But...I'm still taking the pump. My question is...are you guys brave enough to leave the pump at home? I want to but just feel a little scared to.

Dan
_ForceD_ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JimF22003
Fifty Plus (50+)
36
03-15-13 02:09 PM
Palomar01
Road Cycling
62
09-08-10 07:28 PM
NABRXX
Commuting
111
08-08-10 01:47 PM
NOS88
Fifty Plus (50+)
13
05-07-10 07:36 PM
bikegeek57
Commuting
20
05-07-10 03:37 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.