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Air compressor for Presta valves

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Old 12-12-22, 11:23 PM
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MarcusT
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Air compressor for Presta valves

Hello
Still in the slow process of setting up my workshop. What do you use to inflate presta valves from an air compressor?
Yes, I have the screw on adapters, but was looking for something quicker to use. The Park Tool inflator is beyond my means.
Was hoping for a more economical solution.
Thanks
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Old 12-12-22, 11:31 PM
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Prestaflator might be your answer.
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Old 12-13-22, 12:17 AM
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2 parts to buy + some ingenuity and your good to go.

Find a cheap compressor blow gun with a replaceable tip. Pistol grip is preferred so you don't have to squeeze your hand between the spokes

Plus a push-on PV adapter of the kind used on PV floor pumps.

Now attach them into s single unit (the ingenuity part).

Mine was jammed and soldered, but how to attach depends on the specific details.
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Old 12-13-22, 02:51 AM
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Presta Adapter With Chain fits into standard schrader heads on a floor pump or air compressor and allows them to be used with presta valve tubes.
https://sks-us.com/collections/pump-...ter-with-chain
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Old 12-13-22, 08:21 AM
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I just cut off the Schrader head on a standard inflator and replaced it with a Silca track pump head:
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Old 12-13-22, 10:06 AM
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Two solutions I have used.


The upper item is a Campy frame pump head attached to a floor pump hose. My mentor made this a few decades ago (and he made the floor pump this is connected to!)

The lower item is what we use to call (before we got woke and all ) a damsel in distress device. Back when only women rode with Schreader valves and guys only used Prestas I came up with this to allow a Presta pump head attach to a SV. This one is also a few decades old. These days I would use a current Twin Head type of air chuck and hose clamp it to a SV. Andy (who hopes that readers know I am using some satire in how I wrote this)
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Old 12-13-22, 10:12 AM
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I dont bother with my air compressor. Makes too much noise when its adding air into the tank and it needs to run periodically to stay at pressure. Easier to just use a floor pump.
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Old 12-13-22, 10:18 AM
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I currently have three of the Silca pump heads still available in the for sale portion of C&V. A little fuel line hose and a fitting for your compressor, or pump and you will be ready to go. I will refresh the FS add to bring it back to the top if the list. Smiles, MH
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Old 12-13-22, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Mad Honk
I currently have three of the Silca pump heads still available in the for sale portion of C&V. A little fuel line hose and a fitting for your compressor, or pump and you will be ready to go.
You'll also want a valve somewhere - when using an open inflator hose with my portable compressor I just zero the compressor's regulator, but a pistol grip inflator with a gauge would be easier to use and more convenient.
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Old 12-13-22, 11:01 AM
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I appreciate the replies.
A question: For using a floor pump hose and head attached to the pistol, I measured the diameter and they were different. Will they kiss?
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Old 12-13-22, 11:02 AM
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My bike pump is a lot less trouble,
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Old 12-13-22, 11:22 AM
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I just screw on the adapter.
By the time I wheel the bike over, dig the chuck and adapter out of the tool box, bring the valve around, and unscrew the cap and nut, what's a couple more seconds?
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Old 12-13-22, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by MarcusT
A question: For using a floor pump hose and head attached to the pistol, I measured the diameter and they were different. Will they kiss?
Standard compressor hose and a hose clamp work fine for me.
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Old 12-13-22, 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve B.
I dont bother with my air compressor. Makes too much noise.
I have a quiet one gallon compressor that's great for inflating tyres. I'm probably missing out on upper-body workout by not using a track pump.
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Old 12-13-22, 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Eric F
Prestaflator might be your answer.
+1. Buy the cheap one with no gauge and set the tire pressure using your compressor's regulator. Here is the web site: https://www.prestacycle.com/product/...tire-inflator/
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Old 12-13-22, 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by grumpus
I have a quiet one gallon compressor that's great for inflating tyres. I'm probably missing out on upper-body workout by not using a track pump.
My problem is my one and only air compressor is a big and heavy 17+ gallon Lowes model that I leave in my shed as I only use it to blow out the in-ground sprinkler system. Its a beast to move in or out of my basement. I suppose I could leave it in the basement and buy extra hose to do the sprinklers. Then use it for bikes. Its still a really noisy unit, have to ponder this,
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Old 12-14-22, 09:35 AM
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I use another tool llike this one to get it to 100PSI then use the Silca floor pump to take it the rest of the way.
Amazon.com: Tire Pressure Gauge with Inflator (170 PSI) - Air Pressure Gauge for Tires - Air Compressor Tire Inflator Attachment – Nozzle Tire Gauge Air Chuck : Automotive
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Old 12-14-22, 08:03 PM
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I bought a digital inflator originally for my car tires, then
I added this chuck for presta, I like it.

https://www.amazon.com/JACO-Lightnin.../dp/B07ZHLX9XD
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Old 12-14-22, 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by jnbrown
I bought a digital inflator originally for my car tires, then
I added this chuck for presta, I like it.

https://www.amazon.com/JACO-Lightnin.../dp/B07ZHLX9XD
I did something similar. I already had the digital inflator for car tires and the Schrader valves on my old bike. I replaced the chuck with this dual Schrader/Presta unit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...TF8&th=1&psc=1

I connect the inflator to an air tank that I periodically fill up with my air compressor. I have this light aluminum air tank: Jegs

Mark
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Old 12-14-22, 11:00 PM
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You can get inexpensive digital inflators on EBay for use with a compressor that come with shrader and presta fittings you can swap. If you're strictly, or mainly using it for bicycle tires, just leave the presta fitting in place. I happen to usually use mine for car tires, so I leave the schrader fitting in place. The one I have is accurate compared to a digital gauge I have.

I don't use it for my bike tires because the largest is a mountain bike tire and for that and the more common road and gravel tires, a pump is just easy to use. The compressor with a digital inflator is great for mounting tubeless and for routine inflation of Fat tires.

Last edited by Camilo; 12-14-22 at 11:05 PM.
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Old 12-15-22, 11:09 PM
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Found this piece that does not require any hose cutting. Will give it a try.
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Old 12-17-22, 01:05 PM
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HVAC 2 stage nitrogen regulator and Silca head is the right answer. We have it set to 100 lbs, but you can dial up any pressure on the second stage with the turn of a dial. You can put an inline valve at the chuck, but it really isn't needed, (I should have started fixing residential central ACs a long time ago, $$$$$$)...
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Old 12-17-22, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by MarcusT
Found this piece that does not require any hose cutting. Will give it a try.
The digital inflator like the $20-$30 ones referenced above that just use a normal compressor quick release are the way to go. It's really nice having an accurate pressure gauge to look at while inflating. rather than guessing and going back and forth with a pressure gauge. I certainly wouldn't trust the regulator on the compressor for the precision that's needed for a bike tire.
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