Presta valves - Help needed!!!

Citizen Smith
Citizen Smith Posts: 336
edited January 2008 in Commuting chat
Hi, I tried to pump up my tyres yesterday - my first experience with Presta valves. I inadvertently let all the air out of my rear tyre. :shock: I thought clumsy me, no problem though.

However, I don't seem to be able to pump the tyre up very much at all. I have unscrewed the cleat right to the end and I am using the pump lock. I have put the pump on as far as it can go so it fits snugly against the second set of threads. I don't get any pressure registering on the guage.

Any ideas to what my incompetence might be or any tips with presta valves?

FYI, I'm using a Toppeak MiniG Master Blaster.
"Come at the king, you best not miss." - Omar, The Wire

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Comments

  • Mog Uk
    Mog Uk Posts: 964
    Once you have unscrewed the tip push it in to release a tiny bit of air, it could well be that the valve is stuck...
    Manchester Wheelers' Club
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    To get anywhere near pressure easily with a road tyre/presta valve you need a track pump.

    A mini pump would take hours of pain to get anywhere near pressure.
    I like bikes...

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  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...yep, it's the track pump for you Si...it really is worth buying one as you can keep your tyres well pumped up. Mini pumps are foe emergency roadside repairs...
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • Adamskii
    Adamskii Posts: 267
    You can get pretty good Track pump for not a lot of money these days. I recently bought a good one from Decathlon down from an already cheap £20 to a quite ridiculous £14! With a metal barrel (steel probably) and a decent gauge.
    It's all good.
  • orienteer
    orienteer Posts: 752
    I don't unscrew the valve right to the end, as this can cause all the air to come out when you attach the pump. Just a couple of turns is enough, and blip it as suggested to free it from the valve seat.
    Anyone seen my bearings?
  • Belv
    Belv Posts: 866
    I'm not familiar with the pump you mentioned, but have you used the presta connection not the schrader/car one?

    Apparently some people make this mistake and can be seen swearing at their pump and bike for several minutes before realising... :oops:
  • beesneez
    beesneez Posts: 18
    Most pumps that I've seen are capatible with presta and schraeder. Depending on the make, you may have to unsrew the end of the pump pull out the rubber bung and turn it around and presto - presta compatible.

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