Half an hour to fix a puncture!

derbygrimpeur

Stop laughing :oops:

I was out yesterday and within an hour punctured. No problem. Stopped, wheel off, tyre off, old tube out. Check tyre for sharps and removed offending stone. All fine so far and only a few minutes on the clock.

On goes the new tube and before putting the tyre back on I put a few pumps of air in the tube (never done it this way before but thought I'd try it as I'd seen it recommended somewhere). Have got one of these pumps...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-road-drive-mini-pump/

Basically, as I unscrewed the pump valve from the tube valve, the tube valve unscrewed from it's fixing on the tyre (if that makes sense) and the air came out. Screwed it back in and put the tyre back on. Went to pump tyre up and tyre wouldn't inflate. Tyre off again, tube out and put second spare tube in.

Tyre on, pumped up tyre fine first time. However, as I unscrewed the pump the tube valve started unscrewing again. It took quite a bit of fiddling to get the pump off leaving some air in the tube. I put the wheel back on the bike and risked putting the pump back on again to get higher PSI in the tyre. Eventually managed it.

In short, anyone else have problems with screw-on pumps unscrewing the valve from the tube? If so, what the solution. I can't think that I'm doing something wrong, but clearly it's a major flaw if after inflating the tyre the pump removes the valve and lets the air out. Pump has a great rating on Wiggle, so maybe I am doing something wrong?

jim453

The valve is not 'screwed' into the tube, is it?

More like 'glued' in.

I'm not sure what you mean.

derbygrimpeur

the top bit of the valve can unscrew from the bit that is glued to the tube. I doubt you could do it with your hands, but the lezyne hand pump manages it quite effficiently :x

This image is little, but shows what I mean

jim453

I see what you mean. The locking bit on the top of the valve.

Yes if that comes off you can't get any air in. If it is unscrewed it should not let the air out though unless it is also depressed.

You are probably going to need to practise a little. At home.

derbygrimpeur

I think you're still misunderstanding. It's not the locking bit on the top that an issue. I'm not that incompetent The lezyne pump is removing the whole top portion of the valve (more than just the locking bit) from the main construct of the valve so that it is just an open hole, hence why air escapes.

jim453

Well, looks like you could still do to practise a little at home.

I'm unfamiliar with the screw on pump so am no help at all.

Perhaps don't screw it on as tight?

pastey_boy

the removable presta core has flats machined onto it so you can tighten it using an adjustable spanner. just give them a good tighten before you use again and apply a little grease to your pump head to stop it gripping so hard.

jim453

Actually, i'm interested now.

Been to check a few old tubes and those on my bike. Mine do not appear to have a bit that could possibly come off at the to p of the valve, (apart from the locking bit which you have already said it is not)

So, unless you're using different tubes than the presta ones I seem to be using I'm not really sure what is going on.

Anyone?

derbygrimpeur

jim, I tried not screwing on as tight but unfortunately it didn't provide an air seal so the tyre wouldn't inflate. I agree about practice at home though

pastey_boy > I've re-tightened the valve now. Will see about greasing the pump head to see if that helps.

I just find it strange that from all the reviews on wiggle, I've not seen anyone else have this problem. Is it wiggle's fault

TommyEss

I understand, as I have the same pump, and occasionaly, the same problem.

For valves with a removable core, it is possible to have the pump unscrew the removable core instead of coming off cleanly.

I get around this by always tightening the valve stem as much as possible before I unscrew the top bit of to get the air in, and by screwing the pump on as gently as possibly - and by that I also mean as little as possible.

Screw it on a bit, do one pump and see if air blows out, tighten a fraction more, re-test, repeat until you've screwed the pump on just enough to seal to get the air in.

Also, when taking the pump head off, try and keep it as square as possible - I find if there's any sort of angle there it's more likely to unscrew the valve core - it's like it catches more that way.

Hope that helps.

If you can't get round all that, just buy tubes without removable cores!!

derbygrimpeur

Jim

in the image below, it's the top section that unscrews. You've got the locking nut bit and a slightly wider bit below with a thread and then the main wider bit.



If you imagine my pump is attached in a similar way to the adaptor in the image below, when it unscrews, the whole bit hidden by the adaptor is removed



Does that make more sense?

derbygrimpeur

tommy > cheers for the tips and nice to know I'm not alone Will practice a bit at home to see if I can master it.

jim453

Yes it does.

I think my tubes are the ones that do not have a removable core though. Or don't seem to.

If I was stuck fifty miles from home in the rain, this is exactly the type of thing that would make me want to kill people.

Good luck with that.

I'd be tempted to get a different type of pump if there is even the most remote possibility of something this irritating happening.

Neil McC

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... highlight=

Had this problem myself before, completely infuriating when it happens.

Seems like people have given you the best advice already though. Tighten up the valve core as stight as possible with some pliers or get some tubes without a removable core

derbygrimpeur

Neil, thanks for sharing that thread, some very interesting stuff in there. Hopefully I can sort this out for good now The pump is otherwise excellent - I managed to complete the remaining 70 miles of my ride without any other issues

RowCycle

TommyEss wrote:

If you can't get round all that, just buy tubes without removable cores!!

Or buy a different pump

derbygrimpeur

RowCycle wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

If you can't get round all that, just buy tubes without removable cores!!

Or buy a different pump

The pump is very good generally and as it cost £30+ it doesn't make sense to bin it. Buying a different type of tube would make more sense.

TommyEss

RowCycle wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

If you can't get round all that, just buy tubes without removable cores!!

Or buy a different pump

Tubes are cheaper though...! :P

Barteos

derbygrimpeur wrote:

Stop laughing :oops:

I was out yesterday and within an hour punctured. No problem. Stopped, wheel off, tyre off, old tube out. Check tyre for sharps and removed offending stone. All fine so far and only a few minutes on the clock.

On goes the new tube and before putting the tyre back on I put a few pumps of air in the tube (never done it this way before but thought I'd try it as I'd seen it recommended somewhere). Have got one of these pumps...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-road-drive-mini-pump/

Basically, as I unscrewed the pump valve from the tube valve, the tube valve unscrewed from it's fixing on the tyre (if that makes sense) and the air came out. Screwed it back in and put the tyre back on. Went to pump tyre up and tyre wouldn't inflate. Tyre off again, tube out and put second spare tube in.

Tyre on, pumped up tyre fine first time. However, as I unscrewed the pump the tube valve started unscrewing again. It took quite a bit of fiddling to get the pump off leaving some air in the tube. I put the wheel back on the bike and risked putting the pump back on again to get higher PSI in the tyre. Eventually managed it.

In short, anyone else have problems with screw-on pumps unscrewing the valve from the tube? If so, what the solution. I can't think that I'm doing something wrong, but clearly it's a major flaw if after inflating the tyre the pump removes the valve and lets the air out. Pump has a great rating on Wiggle, so maybe I am doing something wrong?

I had exactly the same problem.
I wasn't able to unscrew the connector without removing the valve. After several miutes of trying I simply left the connector on and tied it with a a bit of grass so it wouldn't be hitting the spokes.

The pump landed in a bin and I got back to my trusty Topeak DX.
Part of the problem were Continental tubes. Very often their valve cores aren't tight enough.

Cleat Eastwood

I took about 40mins to fix one just the other week. Someone told me that folding tyres were easier to fit. They were.....until the last 6 inches... the tyre just would not budge. Naturally I complained to wiggle.

shouldbeinbed

Another thing you could try is a bit of PTFE tape round the outer barrel of the valve to help make an airtight seal without having to screw the adapter on quite as tightly metal yo metal.

Don't know the pump model so ignore this bit if it doesn't apply , but most pump nozzles are interchangeable between shraeder & presta by unscrewing the nozzle outer & flipping the 2 x internal components around the opposite way to give the presta plunger & much smaller rubber seal to fit onto the valve.

kieranb

Barteos wrote:

derbygrimpeur wrote:

Stop laughing :oops:

I was out yesterday and within an hour punctured. No problem. Stopped, wheel off, tyre off, old tube out. Check tyre for sharps and removed offending stone. All fine so far and only a few minutes on the clock.

On goes the new tube and before putting the tyre back on I put a few pumps of air in the tube (never done it this way before but thought I'd try it as I'd seen it recommended somewhere). Have got one of these pumps...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-road-drive-mini-pump/

Basically, as I unscrewed the pump valve from the tube valve, the tube valve unscrewed from it's fixing on the tyre (if that makes sense) and the air came out. Screwed it back in and put the tyre back on. Went to pump tyre up and tyre wouldn't inflate. Tyre off again, tube out and put second spare tube in.

Tyre on, pumped up tyre fine first time. However, as I unscrewed the pump the tube valve started unscrewing again. It took quite a bit of fiddling to get the pump off leaving some air in the tube. I put the wheel back on the bike and risked putting the pump back on again to get higher PSI in the tyre. Eventually managed it.

In short, anyone else have problems with screw-on pumps unscrewing the valve from the tube? If so, what the solution. I can't think that I'm doing something wrong, but clearly it's a major flaw if after inflating the tyre the pump removes the valve and lets the air out. Pump has a great rating on Wiggle, so maybe I am doing something wrong?

I had exactly the same problem.
I wasn't able to unscrew the connector without removing the valve. After several miutes of trying I simply left the connector on and tied it with a a bit of grass so it wouldn't be hitting the spokes.

The pump landed in a bin and I got back to my trusty Topeak DX.
Part of the problem were Continental tubes. Very often their valve cores aren't tight enough.

Ha, ha, same happened to me with these pumps and the valve, thingy, I laos left the conector on the bike and then removed it at home, the valve came out (again!) put it backin and used my track pump no problem.

Can you get inner tubes with the valve fixed in place - what is the point of a removeable valve?

TommyEss

kieranb wrote:

Can you get inner tubes with the valve fixed in place - what is the point of a removeable valve?

Allows you to attach a valve extender for deep rims, or to squirt in sealant.

APIII

I have the same pump and the same thing happened twice the other week whilst 'helping' a mate with a flat.
The solution in the end was to squirt a bit of water from my bidon onto the valve after having pumped the tyre up. This seemed to cool the connector just enough to lessen it's grip on the valve. Not ideal, but worth a try next time.

ddraver

I bet a million antipounds it is a continental tube???

Had the same problems with Conti MTB tubes, absoloute PITA is nt it!!!! :evil: :evil: