c02 Inflaters

sketchley

After my last fairy visit when I tried to pump up the tire as much as possible with my little frame mounted pump, I discovered 60psi was about all I could manage. So I'm guessing I need c02, but I know nothing about it. What inflater should I get, what size cartridge, what PSI should I expect from a single cartridge?

Help!

phy2sll2

I have this one: http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/co2bra_co2_inflator

Takes 16g threaded cartridges which you can get on eBay for about 1.50 a go.

You can buy it in a kit with a neoprene bag with space for some tyre levers and a spare cartridge which is pretty handy.

Only trouble I sometimes experience is actually getting it on to my valves (I have short stems on semi-aero rims). Of course, if you don't have a proper seal when you attach the thing, you waste the whole cartridge.

I would say it inflates the tyres up to max. 100 psi. Never managed to get it to inflate them to 120 but I might be doing it wrong!

il_principe

Easy. You need one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/genuine-innovations-microflate-nano-tyre-inflator/ and 16gram threaded cartridges from here: http://www.tyreinflators.co.uk/co2-cartridges/cat_22.html

Done.

il_principe

Should add that I have the older version of the inflator: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/genuine-innovations-air-chuck-sl-pump-2005/ Bought in 06 and it is going strong. It's tiny so just lives in my saddlebag along with 2 canisters. Best to buy these in bulk online.Tyre Inflators do 5 for £3.49 or 10 for £5.99. Oh and a 16g cartridge will get a 700/23 to over 100psi IME.

If you use one, remember to deflate the tyre when you get home and use the track pump to replenish!

Oh and final edit - buy a foam cover. They are 30p and reusable. Put the canister in this before using or you will get a very cold hand!

http://www.tyreinflators.co.uk/cls-tyre-inflators/foam-comfort-grip-disposable-/prod_124.html?category=2

sketchley

Thanks, order them tomorrow.

Next where to buy a pack of 10 inner tubes 700x25 with 60mm valves at a decent discount. Must be able to handle 130psi without bursting unlike specialised tubes.....

il_principe

Sketchley wrote:

Thanks, order them tomorrow.

Next where to buy a pack of 10 inner tubes 700x25 with 60mm valves at a decent discount. Must be able to handle 130psi without bursting unlike specialised tubes.....

130 psi? Sounds like too much tbh!

Can't help with the tubes, but if you find anywhere selling 80mm ones for sensible money please let me know!

danlikesbikes

Il Principe wrote:

Easy. You need one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/genuine-innovations-microflate-nano-tyre-inflator/ and 16gram threaded cartridges from here: http://www.tyreinflators.co.uk/co2-cartridges/cat_22.html

Done.

+1 for the tyre inflator website

diplodicus

If you use one, remember to deflate the tyre when you get home and use the track pump to replenish!

Can you tell me why?

_Brun_

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

jejv

Il Principe wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Must be able to handle 130psi without bursting unlike specialised tubes.....

130 psi? Sounds like too much tbh!!

Maybe a bit high, but they're bursting ?!? Going BANG ? Where do they fail ?

I go for a Zefal HPX under the top tube.

greg66_tri_v2.0

diplodicus wrote:

If you use one, remember to deflate the tyre when you get home and use the track pump to replenish!

Can you tell me why?

Yes. I'm curious to hear about this too...esp as I never do, and have yet to suffer any ill effects.

diplodicus

_Brun_ wrote:

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

thanks, I used some co2 on Saturday, will keep an eye on the pressure!

meanredspider

_Brun_ wrote:

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

Hmm - I've never noticed this effect. Given the relative concentration of CO2 & O2 (smaller molecules) in the atmosphere, I'd be surprised.

Anyhow - I'm a +1 for the Nano - perfect bit of kit. I'd guess that the pressure gets 100-110psi in a 23c tyre - good enough to avoid pinch flats whatever it is.

il_principe

diplodicus wrote:

If you use one, remember to deflate the tyre when you get home and use the track pump to replenish!

Can you tell me why?

No. I don't understand fizziks. This is just my own observation. :P

sketchley

Il Principe wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Thanks, order them tomorrow.

Next where to buy a pack of 10 inner tubes 700x25 with 60mm valves at a decent discount. Must be able to handle 130psi without bursting unlike specialised tubes.....

130 psi? Sounds like too much tbh!

Can't help with the tubes, but if you find anywhere selling 80mm ones for sensible money please let me know!

It would be for you, see this article.

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

Take a wieght of me and bike at 120kgs, 55% of this over the back wheel = 66kgs (note i thinkl it's bit more than this but haven't got round to measuring it) for a 25mm tires that I run the correct pressure is 130psi for optimum rolling resistance as per that article. What this really shows is that I should run 28mm tires at 110psi for best rolling resitance. It also shows that you should all adjust your tire pressures based on your weight.

Someone asked where the sepsh tubes went bang, to be fair this only happend the once and resulted in two inch split in the innertube on the seam. This looked like a manufacturing defect to me. 100% certain it wasn't a pinch flat and nothing in tyre that could have caused that. The current tubes is a Conti Race 28 this seem to handle the extra pressure ok, although doesn need topping up daily. Hmmmm really need to put 28s on.....

greg66_tri_v2.0

_Brun_ wrote:

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

Experience suggests otherwise. Have you been reading stuff on the Internet again?

First.Aspect

There are some other fascinating people on the interweb here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index ... 41122.html

Of course, all of this doesn't matter if your tyre goes flat because of leakage through the valve much faster than diffusion through the tube.

On a related matter, you can save bike weight by inflating with helium instead of air. Its TRUE!

just not a lot of weight.... so little you'd hardly notice... some people wouldn't notice a few nanograms at all and you could say it was more of a psychological advantage, like white cycling shorts, because you jus can't get away being slow wearing white cycling shorts

Blue Meanie

Back of an envelope calculation show He or even H2 would save 2g per 23c tyre.

antikythera

Sketchley wrote:

Someone asked where the sepsh tubes went bang, to be fair this only happend the once and resulted in two inch split in the innertube on the seam. This looked like a manufacturing defect to me. 100% certain it wasn't a pinch flat and nothing in tyre that could have caused that......

I've had brand new tubes burst unexpectedly, with at least one bursting several weeks after being installed. I believe that the root cause were twisted and constricted tubes sitting in the tyre. I've since used talc on new tubes before seating them.... never had the problem re-occur.

andyrr

You don't have to go to co2 just because your pump won't exceed 60psi ?
I've a Topeak Mini
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mini-mas ... out-gauge/

Can get to circa 80psi or so withotu too much stress, reached close to 100 I think with some more effort a couple of weeks ago. Does the job.
Danger with co2 is if you rely on them and screw up then you ain't got any way of getting air in the tube.
I'd be tempted to use these if I was carrying a spare in a race due to the time you CAN save but for normal use I'd personally like a more reliable method for inflation.

Plus if you're out with others or stop to assist someone you can do so no problem.

Wallace1492

Greg66 wrote:

_Brun_ wrote:

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

Experience suggests otherwise. Have you been reading stuff on the Internet again?

I do not know the reasons but I do know that if I inflate with CO2, then it goes down in a few days.

sketchley

I don't get Wiggle

Pack of 10 tubes £43.91 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-qua ... ner-tubes/

However each they are £4.24 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-qua ... nner-tube/

Bizarre.

No 60mm ones though.

sketchley

andyrr wrote:

You don't have to go to co2 just because your pump won't exceed 60psi ?
I've a Topeak Mini
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mini-mas ... out-gauge/

Can get to circa 80psi or so withotu too much stress, reached close to 100 I think with some more effort a couple of weeks ago. Does the job.
Danger with co2 is if you rely on them and screw up then you ain't got any way of getting air in the tube.
I'd be tempted to use these if I was carrying a spare in a race due to the time you CAN save but for normal use I'd personally like a more reliable method for inflation.

Plus if you're out with others or stop to assist someone you can do so no problem.

I'd agree with this which is why the pump will stay on the bike. Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

meanredspider

Sketchley wrote:

Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

Topeak Road Morph - fantastic pump that will get to 120psi better than any other pump I tried - especially as it acts like a track pump and has a rudimentary gauge.

sketchley

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

Topeak Road Morph - fantastic pump that will get to 120psi better than any other pump I tried - especially as it acts like a track pump and has a rudimentary gauge.

but it'll still leave you a sweaty mess by the side of the road attempting it....

greg66_tri_v2.0

Wallace1492 wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

_Brun_ wrote:

The CO2 is absorbed through the rubber at a much higher rate than regular air. It escapes quickly enough to leave you with another flat-ish tyre in less than 24 hours.

Experience suggests otherwise. Have you been reading stuff on the Internet again?

I do not know the reasons but I do know that if I inflate with CO2, then it goes down in a few days.

Every so often I get a tyre that loses pressure over a few days, however I've filled it. I've noticed that it is *always* because I've forgotten to screw the valve back in tight.

boondog

I can recommend the 2nd wind pumps that also take c02, then you can put a bit of air in before you inflate, makes putting the tyre on easier.

I punctured on saturdays ride, used c02 to get up to pressure and off I went. Next morning that tyre was down to 30 psi. I didn't deflate it, just topped it up with a track pump, and next day it was down to 40psi. Completely deflated it, reinflated and now it's staying at pressure.

meanredspider

Sketchley wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

Topeak Road Morph - fantastic pump that will get to 120psi better than any other pump I tried - especially as it acts like a track pump and has a rudimentary gauge.

but it'll still leave you a sweaty mess by the side of the road attempting it....

I'm normally a sweaty mess before I get the puncture so not a big deal for me. That said, I always just use CO2 at the roadside - because it's so fast.

vorsprung

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

Topeak Road Morph - fantastic pump that will get to 120psi better than any other pump I tried - especially as it acts like a track pump and has a rudimentary gauge.

+1 for the Road Morph
It is large for normal users (ie not freaks like me with Carradice saddlebags)

kelsen

1) Cheap tubes: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=41989

2) Agree with IP about the Air Chuck SL. It's simple and it works

3) Have experienced similar overnight deflations with CO2

4) Topeak Mini Morph can inflate to 100+ quite easily

nickel

Sketchley wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

Even with the best frame pump or mini pump 100psi is going to take a lot of effort to get too. Hence why I want to put c02 in the saddle bag. plenty of room in it!

Topeak Road Morph - fantastic pump that will get to 120psi better than any other pump I tried - especially as it acts like a track pump and has a rudimentary gauge.

but it'll still leave you a sweaty mess by the side of the road attempting it....

I've got a Lezyne pressure drive mini pump and its not particularly difficult to get to 100psi.