CO2 inflator issues

Anonymous

I might be wrong, but I think my Co2 inflator gets so cold when I full a tube, that it actually freezes to the valve.

Is this actually happening? its just DAMN hard to get off once the tyre is filled, and I feel I might snap the valve off pulling it out. Do I just wait for it to cool down then remove or is there a nack to it?

(my inflator, and valve are both metal - this one - http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CHgQ8gIwBA)

Thanks for any help!

keef66

You may be right. I know from working with bigger CO2 bottles you can get ice building up if it's wet / humid.

No solution but to wait for it to warm up. You could always pee on it if you're in a hurry!

Monty Dog

It's down to the adiabatic expansion of the CO2 which rapidly cools as it expands and therefore causes any water and vapour to freeze and is one of the reasons why relying on CO2 in winter is not a good idea. As well as freezing and snapping the valve, the other problem is the tyre valve freezing open such that it immediately vents the gas after discharging the cannister leaving you with frozen fingers and a face like Frosty the Snowman! (been there, done that!)

Anonymous

Yeah I thought it was due to the freezing.
Doesn't seem to freeze the valve in just freezes the pump TO the valve, which has always been a bit of a pain to get it off, so I give it a tug and wiggle, but it requires quite a bit of force to remove it, and given my cheapy inner tubes, I can see myself wrenching the whole valve off.

I have seen a rather snazzy compact track pump, or I might try and get another co2 inflator which plastic connection...would that make any difference?

Monty Dog

For 100% reliability I'd go for a handpump every time - Lezyne Micro Floor is my choice. I have a couple of gas inflators but only use them for races or where I have back up.

Yossie

Yup - its freezing (or at least going ridiculously cold) - its why the metal cannister also goes really cold and sticks to your tongue.

Either a) carry a hot cup of tea with you at all times to pour on it, b) wee on it or c) just fill the tube in intermitent burst as opposed to one long fill.

Scrumple

Monty Dog wrote:

, the other problem is the tyre valve freezing open such that it immediately vents the gas after discharging the cannister

That has happened to me every time I use CO2 with my Air Chuck - never worked out why until reading this.

How do you stop it? I use the chuck, get the tyre ultra hard, then it just goes flat in a second!

How does one avert this tiresome problem, as I've gone through 5 cannisters now, helping various mates, and we always end up using a pump. There must be a fix or no one would buy them?!

sungod

Scrumple wrote:

<...>
There must be a fix or no one would buy them?!

it's an initiation rite, we all buy a co2 inflator, suffer, then use a mini pump

so as long as there are newcomers to cycling, there'll always be a market for co2 gadgets

Yossie

Errr - no. Inlate in short sharp bursts so that it doesn't have enough time to freeze.

Used loads, ne'er a problem.

ilm_zero7

or dont have a puncture when its colder than 10 deg - simples

Yossie

ILM Zero7 wrote:

or dont have a puncture when its colder than 10 deg - simples

very valid point, however (adopt geeky voice) I think you'll find its not the external air temperature that is causing the valve/canister freezing issue, it's the rush of compressed air into the valve that is causing it and the difference in temperature between the air the metal surrounds.

Its why the bottle goes really cold when you are filling the 'tube and you generally get a foam sleeve for the canister to sit in while filling and you can stick it to your mate's leg when he's not looking.

I am sure that Nina, being a neurologist, scientist and panto/tv/Taggart star could explain it all better but unfortunately I've left her at home in the dungeon. If only ………..

Scrumple

Your constant simperings are getting a little tired!

tyred

get it?

term1te

Never tried it, but how about using one of those flixible tubes you used to get on larger pumps between the valve and the CO2 inflator? I'm not sure if the thread would fit the CO2 inflator, but if it did, it will add a bit of distance between the CO2 canister and the valve and may prevent the valve freezing?

BridlingtonBiker

I have one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/genuine-innovations-ultraflate-plus-co2-tyre-inflator and I've admittadly only ever had to use it once on a cycle mates bike but it worked perfectly.

It did get cold and a little frosted but it didn't stick at all and the tube was well inflated.

Wooliferkins

I've got a lezyne CO2 with the hose and have frozen to and unscrewed the valve core twice now. Thread locked my valve cores in when it happened last week. Understand the physics but always rush on when it happens (Doh!)

malkins

Yossie wrote:

Errr - no. Inlate in short sharp bursts so that it doesn't have enough time to freeze.

Used loads, ne'er a problem.

+1 to that.
That's what I do too and I've never had a problem - also stops the canister getting so cold that your hands stick to it!

Scrumple

buy these at 30p

racingcondor

I use an Air Chuck type C02 inflator (and carry a pump).

Pretty sure the problem is that the rubber ring that forms the seal is freezing and losing it's elasticity, pop your thumbs under the rim and push it straight up, no wiggling means you can't rip off your valve (and by the time you're in the right position to do this it will have thawed enough that it'll come off anyway ;-)).

Oh and, keep the gloves on. That's important...

Scrumple

racingcondor wrote:

I use an Air Chuck type C02 inflator
the problem is that the rubber ring that forms the seal is freezing and losing it's elasticity, pop your thumbs under the rim and push it straight up, no wiggling means you can't rip off your valve (and by the time you're in the right position to do this it will have thawed enough that it'll come off anyway

I do - and would appreciate it if you said that again, but articulated it a bit more clearly from the point of view of someone who can't see which ring, seal, and rim you mean? Might be obvious to many but I don't follow....


thanks