CO2 Inflator question

peat

Hi all,

Just procured on of these:



I wanted to suss it out before i need to use it and didn't want to use one of the canisters, so i attached it to an already inflated tyre. It says its compatable with schraeder and presta, but i can't seem to get it to seal properly (on my presta). It starts to let air out, but not at any great rate like if you had your finger on it.

I wonder, does the compressed air from the cansiter force the head and needle down when in use? I don't want to be stranded miles from home....

wishitwasallflat

EDIT _

Sorry all below is probably irrelevant just re-read your post and seen you didn't have a gas cylinder attached so I reckon the red bit must not fully close the hole to the gas cylinder attached. If the cyclinder was attached the pressure gradient would be from cylinder to tyre - but - as you are using it in a circumstance it was not designed for (i.e. on a full tyre with no cyclinder attached) it sounds like the red bit is not fully sealed and the pressure gradient is from tyre to open end where cyclinder should be and it leaks.

I have left below in case it helps someone ..


I have one of those and the sequence is -

Make sure the red plastic cap is screwed fully shut (that is what controls the gas flow)
Screw on the cyclinder tight (cylinder is open but not gas can get out)
Screw the gold threaded bit fully (tight) onto the open presta valve
Open the red bit to control the gas inflow
Once finished close the red bit and unscrew the gold bit and then open the red bit to vent any remaining gas from the cylinder.

All I can think that could cause it to not seal on a presta would be - in order of likihood I reckon -

1 - Gold theaded bit not fully screwed down onto the presta valve
2 - Valve core loose
3 - Faulty unit

Hope this helps and for what its worth I have used mine plenty of times and find it brilliant.

peat

Thanks for the reply.

Perhaps it is faulty. It doesn't seem to get anywhere close to engaging the needle on an already inflated tyre.

If you have the chance and it's not too much trouble, could you try the valve (without a canister installed) on an inflated tyre? I would have expected the air to howl out of it as if you have a finger on the valve.

wishitwasallflat

Having given you both a bollocks original answer - followed by a bollocks edit - I am delighted to have the chance to redeem myself by maybe helping you :oops: !!!

I just fitted mine to fully inflated front tyre and there is no air leak at all no matter whether red bit was fully open or closed - only time air leaked was from touching the valve when fitting or removing.

Reckon this must work the way my Joe Blow does - i.e. the needle only opens when pressure is greater from the cyclinder side.

Hope this time my ramblings are actually helpful

peat

Hero!

Thanks for taking the time to write and try that. Much appreciated.

I now have the inflator, spare tube and tyre levers safely tucked away in my saddlebag awaiting deployment!

wishitwasallflat

Good stuff

gjcknocker

I changed from mini pump to gas inflator earlier this year and so far have not had the occasion to use it , and as above said you should try it before you need to use it in an emergency, but then you basically are just wasting a canister..........where's that mini pump

pinarellokid

i see these cost about £20 to buy.

how much do the canisters cost? and is it one canister one use??

TrickyGB

i have one of these, again, no leakage like you've described

Pretty sure I didn't pay close to £20. Cannisters are pricey if you buy them in singles but can pick them up pretty cheap online in a batch:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Threaded-10-x ... 2323213a7e

This was just with a quick browse, can most likely find even cheaper