Cycling UK Forum

Hi I'm looking for help/advice with regard to track pumps. I recently bought a [park tool] track pump. The problem I am finding is in getting it to fit/lock securely on the valve, a few pumps and it blows off, it did seem a bit better on an old theaded valve as against the smooth ones that seem to be all you can get now. This is on a road bike 700x28 about 95-100psi.On advice I try'd letting the tyre right down first, so I could press on the valve from behind to get it well in, but this seems a bit self defeating when you look at it. I guess it must be my fault, so could someone please tell me what is the right way to use a track pump. I'ts making me feel a idiot, an driving me mad. Thanks for any help
eddie

they're good when they're working, but the mistakes i've made with mine make me blush even now.

but in the spirit of helping, i'll gladly state how i made an ass of myself

i assume that the lever on the top makes the rubber sleeve tighter or looser...you are doing it the right way around, aren't you

also the rubber sleeve may be different on each end, one end for a car type calve and the other for high pressure valves...it is in the right way round?

I often seem to suffer from a 'sticking valve' situation.

I can pump and pump, but all I'm doing is pressurising to hose. Eventually a click is heard, then the air gets into the tyre at last! Sometimes, this over-pressure in the hose blows the connection off the valve.

Instructions for Park Tool Home Mechanic pump

(For some reason, they don't show instructions for the Pro model - they must assume they know.)

Looking at the pics and reading the instructions, it looks as though hubbers has covered the only possibilities.

Thank you gents, and it's nice to know maybe I'm not the only one that's had problems. Many thanks for the diagram link it was very good as thats the one I bought. May the wind always be at your back. eddie

Mick F says he has a sticking valve when inflating. I always unscrew the valve screw a couple of turns, press it in to release a small amount of air thereby freeing the sticky valve, following which the tyre inflates without any trouble.

Gordon Eden