Bike pumps, dim newbie question

[seadragon]

I wouldn’t say I am a total newbie, but I am not too familiar with bike pumps and which can use both Schrader and Presta. I have 2 bikes with Schrader and now my new folder has Presta. I tried to use the pump from my Brompton but no luck, I guess it only works with Schrader. I however have a floor pump at home and have no idea if it will work or not.

Without damaging the valves is there any way I can tell on the pump whether it can use both Schrader and Presta, because I also use that for my Schrader valved bikes, because I don’t really want to have to buy a 3rd bike pump if I can help it.

Thanks in advance

[CoolC]

My Bontrager track pump (don't recall it's exact model now) works on both types.

It has a little graphic on the head showing it too.

I'd guess any pump that will fit both will say so somewhere on it or on that packaging so just take a look in the shop/on the net.

[seadragon]

Ok thanks, I guess it hadn’t occurred to me that there might be a graphic somewhere. It was a cheapo one I bought from Halfords about 5 years ago. I guess an option could be some kind of pump adaptor

Thanks for the advice

[walm]

In my experience:
If the hole is really wide and screws in = schrader only.
If thin and screws in = presta only.
If it CLAMPS on - usually works for both but sometimes needs a little fettling to get the pointy outy thing to work when you put air in a schrader cause the schrader needs a force pushing against the valve.

[prand]

I would have thought most pumps nowadays have the ability to fit both. I have a hand pump where you unscrew the cap with the hole in, reverse the rubber bit and a harder plastic valve to do presta or schrader. You might find also one of your pumps has twin holes at the head of the pump you can select the one you need. My track pump has a twin head.

[seadragon]

Thanks, both my pumps clamp on but they dont reach far enough and I dont want to force them and bend the valves. Maybe they work and I just need to force it but I dont know for sure and dont want to risk without some advice.

I will look for a graphic and if I can see the make and model of the pump on the net I will see if I can find some info on it.

Thanks again

[walm]

If you are trying to get it to work on a presta then you may have the pointy outy thing still sticking out preventing the pump nozzle dropping far enough down the valve to get purchase.

As above you may need to unscrew the head of the pump and flip something over (the pointy outy thing) to get it to work on presta.

Definitely don't just shove harder!

[Gizmoish]

And don't forget to unscrew the bit in the middle of the valve for presta.

[Jayfish]

Buy a load of presta tubes for all your bkes, throw away the schrader ones, never worry about it again

[XG332]

If it works on schrader valves than you can do what I do.
Get a little screw on adapter.
You unscrew the Presta, screw on the adapter and then just use the pump as normal.
Think Halfords sell them for about a quid.

[yellowjack]

XG332 said:

If it works on schrader valves than you can do what I do.
Get a little screw on adapter.
You unscrew the Presta, screw on the adapter and then just use the pump as normal.
Think Halfords sell them for about a quid.

If you are going to buy a... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=brass+presta+val... ...I would implore you to buy at least one for each bike that needs it, and leave it attached to the bike. Also, buy the one with the longest thread you can. I had three in the garage (they sometimes come with a track pump/compressor) but two of them went in the bin because the exposed thread to which the Schrader pump head is attached was too short to be of any use.

Alternatively buy a Lezyne pump to carry when you are out... http://www.wigglestatic.com/images/lezyne-pressure... ...this one will do both valve types.

Most Track/Workshop pumps these days have a clamp-on 'double' head. You clamp on the side that fits your valve and the air pressure of the first pumping stroke automatically shuts off the flow to the unused 'hole'.

Cheapest solution is obviously the brass adaptor (do not buy plastic - they will not last).

If you have a glance at the right hand side of this page... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/silca-presta-to-schrader-v... ...you'll see that there is an adaptor to allow the use of a Presta pump on a Schrader valve. I have no experience of using such an item, though.

[Gizmoish]

yellowjack said:

If you have a glance at the right hand side of this page... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/silca-presta-to-schrader-v... ...you'll see that there is an adaptor to allow the use of a Presta pump on a Schrader valve. I have no experience of using such an item, though.

They work.

For about five minutes.

[XG332]

Gizmoish said:

They work.

For about five minutes.

Ive been using mine for the last year to inflate my road tyres to 110psi with a compressor and an adapter.

[Gizmoish]

Must be me then: I used to use one with a car foot pump and it just shredded the rubber inside the head and fell out.

[MiseryStreak]

I got this:
http://www.topeak.com/products/Pumps/racerocket_hp...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/topeak/raceroc...

Only £22.50, works on both valves as experimentally confirmed in Belgium at the weekend where we got three punctures on two bikes in the space of 20 minutes. Inflates to 110psi no problem (says 160 max but you'd need some muscles!). Also fits into my Byasi storage bottle:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/elite/byasi-st...

So keeps it off the frame and out of the elements and prevents a 'rule' violation.