Picked up a Joe Blow from Halfords a while back as my ancient old Revolution track pump was getting a bit tired.
Initially the Joe Blow was great but it very quickly started to leak at the swivel joint where the hose joins the base, you had to sort of fiddle with the hose and in certain positions so it wouldn't leak.
Now the gauge is stuck at 40psi and the pump seems to do that thing where the air doesn't pass into the tyre and instead just pressurises the pump, so it jumps from 40psi to 120psi 🙄 Granted that last one might just be the valve sticking (tubeless) but it doesn't do it with the old Revolution pump.
I would have returned it by now but lost the receipt. So do I attempt a rebuild or is it just going to do it all again in 6 months, I thought these were supposed to be decent reliable pumps!
Ta
I'd still try and return it, or at least try and take it apart and put it back together again....
Mines been great for a good 10 years or so.
I've had a Joe Blow for nearly 20 years and have repaired the part you're talking about - spares are widely available and pretty inexpensive.
Don't Halfords take your email address when you buy something? I'd deffo try taking it back.
Or contact Topeak, they might just send you the bit. Worth asking.
I get intermittent issues with mine but it's an easy fix with some silicone spray in the non-return valve. It is a decent pump but it's definitely more temperamental than the Blackburn one I had for about 20 years and never needed fettling.
On my 2nd Joe Blow (1st lasted 20yrs) and can't see any point in spending more. All the spares are available, so keeping them going is easy. I got given a SKS Rennkompressor EVA, supposedly one of the best floor pumps, it's really nothing special in comparison.
As for the OP, send it back, Halfords receipts (like many modern retail receipts) are printed on thermal paper, which degrades over time, fades, and turns black when exposed to heat, so you cannot reasonably be expected to produce it. Go find the bank statement, that relate to the purchase and take that to customer service (or check if you have an e-receipt)
Ok, sounds worth trying to exchange or fix, thanks all.
I wonder if it had somehow ingested too much tubeless sealant and this is upsetting the check valve, but wouldn't explain why gauge has stuck...
That’s refund or replacement territory. 6 months and then breaking is not acceptable unless you been very harsh with it.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/#must
They're awful things. When my OG silca packed in (bought it as a teenager) i spent a few months playing with other shiny toys.
Joe blow (x3 i think, maybe 4), a high end blackburn (x2) and another one (can't remember the brand, 2 of them too) then got a Rennkompressor. Still have that, 20 years later. And another one that i ordered, then forgot about after they put it on back order...
I've got two Joe Blow's in the garage that do that thing where the pressure gage just shoots up and no air goes into the tyre. I'd be keen to hear how anyone has fixed this.
I have one that is 15+ years old and still works as well as the day that I bought it.
A couple of years ago my employer gave me some funds to buy bike tools for our cycle commuters so I bought a modern Joe Blow and it has been poor. I had to strip and reassemble it after six months and it was then ok for about a year but it is getting harder to use again.
I would not buy another.
I had one that seemed to last forever, then one that died (the head went and a replacement head was 2/3 of a new pump) then the next one kept having issues with seals and the non return valve. They're just not as good as they used to be.
I now use an electric pump from lidl 99% of the time, and the big compressor for seating tubeless.
Mine is over 10 years old and still going strong, although the gauge is way off (but it's consistently wrong so I can live with it).
FFIW, Topeak's warranty is great. I sent a broken BB Hide n'Tool back to Extra UK (their distributor) on Monday and the replacement arrived today (now in the classifieds as I've changed bike). Might be worth reaching out to them if you don't have any luck with Halfords.