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I have recently converted to tubeless and after spending an evening trying to get a tyre to seal with a track pump then sealing it in 20 seconds with a compressor in the LBS I've decided to buy a compressor.
I won't really need it for anything else so how big and powerful does it need to be?
+1 for the Bontrager Charge pump.. works well and you can chuck it in the car for events etc.
As a happy Aldi compressor owner, I'd say get an Airshot or Charge if it's exclusively for bike use.
The compressor does some other jobs for me and is a bit cheaper but less portable (you can and I have used an invertor but it's not exactly hassle free and another item on the pack list).
If you do a search for 'ghetto tubeless compressor' or ssuchlike you'll find the pop bottle method. 9p tubeless imaybe? I'm at work at present so can't search but I'm sure someone can link to it for you? I do it this way, works a treat 🙂
EDIT: [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-total-cost-9p ]found it[/url]
I've done the coke bottle thing and it sort of works and those bontrager things are utterly useless!
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-mk-vii ]http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-mk-vii[/url]
I use a garden sprayer... nice to be able to take it to events.
Made my own tubeless inflator yesterday with thanks to Nobby
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ghetto-tubeless-inflator-mk-vii
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i just love my coke bottle ghetto inflator. never fails! changed four tyres at the weekend in minutes, ping ping ping!!!
that reminds me, run out of sealant...
I keep meaning to ask the blokes at our local tip if I can have an old fire extinguisher to make one of those.
daft question but i'm assuming that the air compressors that come with my 5 in 1 compressor/jumpstarter/ thing for the car doesn't work in the same way.
[url= http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/5-in-1-power-station-with-air-compressor-a67hy?gclid=CMj1-K_45McCFSTmwgodaDIDWQ ]this kind of thing[/url]
The coke bottle trick sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. So sick of spending 2 hours trying to inflate my tyres that I've gone back to tubes.
[i]I've gone back to tubes.[/i]
That's crazy talk
+1 for the Airshot especially if you already have a track pump
I've barely used my compressor since I got an Airshot. Works really well and it's great for trips away too.
theres absolutely no question about if it will inflate or not with a compressor.
ive inflated tires with huge holes in the side - forgetting they had cut through.
Getting them to stay inflated is another challenge all together but the compressor has had a 100% success rate.
how ever - i probably brought a machine gun to a knife fight with a 3hp 150 litre tank hard plumbed into the garage with a retractable reel on the end so its easier than getting the track pump out even.
before that my little 25 litre job did the same job - it just stuggled with spraying my land rover and running my impact wrench.
chrishc777 - Member
I've done the coke bottle thing and it sort of works and those bontrager things are utterly useless!
How are they useless?
I've inflated a dozen tyres so far with mine and every single one has gone up and seated each time.
chrishc777 - Member
I've done the coke bottle thing and it sort of works and those bontrager things are utterly useless!
erm, wut? It's an absolute piece of piss to use! Mount tyre, put in sealant, charge pump, pull lever, ride bike*
*After Stans dance, obvs
I wasted a bit of time on a coke bottle, never got it to inflate a tyre that I couldn't get up with a pump. My extinguisher-flater's a bit OTT, I used a full size water extinguisher (because it was free) so it takes quite an effort to get it to pressure but it's very effective. And just used bits I had lying around to build.
being honest i never really had an issue getting tubeless tires to seat with the track pump.
with the compressor ANY tire will seat - and on my XC bike i regularly run non tubeless tires so long as i get them to seal up via the stans dance.
I bought one of [url= http://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-8216035scr011-24ltr-compressor-with-5-piece-accessory-kit-240v/48089?kpid=48089&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Power%20Tools-_-Shopping%20-%20Power%20Tools&gclid=CjwKEAjw67SvBRC1m5zPv4GboAUSJAB6MJlkSxDV5rmL-c5uDq2S5Y2YaQ7DEvHfrs4tRyJVL3EktBoCmv7w_wcB&kpid=48089 ]these[/url], granted I have used it for spraying the garden fence :D, minimal hassle for tubeless tyres though 🙂
trail_rat - Memberwith the compressor ANY tire will seat
Not my experience. Most, aye, but not all. I mean, leaving aside outright defective ones like those old super-tight schwalbes.
I used the Bontrager thingy in the shop at Fort Bill and it didn't even come close to sealing, I came closer with a track pump, admittedly with a lot more effort.
That fire extimguisher thing looks good though, request sent to the fire safety officer at work, and apparently I'm not the first to ask!
May I ask what is the Stans dance? Maybe I'm just missing something
You launched 160PSi+ (you did put the handle down?) into the tyre and it didn't do anything? What combination were you using?
I used the Bontrager thingy in the shop at Fort Bill and it didn't even come close to sealing, I came closer with a track pump, admittedly with a lot more effort.
I've had one of the Bontrager things for around six months now, works brilliantly on everything I've tried. If you've found a standard track pump works better, you're possibly doing something wrong, though god knows what.
I've had one of the Bontrager things for around six months now, works brilliantly on everything I've tried. If you've found a standard track pump works better, you're possibly doing something wrong, though god knows what.
+1, great bit of kit.
Where has the best price on one of those bonty pumps? My coke bottle needs replacing soon, as does my track pump...
Airshot for me works really well.
I have used it to go tubeless on fat bike tyres, works well.
If it will seat fat bike tyres, then ordinary tyres are simple.
The Bonty pump does shoot 140psi in, the fact it took about a minute to do so is the problem!
Anyway I've now made a fire extinguisher one and it seems to charge and discharge very well, just need to find an old track pump to cut the hose off so I can attach the extinguisher to my tyre and it's good to go!
[quote=DT78]Where has the best price on one of those bonty pumps?
When I got mine a few weeks ago Pedalon were cheapest I could find.
Struggled a bit with a 3" Chronicle on hookless rims (so couldn't pre-seat with a tube) but went up 3rd time holding the tyre down near the valve. Everything else (including 2.4 Ardent on the same rim) went up first time.
The ghetto coke bottle worked a treat for me for over 2 years, but being bashed around in the boot took it's toll and the joints ended up leaking and was difficult to get it up to the required pressure. LBS offered a good price on the Airshot and as I like proper tools for the job I bought one and it's been absolutelly faultless. If I'd have found an old fire extinguisher before buying the Airchot I'd have converted one of those... but I wanted a stainless steel one because I'm a tart 😆
Screwfix do a 25 litre compressor for £99 including a tyre inflator, airgun and various paint sprayer attachments. Ok, you can't call it exactly portable, but if it's for the garage or workshop I'd recommend it over the Bonty Flash thing.
chrishc777 - Member
The Bonty pump does shoot 140psi in, the fact it took about a minute to do so is the problem!
Did you remove the valve core?
No, surely if I did that as as soon as I removed the pump it'd deflate? Might help it seat but if it then has to be deflated I'm back to square one
The Bonty pump does shoot 140psi in, the fact it took about a minute to do so is the problem!
Sounds like it was a dodgy pump. Mine is nearly as quick as any compressor I have used, have done about 10 tyres on various different wheels without fail thus far.
40hp, 160cfm should just about do it: [URL= http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/ScouseMonkey/IMG_20150519_115313.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/ScouseMonkey/IMG_20150519_115313.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Sold that though and now have a smaller (100 cfm) diesel hydrovane unit. But now it looks like I need 3 phase again 👿
No, surely if I did that as as soon as I removed the pump it'd deflate? Might help it seat but if it then has to be deflated I'm back to square one
Not really. Removing the core allows the air in quicker and seats the tyre. I tend to leave mine attached to the coke for a few minutes after that then pull the hose off, reinsert valve core and pump with track pump. After the tyre has been seated it goes up like it has a tube in it.
only problem being my fire extinguisher thingy's attachment will only work on a presta if it has the valve core in, otherwise the air just flows straight into the schrader outlet...
I was in Lidls earlier and saw that they have or had their compressor for around £80. I have no idea if these are any good or not and I can't even find it on their website... 🙄
I use something similar to the extinguisher.
Its a [url= http://tinypic.com/r/10q9dl1/8 ]tank[/url] from an old oil boiler,welded the seam for strength.
Already had a presta valve on so just connected a hose and gauge.
Pressure it up with a track pump or tyre compressor to 80 psi.
Works a treat.