Yet Another Tubeless Question
My current track pump doesn’t do the trick to seat tyres. Would I be better to replace it with a pump that includes a pressure chamber, or should I buy an Airshot (or similar) to use with my present pump.
And in either case, what do you recommend?
Airshot. No point buying another track pump when you have one. Your track pump does need to get to 140psi or so for the airshot, so if it doesn't then consider an all in one pump/pressure chamber doodah.
What pump have you got now?
I've a Lezyne high volume one (not the enormous volume fat bike one) and it's always done the job, especially if I take the valve core out first.
Airshot.
It just sits in my tool tray most of the time, but when I need to change tyres the whole process takes just 5 mins. Because - correct tool.
some (but not all) of the pump with pressure chamber pumps have no way of disconnecting the chamber. So if you just want to top up your tyre, you hook it on and the tyre fills the chamber. Much unwanted pumping ensues.
Have you tried removing the valve core and using the schrader end of the track pump to seat your tyres? I've used this method for years, and not had to reach for my airshot.
I have the Lezyne Steel Floor Drive which should be OK, I think, for an Airshot. Is the Airshot better than similar items (Schwalbe do one too, I see, and the inevitable Wiggle one)
An all in one solution is almost guaranteed to be more expensive and more likely to fail. I'd go for an airshot
Pmd you
Airshot @ £46 seems pricy for something you can knock together for a tenner without much effort.
You can do it with your existing track pump if you use a ratchet strap........this guy is seating his lawnmower tyres, i couldn't find the GMBN bodge or hack vid, but it works w bike tyres too. yes really does.....
I have the Topeak Joe Blow Booster which works just fine but will be more expensive than Airshot.
I’ve never managed to seat a tubeless tyre just with a track pump. Tried to use a ratchet strap / extra inner tube round the outside of the tyre etc etc. Nope.
Tried an all in one pump from Chiggle which was ok until a seal failed inside it and it was then scrap. Luckily it was warrantee’d with no drama.
Got a Lezyne track pump with the abs head which I really like - use it with an airshot for tubeless tyres. Works much better than the all in one as it moves more volume of air. I normally pump it up to 160psi and that usually pops a tyre on first time in one blast unless you get a particularly stubborn one.
I know some people have made them out of coke bottles / fire extinguishers but I just wanted to buy something off the shelf that just worked. I got the airshot + the neoprene sock to keep on it to cushion the bottle if you drop it / chuck it in a toolbox etc.
I just have a cheap compressor as I have the Lezyne high pressure track pump rather than the high volume version (which is half decent for tubeless).
If Lidl/Aldi have their cheap compressors in stock it’s worth getting one.
If the ratchet strap ain't working you can always try taking out the valve core and using a CO2 cartridge
Most tyres I can get to seat no bother with a track pump, but Michelin DH22 - not a chance.
Inevitable question following a rare STW consensus... any PSA for deals on Airshots?
Airshot for me. Use a compressor now but still take the airshot when we're away from home.
Think mine was £50! Assume they're a lot more now.
Airshot @ £46 seems pricy for something you can knock together for a tenner without much effort.
Yeah, no. I don't trust myself to build something that'll handle 10 bar remotely reliably 🤣.
+1 on that - I could build it for a tenner if I don't value my labour or my eyeballs. (I just bought one and life got easier.)
Airshot, works so well I don't care to remember how much I paid for it!
Try this trick worked for me on several occasions
Airshot FTW, seems expensive for what is basically an empty bottle but it makes tubeless much less of a faff. That said I've just had a battle royale getting a Michelin Newton to pop onto the Hope Fortus even with the Airshot!
I got an Airshot for £39 in December so if you shop around there are still some good deals available
Airshot is amazeballs.
Ive successfully used a ratchet strap an number of times. Its a faff tho. CO2 has also worked for me.
Just make sure that if you use CO2 that it's done dry - sealant doesn't react well to it.
I made a ghetto inflator out of a 2nd hand fire extinguisher for the cost of an air fitting. Works really well though I do need to seal it better as it's annoyingly losing air over time which given it's a pretty big volume and you can do multiple tyres with one fill, if it doesn't dissipate.