How to use mini bicycle hand pump?
Answers:
If your askig this question you may have issues that the pump is set up for a valve system that you do not have. If the pump will not work to inflate your tire and you cannot get the pump to properly seat on the valve this is probably your problem.
When a mini pump is purchased it is normally set up for a schrader valve(car tire). The opening should be large and you set the pump onto the valve flip the lever behind the opening to lock the pump into place on the valve and pump up the tire.
If you have presta valves(skinny metal valve) the initial set up will not work. To change the pump to a presta valve set up unscrew the top portion above where you insert the valve. Flick the lever behind the valve and a small rubber piece should extend slightly, pull this out and then turn the pump over and smack it into your hand. Another plastic piece should fall out of the pump. Invert both of these pieces so that the plastic piece has the long pointed end facing down with the small opening facing up and the rubber piece is put back in with the small hole facing up. Screw the top back on, then unscrew the top metal piece of the presta valve. Tap it once to make sure the seal is broken and push the pump on, lock the lever in place and pump up the tire.
I'm afraid you'll have to blow it yourself.
get the extending type push on the valve and pump like buggery
What do you want to use it for? If you want to infalte your bike tire, it's pretty self explanatory.
If you have a road bike with >100psi tires I would ditch the hand pump and get a CO2 pump kit. I have a floor pump at home of course, but on the road I had a heck of a time trying to get my tires up to any amount of pressure with my frame pump.
My personal opinion of those mini pumps are there basically garbage, they only work half the time and that's when you don't need them. After retiring three to the circular file I learned.
I believe Lisa said it right, buy yourself a good floor pump for home use and a CO2 kit to carry on your bike, there alot less hassle to use and easyer to carry than those mini pumps, and only about one tenth the work.
There are a few factors you need to take into consideration when using a mini pump. First is what type of valve your tubes have. Another poster already described the difference between presta and schrader valves. Most mini pumps can do both, but you may need to take the head apart to make it work with yours.
The second issue is that some pumps are high volume and some are high pressure. High pressure pumps are for road bikes, generally for tires above 60 psi. High volume pumps are for mountain bikes because they have much higher air volume, but run at lower pressure (30-40 psi). Some mini pumps have a switch between the two, but most are made for one or the other. The packaging will usually tell you which it is. If you try to use a high volume pump on a high psi tire, you will not be able to get the psi high enough. If you use a high pressure pump on a tire with high air volume, it will take a long time to pump your tire.
It is always a good idea to have a floor pump at home with an accurate guage because with a mini-pump, you are just guessing. But it will get you home if you have to fix your tire.
As for CO2, it is handy if you flat once or twice, depending on how many spare cartridges you are carrying, but I stopped carrying them for regular rides because of two reasons. First, the cheap cartridges (12 oz, usually 99 cents) will not fill a mountain bike tire enough. I have never used one on a road tire, so I don't know if they work for that. The bigger cartridges are fairly pricey, it seems like a waste of money to me. The second problem with CO2 is if you use all your cartridges and get another flat, you are out of luck and walking. This happened to me once in a race. I got four flats (rim tape problem) and almost had to walk out about 6 miles, but luckily someone came along and lent me his mini pump. Since then I always carry a mini pump, even if I am also carrying CO2.
As for how to use one.remove the cover on the valve of your tube. If presta, unscrew the head of the valve, press in to make sure it is loose. The push the head of the pump on the valve, lock it in place (usually requires a twist of the head or a flip of a lever) and then start pumping. Make sure you pull the handle all the way out and push it all the way in on each stroke. Keep doing this until the tire is firm. If you cannot pump in air, the head is not on the valve properly. If it is not sealing, you may have the head set for schrader, but you have a presta valve, or the head of the pump is not pushed in far enough. Be careful with presta valves to not bend the little piece on the end. After the tire is firm, carefully remove the pump so you let out a minimum of air, then screw back in the valve or cover.
ditch the mini bike pump. They're not worth it. If you have to go with on, get the full frame length pumps. They are actually decent. It would be best to get the CO2 inflaters. Just get the unthreaded model that can use the 12ounce canisters. If you have a walmart go to their sporting goods section and grab a box of CO2 canisters (12) for about $8. It's a lot cheaper than a bike shop. You can find these in with the BB guns and paintball section. It might cost a little bit more but some of these have triggers so you can add a little bit of air and still have some left over. You probably need 1 1/2 for 26" and 2-2 1/4 for 700c tires.
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