

The fact the two halves twist-lock together when not in use means the shaft is more likely to stay clean which is crucial with large-bore pumps where there’s already more seal drag and a bit of grit can lock them solid. As long as the tyre is properly popped into place that’s enough for all MTB and most gravel purposes though and there are plenty of high-pressure options in the Air Tool family. The large stroke volume means you’ll have to work hard to get up to 30psi and you’ll be risking the veins in your temple getting close to Specialized’s claimed 50psi.
SPECIALIZED AIRTOOL PUMP OL HOW TO
I keep one in each vehicle, and a few around the house.”įollow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to swap in a new gauge, though most are fairly straightforward you’ll remove the pressure gauge cover by either unscrewing it or prying it off.It’ll obviously top-up conventional or pre-seated tyres quickly and easily too, so if you’re running fat rubber it’s awesome.


I tend to recommend that people get a stand-alone pressure gauge anyway,” Nankman says, which you can use to test the accuracy of your pump’s pressure gauge. “Accuracy is the main, but that is hard to quantify unless you get a new pump and compare it. Over time, your floor pump’s pressure gauge can start to deteriorate, making it less accurate. “If using a liquid silicone lubricant, a good spray on the pump shaft, and then pump up and down a few times to get the lube to get everywhere in the pump.” Pressure Gauge Apply a little bit of grease to the plunger and reassemble,” Nankman says. “If using grease, you need to take the top cap off the pump to expose the plunger. (Also, make sure you’re using the right valve head: Here’s the difference between a Presta valve and a Schrader valve.) “Make sure you put the pump head on the valve straight and make sure it is seated,” Nankman says. Specifically, you need to fit the head properly onto the valve. It might seem obvious that in order to prolong the life of your floor pump, you need to use it correctly. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer to see if replacement parts are available, or visit your local bike shop to see if the mechanics can help you fix it. “Very often parts are cross-compatible,” Nankman says, but you’d either need to know that for sure before buying them or happen to already have those parts on hand to experiment. O-rings in particular, which maintain the air seal throughout the pump, can be readily found in a variety of sizes. If not, you might still be able to fix it. Check with the manufacturer to see if that’s the case for yours.
