[JustMtnB44]

I'm searching for one of these to use for inflating both tubed and tubeless tires with my air compressor. Ideally it would lock on to the valve stem to keep a hand free for helping get tubeless tires seated. I've found some options, anyone have experience with any of these?

http://www.prestaflator.com/ - inexpensive, but requires changing parts for schrader
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/airbob - looks cheap for the price, but should work well
http://www.parktool.com/product/shop-inflator-inf-1 - looks like you still have to hold it onto valve stem, but at least one hand operation
DIY something using floor pump head and auto inflator handle


I have a 6 year old model of this air compressor.

I also have an automotive style schrader inflator that works well with car tires, but is a pain for bike tires because you have to hold it onto the valve stem with one hand while squeezing the lever with the other. Also, needing to use a presta to schrader adapter is annoying.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

I've wanted something like this for a while. I would be someplace between the Park and the AirBob - I'd want to know accuracy and readability of the gauge prior to making a decision, though...

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Having looked more closely at the Park and the AirBob, neither of the gauges has sufficient resolution for what I want. The Park gauge goes to 220 PSIG and the AirBob to 160. I'm typically shooting for pressures in the 5-35 PSIG range and would really like to be able to inflate reliably to within a pound of my target pressure, and neither one would let me do that.

I wonder if someone makes one with an accurate digital gauge.

The AirBob looks as though the gauge could be replaced; the Park doesn't.

 

[JustMtnB44]

Yeah none of the gauges are very useful for large volume mountain bike tires. The Park gauge going to 220 psi is retarded, that's almost 100psi more than any tire would need. I haven't found any other bike specific inflators with gauges. Maybe the way to go is get an automotive inflator with digital gauge, and replace the head with a floor pump head. That raises the question of which floor pump head type and brand is best, a dual head style or single fits all style?

 

[kazlx]

OOOOhhh. I'm putting this together right now. Parts should be here shortly. Hoping it works decently. I get so tired of looking around for the stupid adapters. I want to have something right by my compressor. I just cut the end off the hose and shoved in a 3/8" barb x 1/4" NPT fitting. Will need a 1/4" NPT Tee to add in the pressure gauge. Then should have a foot activated momentary switch with a gauge and a whip that fits schrader or presta valves.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002K2H5T0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008IF08VA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087UCJ6I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[JustMtnB44]

Nice, the foot pedal switch is a great idea. I still haven't done anything with this other than decide to make one, so I might have to steal that idea. Let us know how it works out.

 

[kazlx]

I was actually looking for something hand operated like the air blow guns to adapt, but came across the foot switch on Amazon. Looked like it would work easily and had standard 1/4" NPT ports in and out so very easy to plumb with standard fittings.

 

[4130biker]

I have a park and I really like it. Easy to use one handed, which I have found doesn't need to lock on for tubeless since the valve core is attached to the rim and doesn't require being supported at first like a tubed setup. It's fully rebuildable, and is built to last a lifetime it seems. As for the resolution, it has been great for me, but I don't mind plus or minus a pound with my 2.3 tires.

 

[kazlx]

So I built my little contraption yesterday, but the foot switch is a piece of crap and leaked like crazy. Going to exchange for another one and see if it works, otherwise, I will return and try to find a different type. Seemed like it would have worked well if it didn't leak though.

 

[marpilli]

I purchased an SKS presta adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Presta-Adapter-Chain-Floor-Spare/dp/B000X63JUO) from my LBS and it's worked great. I use it for tubeless setups all the time. Just press it onto the presta stem and use whatever schrader inflator you have laying around.

 

[JustMtnB44]

I have a park and I really like it. Easy to use one handed

That's good to hear. Of course the Park is the most expensive option, so it would suck if it didn't work well.

So I built my little contraption yesterday, but the foot switch is a piece of crap and leaked like crazy. Going to exchange for another one and see if it works, otherwise, I will return and try to find a different type. Seemed like it would have worked well if it didn't leak though.

I looked through most of the foot pedals on Amazon and they all seem to be cheap Chinese units, but anything better from someplace like McMaster is 3x the cost...

I purchased an SKS presta adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Presta-Adapter-Chain-Floor-Spare/dp/B000X63JUO) from my LBS and it's worked great. I use it for tubeless setups all the time. Just press it onto the presta stem and use whatever schrader inflator you have laying around.

Those are nice but still only an adapter, the issue I have is having to hold the automotive style schrader filler onto the adapter. It would be nice to have one or both hands free to help get the tire seated.

 

[MmmBones]

That raises the question of which floor pump head type and brand is best, a dual head style or single fits all style?

Topeak JoeBlow SmartHead works great and is relatively inexpensive.

 

[JustMtnB44]

I used kazlx's foot switch idea to put together a tire inflator over the weekend. It seems to work well so far, but I haven't used it to seat a tubeless tire yet. I also think I'm going to make a base plate for the foot pedal to give it more stability.

Incorrect location of input port

Correct location of input port

So I built my little contraption yesterday, but the foot switch is a piece of crap and leaked like crazy. Going to exchange for another one and see if it works, otherwise, I will return and try to find a different type. Seemed like it would have worked well if it didn't leak though.

Did you try switching the ports on the pedal? If you plumb the supply into the outlet, it will leak a lot even though it still works when the pedal is pressed. That is what I did the first time.

 

[JustMtnB44]

Topeak JoeBlow SmartHead works great and is relatively inexpensive.

I went with this one, similar to SmartHead but 1/2 the cost.
http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Universal-Bicycle-Replacement-Floor/dp/B002K2OHZU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429042479&sr=8-2

 

[kazlx]

Did you try switching the ports on the pedal? If you plumb the supply into the outlet, it will leak a lot even though it still works when the pedal is pressed. That is what I did the first time.

I did. The one I got was just a piece of crap. Which pedal did you get?

 

[JustMtnB44]

I did. The one I got was just a piece of crap. Which pedal did you get?

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Amico-FV-02-Position-Pneumatic-Pedal/dp/B007Q83USS/ref=pd_sim_hi_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=05SAZT0MX5WP435ZB8AH

 

[JustMtnB44]

Update: while my contraption seemed to work ok at first, it quickly developed one problem. The foot pedal would flow air to the tire fine, so for seating beads it worked well. But the air pressure in the tire would leak back through and out the pedal, making the gauge useless and not being ideal for just adding air to tires. I looked into other pedal options, but I think all of the cheap Chinese pedals on amazon are equally crappy; what do you expect for $15 I guess. I figured that adding a check valve between the pedal and gauge would fix the issue though, so I just installed it today and it so far so good for inflating tires. I haven't used it for seating tubeless in this config so hopefully the check value doesn't restrict the flow volume too much, although I think the pedal is the limiting factor there anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/Control-Devices-Brass-Check-Valve/dp/B007GDX93E