40 mil presta valve woes

[mikeloveshisrockhopper]

Hi there

I've got two bikes, therefore 4 wheels. One wheel has a 60 mil presta valve. This causes me no problems when inflating the tyre.

The other 3 have 40 mil presta valves and I really struggle to inflate them using the same floor pump. It's as if the valve is being closed by the pump making it tricky to impossible to inflate. I usually resort to my hand pump which obviously takes longer

Any tips or do I just need to change my tubes to those with 60 mil presta valves.

Thanks in advance

Mike.

 

[mjr]

This is not a valve length thing. I can cock up both

I was out of practice with Presta until recently (Schrader and Woods valves on most bikes here - only got a road bike again last summer) but the key things seem to be:

• to undo the top nut a bit but NOT all the way,
• to tap it open before attaching the pump head and
• to push the head on just far enough to grip/seal and a little more for luck and NOT shove it on as far as it will go (like I do for Woods)

I've used both and the problem with 60mm valves IMO is that they're far more awkward to get through the hole in the rim when changing them. Are your tubes/valves all the same brand?

 

[mikeloveshisrockhopper]

Thanks for responding. They're a variety of brands probably. Either Schwalb or Wilkinsons probably

I'll try your tips. It sounds sensible but I think I've tried not pushing the pump down too far and it's made no difference. I'll have another go though. Maybe I need to be more patient.

 

[Ajax Bay]

+1 for giving the unscrewed mini top nut a tap (letting a bit of air out) before attaching and pumping. could try using one of the flexible short hoses that you used to get for Woods valves between the track pump (clamp on) and the valve (screw on).

 

[screenman]

Buy a valve extender, that makes things easier with the floor pump.

 

[mikeloveshisrockhopper]

I considered a valve extender. I'll read up on them now. Thanks for all responses so far.

 

[mjr]

Thanks for responding. They're a variety of brands probably. Either Schwalb or Wilkinsons probably

Hehe, I think that's like buying your food from either Fortnum's or Tesco's I wouldn't be at all surprised if the troublesome ones are all Wilkinsons... I'm never buying another of their tubes unless I get REALLY stuck!

 

[mikeloveshisrockhopper]

Yeah I took a punt on the Wilkinsons tubes as they were cheap last summer. I've probably learnt my lesson.