Presta Valves and a lesson learned

[wiggydiggy]

Came to pump up my tyres, with their shiny Presta valves for the first time. Got my adapter, screwed it on and spent the next 20 mins staring at it and my pump wondering how the valve gets pressed in (like a Schraeder) by either the adapter or the pump so the air can get in.....

I completely failed to realise that the just the act of pushing air from the pump would depress the valve and that same air trying to escape will push the valve closed

Sometimes the simplest things perplex you!

 

[ColinJ]

I completely failed to realise that the just the act of pushing air from the pump would depress the valve and that same air trying to escape will push the valve closed

Sometimes the pressure from the pump doesn't open the valve, so always depress the knurled bit with your finger to free it once you have unscrewed it! Once the tyre is pumped up, always do the knurled bit back up because sometimes air leaks out if you don't.

 

[wiggydiggy]

No worries cheers!

I've got an ok/good track pump from 'Clas Ohlson'. Its well made and that but I dont trust the gauge - I started to have resistance depressing at supposedly 60psi, but I think it was more like 80ish

 

[billy1561]

I replace the dust caps too but only in case of crap getting in which could possibly cause the knurled bit to stick. A quick tap of the knurled bit as Colin rightly says does the trick.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The vids I watched on Youtube all had that, it just didn't 'click' for me that when I pumped air in it would automatically push the valve down