When it comes to repairing and maintaining your bike, including brakes, derailleurs, cables, and more, the checklist can seem endless. But there's another crucial, albeit often overlooked, element that arguably just as important to keeping your bike going: your foot pump .
Of course, your foot pump is going to kick the bucket at some point. But if a part breaks or stops working as well as it used to, chances are you can fix it.
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"During my time in the shops, I gave many pumps a second life," says Joël Bicyclette Nankman's mechanic, who has been professionally licensed for 13 years. When a customer came to the store to buy a new bicycle pump, Nankman said that sometimes he could just fix the old one.
Many of the repairs and maintenance are easy for most people enough to even perform . If you're done with a broken foot pump, don't throw it away right away. You may be able to restore it to its former glory. (Plus, it's environmentally friendly , isn't it?)
Find Nankman advice on repairing and maintaining your bicycle's foot pump.
Preventive maintenance of the foot pump
To get started, there are a few things you can do to prevent your foot pump from breaking in the first place. This is what Nankman recommends:
Keep it dry
You wouldn't leave your bike out in the rain (or maybe you did, but here's why you shouldn't ), and so does your foot pump. Keep your foot pump out of the elements and away from moisture that could damage it.
Pay attention to the temperature
I'm also guilty of shoving my bike's pump into my car and leaving it there indefinitely. While it can be helpful to always have one at the point of departure or at the start of a group trip , the pump, especially the pressure gauge, can become damaged over time.
General repairs to bicycle pumps
Trevor Raab
According to Nankman, the more money you spend on a bicycle pump, the better its quality and longevity, although this rule is not fixed and the cheapest foot pumps can sometimes exceed expectations.
According to Nankman, these are the most common parts that break or require maintenance on a foot pump: the pump head, air hose, pressure gauge, and main seal (or gasket).
"Depending on the pump, they are all interchangeable," he says. "In general, as the price of a pump increases, more parts can be exchanged and replaced."
Brands such as Lezyne, Park Tool, Specialized, Bontrager, Silca, Topeak, etc. We offer spare parts and conversion kits for foot pumps. Contact the manufacturer if this is the case. Otherwise, you may still be able to fix the problem. In particular, O-rings that maintain airtightness throughout the pump are easy to find in different sizes.
"Often parts are compatible with each other," says Nankman, but you need to know exactly before you buy these parts or have them on hand to experiment. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer to see if replacement parts are available, or contact your local bike store to see if mechanics can help you repair it.
Pump head and air hose
It may seem obvious that you need to use your foot pump properly to extend its life. In particular, you need to properly place the head on the valve. "Make sure you put the pump head on the right valve and that it is seated," says Nankman. (Also make sure you are using the correct valve head - here's the difference between a Presta valve and a Schrader valve .)
Trevor Raab
Depending on the type of foot pump, you can You can replace any pump heads or o-rings that create a secure seal. It's also easy to install a new pipe. Often you can find the replacement tube or the tube and pump head together. To install both, simply unscrew the threaded cap on the end and remove the hose or connector head.
Trevor Raab
Main seal
Like the many moving components on your bike, your foot pump parts need regular lubrication, especially the main seal at the end of the piston. "The main seal, also known as the piston seal or main seal, is basically the seal that pushes up and down to create air," explains Nankman.
Trevor Raab
Trevor Raab
If the pumping action feels grainy, noisy, or shows resistance, you may need to lubricate the main seal. Nankman recommends doing this at least once a year or more frequently if the pump is exposed to dry and dusty conditions. Standard bike grease does the job, or you can use Nankman's WD-40 Specialist Silicone Spray . However, if your pump piston uses a leather gasket instead of a rubber gasket, you will need a special lubricant, e.g. B. the NFS Leather Conditioner from Silca .
Restore your foot pump
"If you are using grease, you must remove the top cap from the pump to expose the piston. Remove the piston from the pump tube. Put some grease on the piston and reassemble it, "explains Nankman. "If you are using a liquid silicone lubricant, spray the pump shaft well, then pump up and down several times to distribute the lubricant inside the pump."
Pressure indicator
Over time, the pressure gauge on the foot pump can degrade, affecting accuracy.
"Accuracy is the main problem, but it's hard to quantify unless you have a new pump and you are comparing them. I tend to recommend that people get a meter in any case, "says Nankman, which can be used to test the accuracy of your pump's meter." Guardo Economic Son. One in every vehicle and some in the house.
Follow the manufacturer's directions for changing a new meter, although most are fairly straightforward. You remove the pressure gauge cap by unscrewing it or lifting it up.
How long can a bicycle pump last?
Trevor Raab
Well, it depends on how well it's built, how well maintained, and how spare parts become available over time.
Nankman owns his grandfather's German-made SKS RennKompressor floor pump - it's almost 50 years old and still works (although he admits he uses it sparingly). "I changed my head once and the leather seal several times," he says.
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