My 20 year old Zefal track pump isn't working.
Has anybody got experience of this one from EBC?
Or should I just get the Silca?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
EBC Track pump
(29 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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I've had no problems with the Revolution except when the multi-purpose head thing ripped out the Schraeder valve from one of the cheap tubes my wife's bike came with. Fine ever since, though noisy to detach from Presta at high pressures.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I've had one for quite a few years. It works fine.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm happy enough with mine, the head isn't the best and some times takes a couple of goes to get it attached properly. It gets the pressure nice and high nice and fast and feels fairly sturdy.
If i was buying again though i might try to find one with a better connector although that would probably be tempered by the rapid increase in cost.
edit: Ah yeah i've only got the cheap one too...
Posted 13 years ago # -
we've got one; no problems, but not much to compare it to . Nope, I take it back, we've got the cheapo one!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Get the cheaper one for £9.99 - I just bought one so that my old track pump (a Revolution model from so long ago that they didn't have two versions - circa 2003 I think) could live at the office.
The original one never metered pressure for Schraeder valves, which was rarely a problem as we own none - I'm not sure about the new version.
Either way, it works so well for a tenner that I could never justify getting something more expensive. More expensive ones are plusher though (better attachment points, for example - like one for either type instead of a combi).
Posted 13 years ago # -
I love the screw-in heads on Lezyne's pumps. I find the compression / multi-valve heads a complete faff, in a situation where faffery is not wanted. Particularly on mini pumps they're also a pain as you often have to hold them on the head of the valve with one hand and try pump with the other and risk ripping out the valve head. Never rip out another valve head again with the Lezyne floor drive. Beautiful piece of engineering. Not a tenner though :(
Posted 13 years ago # -
Like amir and Dave I've had one of these for a few years and have no complaints (not even metering Schraeder ...).
Posted 13 years ago # -
I have one. Its fine for my schradar tubes but on the presta I had problems getting it to put air in the tube. I put it down to my inability to use it properly at first, and indeed it did bend a few of the core plug I unscrewed to get air in.
I had to push the connector onto the open valve, then either waggle it or pull it out slightly to get air into the tube. Most valves end up bent ... :(
Posted 13 years ago # -
Got one of the cheap ones, it puts air in tyres and tells me the pressure, cheap, bargain.
Prestas are a PITA sometimes, but that may just be me...Posted 13 years ago # -
I find with Presta valves that they always need two goes.
- You always have to let a bit of air out first.
Then clamp the EBC (or any dual head one) over.
Then try to get some air in.
Then sometimes unclamp and push onto valve harder
I used to think it was me or the particular pump. After trying assorted track pumps at The Bike Works they've found one of the best ones is made by Bontrager.
Inevitably many get borrowed and pulled off when still clamped so rubber seal goes (but not by me!).Posted 13 years ago # -
My Revolution pump has a rubber insert which when taken out looks like a rubber jelly:
The image is a section/slice through. I used the wider apature on a Schradar tube but it didn't fit the presta very well. I tried taking it out and reversing it but the narrow apature get pinched, like lips 'puckering up' and the presta doesn't fit that either.
I don't know what way was intended.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I find it helpful to have the valve at the bottom of the wheel. The pump stays in position much better.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Folds - I have purchased a few of the EBC under a tenner pumps for various locations.
I have a new one in sale £8.99 works nicely. I have an older one again <£10 it is less good now with age for the presta valve.
No idea if paying £29.99 for their deluxe model is going to mean better longevity. My instinct says no. I am also thinking if you want 20 years use again then you buy a better one?
At Balerno Bike Day the pump they had was not like Dave Crampton's diagram (which is like the two I have). Rather it had two separate apertures. One for presta and one for schrader.
I thought this was good but Druidh had an issue with this (which I cannot now remember).
Posted 13 years ago # -
My Zefal was £50 in 1990. I don't mind spending a few dollars for things which last.
I almost always use Prestas so if the EBC pump isn't great for them it could be a deal breaker.
Thanks for the info and I'll think for a day or two.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I got an SKS track for the bargain price of 25quid (60 normally!) and shes a beaut, will get up to pressure very fast and is incredibly solid and durable. and heavy. Im gonna spend another 25 for a roadmorph.
to get back ontopic, how come no voted for charlie? he maybe wasnt the funniest but easily the most talented
Posted 13 years ago # -
That really wasn't the topic but it asked me if I wanted a poll.
I do like Charlie, got Modern Times free from iTunes at Festivus, the Great Dictator is wonderful but I don't laugh that much. Marx bros made much the same point in Duck Soup.
Groucho always makes me laugh and he was a friend of Alice Cooper.
Posted 13 years ago # -
At Balerno Bike Day the pump they had was not like Dave Crampton's diagram (which is like the two I have). Rather it had two separate apertures. One for presta and one for schrader.I thought this was good but Druidh had an issue with this (which I cannot now remember).
Many of these pumps suffer with the same problem...the dual-head valve has a ball bearing which is supposed to cover the valve no in use. After a while, this ball bearing can get stuck in one position. I'm assuming that this is more likely to occur in a shop situation due to the much higher use the pumps get.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah the marx bros win by sheer numbers, they had harpo and groucho and the whole thing was a family outfit, charlie did it all himself and was more poetic than funny.
groucho was a great advocate of safer designs for cars and driving.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I seem to remember my grannie saw Laurel and Hardy when they came to edinburgh in the 30s.
Mind you, my dads cousin swears that Sean Connery delivered their milk when they lived on gorgie road many moons ago - hmmmmmmmm...........
... back on topic - I have the Revolution Air Track Pump Sport - £17.99 - automatically adjusts so no faffing about when doing my sons bike then mine.
I find it works well, certainly no probs getting tyres up to 120psi if thats what you need - so imagine your more expensive one will be fine.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I've had a Topeak Joe Blow pump for yonks. It's on its second rubber tube but the original dual-sided valve head. I did treat it to an automatic two-way head once but that never worked properly on Schraeder. I've had the pressure gauge right around the clock when doing a bit of 150psi inflation.
Dave C, you need to reverse the rubber grommet but there might also be a plastic 'valve poking thing' underneath it that also needs flipped over. Schrader needs a thin spike while Presta needs a larger tube.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I have a Genuine Innovations Top Dog.
They don't seem to do the same model any more; it's yellow with a wooden handle. I guess it cost a fair bit (it was a gift). Great pump.
I used to have a mini-ish pump with a plastic insert that could be swapped over for schrader or presta valves. However on a tour of Shetland the plastic insert melted due to my hot pumping action (oo-er).
I bought a replacement pump at a bike shop in Lerwick - a traditional Zefal with the flexible hose attachment that screws onto the valve. I have to say - that is a design that is hard to beat in my opinion.
Posted 13 years ago # -
cb - the Zefal or Lezyne brands with the old style tube to be screwed on to the valve is definitely the way forward.
Posted 13 years ago # -
cb - I have a Top Dog as well. Mine doesn't open presta valves as well as it used to. I have to get the pressure off the scale before there's a "ping" noise and it starts to inflate the tube.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hummed about the possible Presta problems. Went to see Alastair Gow and got a Blackburn track pump for £20.
And I got to talk to Alastair which is worth a few bob of anybody's money.
Posted 13 years ago # -
he builds oor wullie's wheels. must be good.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I had that page of the Sunday Post on my classroom door before someone broke the window. Should really put it back up.
Posted 13 years ago # -
My Revolution Air Track Pump Sport started playing up today, for reasons best known to itself.
Used last just before Easter, to inflate schraeder valve tyres on wee silver folder, just fine. Today was trying to inflate tyres on my son's mini MTB, again schraeders. Got some air into back tyre and then the (screw on) plastic cover for the pump head that fits over the valve came loose. Just moved a few millimetres, but enough to ensure the air just hissed out of the gap created.
Odd, though I. unscrewed the head, put the rubber gubbins back in position, carefully screwed on the head. Put the head on valve, try to lock it on, it pops off again. And again, and again, ad nauseam. Eventually had to get my Topeak mini track pump and do the tyres with that.
I've had the Revolution pump less than a year, bought in the August sales. Hardly used, maybe a dozen times, as I keep it in the house for 'emergency' inflating. Mostly I use my Joe Blow II in the garage, which has twin heads for schraeder/presta.
Okay, it only cost a tenner, but I expected the track pump to survive more uses than that! Anyone else had similar issues? Can I fix the problem somehow?
Posted 12 years ago # -
If it is that new they might replace the part. I think they stock all the spares on site.
Posted 12 years ago #
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