Bike Pump Presta Head

why can’t i inflate my presta valve tyre on my bike with the adaptor for a schroeder – it goes to 20psi. x?

I have just bought a small push-on pump which has a flick switch at the back of the head and it just won’t push air thro’ above 20psi! It’s so frustrating

i assume you mean you are using a presta adapter in a scrader pump to inflate a presta valve? first off, once you have unscrewed the small locking barrel on the end of the tube valve, press or tap it briefly to break the rubber seal inside the valve. you should hear a hiss of air, or, if the tube is completely deflated, it should now press in easily and be loose. this seal can often become tight when the locking barrel is screwed down (this is what stops the air escaping!), and can stay sealed (tight) when the locking barrel is unscrewed. as you pump, the increasing pressure inside the pump barrel usually breaks this seal unless it is very tight and i am guessing this is why you are only getting up to 20psi. this is pressure inside the pump barrel, not what is going into the tube; pressing the valve down as described will solve this problem. secondly, does the adapter look like it may be missing a (usually hard) rubber washer at either the pump end or the tube valve end? there are many different makes and takes on these sort of things by different manufacturers, so if there isn’t a washer, that doesn’t neccessarily mean there has to be one. now that the valve seal is “broken”, screw the adapter onto the valve stem until it is seated firmly and tight – do not over do it, finger tight is enough. your schrader pump should now push on over the end. the “flick switch” on the rear of the pump head should be engaged and tight to clamp and seal the adapter head in the end of the pump. this will stop leaks here once the pressure starts to build up. start pumping! if your tire does not now inflate, there must be a sealing issue with the adapter you are using either between the pump/adapter or the adapter/valve stem OR there may be a problem with the tube valve itself.

i would put money on pressing the valve locking-barrel down before pumping as the most obvious problem and solution.

Changing the Head- Road, Mini, Mountain Morph

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