My Bicycle Pump Won't Work

Every cyclist should own a pump.

Whether you are a casual or competitive cyclist--or somewhere in between--you should own a bicycle pump. Floor pumps are designed to stay at home for use pre- and post-ride. Keeping the proper air pressure in your tire at all times increases performance and decreases your chances of getting a flat. You can take a portable pump with you just in case you run into an emergency while out on a ride. Potential pump problems--and the fixes--are generally the same regardless of the type of pump you are using.

Things You'll Need

• Presta valve adapter (optional)

Instructions

1. Look at the nozzle--the part that attaches to your tube's valve--of your pump. A common problem involves the two most common types of valves found on inner tubes--Presta and Schrader valves. As the late cycling expert Sheldon Brown notes, Presta valves are skinny, while a Schrader valve is the same as the type found on a car tire. Not all pumps work on both valves.

2. Flip the switch located near nozzle of your pump to the proper setting, Presta or Schrader, if this feature is available. If not, you might have to unscrew, using a counterclockwise motion, your pump's nozzle. A rubber or plastic fitting might pop out of your pump. The side with the point must face out to fill a Presta tube. The side without the point faces out for a Schrader valve. If no switch or fitting exists, your pump is likely compatible with only one type of valve.

3. Buy a Presta valve adapter if your pump is only compatible with Schrader valves. This is a key fix for people unable to get air into a Presta valve with a Schrader-only pump. The adapter screws onto the end of a Presta valve facilitating a connection between the valve and a Schrader-exclusive pump.

4. Remove your pump from your tube's valve if you start pumping, but the pump's pressure gauge does not move or produce accurate readings. Sometimes the union between the pump and tube is faulty, which results in a malfunctioning gauge. If this does not work, odds are you need a new pump (if you wish to have a working gauge) or, if your pump's manufacturer sells one separately, a new gauge assembly.

5. Inspect the hose of your pump, on floor models, if air flow is weak or nonexistent. Check to see that the hose is securely fitted to the base of the pump and the pump's nozzle and there are no cracks or leaks in the hose. As with the gauge, you might need a new hose--if sold separately--or a new pump.

Tips & Warnings

• While the availability of replacement parts varies by pump make and model, generally replacement parts are not widely available for portable pumps.

References

• Sheldon Brown: All About Bicycle Tires and Tubes

Resources

• Bicycling Magazine: Bicycle Pump Reviews