Since my old footpump fell to pieces, I've been using the air line at
the local petrol station. But when it's out of action (or for
wheelbarrow / sack barrow tyres), it would be useful to have a new
footpump at home.

I've looked at Screwfix / Halfrauds / Argos and even the more
expensive Michelin-branded ones seem to have mixed reviews.

I saw a cheap, halfway decent looking one last week at Aldi ---
reasonably constructed but the gauge was graduated in 15 psi intervals
which I guess makes it accurate to the nearest 7 psi and not much use
for a typical 30 psi tyre.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

mike wrote:

Since my old footpump fell to pieces, I've been using the air line at
the local petrol station. But when it's out of action (or for
wheelbarrow / sack barrow tyres), it would be useful to have a new
footpump at home.

I've looked at Screwfix / Halfrauds / Argos and even the more
expensive Michelin-branded ones seem to have mixed reviews.

I saw a cheap, halfway decent looking one last week at Aldi ---
reasonably constructed but the gauge was graduated in 15 psi intervals
which I guess makes it accurate to the nearest 7 psi and not much use
for a typical 30 psi tyre.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

Before I use a pump I check the pressure with a gauge and then using the
line at the petrol station and inflate it buy the requited amount. They are
no usally out year on year

--
zaax

mike wrote:
Since my old footpump fell to pieces, I've been using the air line at
the local petrol station. But when it's out of action (or for
wheelbarrow / sack barrow tyres), it would be useful to have a new
footpump at home.

I've looked at Screwfix / Halfrauds / Argos and even the more
expensive Michelin-branded ones seem to have mixed reviews.

I saw a cheap, halfway decent looking one last week at Aldi ---
reasonably constructed but the gauge was graduated in 15 psi intervals
which I guess makes it accurate to the nearest 7 psi and not much use
for a typical 30 psi tyre.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

Cheap pump and a digital pressure gauge to check the car tyres. The
other tyres you mentioned aren't *too* critical as far as pressure goes.
I use a good, strong thumb, and if it makes too big a dent, put a bit
mre air in.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

In article
,
mike wrote:
Since my old footpump fell to pieces, I've been using the air line at
the local petrol station. But when it's out of action (or for
wheelbarrow / sack barrow tyres), it would be useful to have a new
footpump at home.

I've looked at Screwfix / Halfrauds / Argos and even the more
expensive Michelin-branded ones seem to have mixed reviews.

A good footpump will cost a lot more than an electric one.

I saw a cheap, halfway decent looking one last week at Aldi ---
reasonably constructed but the gauge was graduated in 15 psi intervals
which I guess makes it accurate to the nearest 7 psi and not much use
for a typical 30 psi tyre.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

I'd get a decent separate gauge. That can then be kept in the car and used
at a garage etc as well as when pumping them up yourself.

FWIW I have a cheap jump start pack which includes a compressor. The
battery will no longer start a car - but is still fine for the compressor
- or where you need a supply of 12 volts for testing things. Cost 20 quid
from Lidl about 5 years ago... But the gauge on that is rubbish. ;-)

--
*It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Tue, 10 May 2011 07:57:51 -0700, mike wrote:
Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with accurate
pressure gauge

Hmm, not sure! Mine's got a good gauge, but there was very little
reinforcement at the end of the pump body where the shaft for the plunger
passes through, and it started to wear quite quickly (to the point where
the pump would jam if I tried to operate it through full travel).

In the end, I found a hefty 1/8" thick washer with the right size hole to
take the plunger shaft, and I cut and bolted that to the end of the pump
body, which should give it a few more years of life. Maybe next time I'll
try to find a pump with a good body and swap the current pump's gauge
onto it...

(I've got a big portable compressor for most 'home' jobs anyway, but it's
useful to have a foot-pump kicking around in the vehicles)

cheers

Jules

mike wrote:
Since my old footpump fell to pieces, I've been using the air line at
the local petrol station. But when it's out of action (or for
wheelbarrow / sack barrow tyres), it would be useful to have a new
footpump at home.

I've looked at Screwfix / Halfrauds / Argos and even the more
expensive Michelin-branded ones seem to have mixed reviews.

I saw a cheap, halfway decent looking one last week at Aldi ---
reasonably constructed but the gauge was graduated in 15 psi intervals
which I guess makes it accurate to the nearest 7 psi and not much use
for a typical 30 psi tyre.

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

I bought a twin-barrel Michelin and took it back it was so bad. The metal
construction, footplate and barrels were fine but the hose was a PITA (kept
popping off) and the gauge was wildly inaccurate, and I don't mean it was a
couple of PSI out, instead one press of the footpump and the gauge would
read (say) 60 PSI, the next press it would read 20 PSI, the next 45PSI...

Went for the Halfords twin in the end. Had three or four of these now and
they all die eventually because the riveted pivot wears out over time. But
they usually last six or seven years. The gauges on these have been fairly
accurate, moreover if they're out then they are consistently out i.e. you
know that to get 33PSI you want the gauge to read 36PSI or summat.

On 10/05/2011 15:57, mike wrote:

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Prod...?ProductId=103

--
Andy

In message , Andy Wade
writes
On 10/05/2011 15:57, mike wrote:

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Prod...?ProductId=103

Looks OK although they don't offer a price:-)

A thought on gauge accuracy.... pressure in the connecting pipe may be
more than that in the tyre if the Schrader or whatever valve has to be
opened by the applied air pressure. If the connector physically
depresses the valve release, air will flow back to the pump on the
return stroke necessitating a valve at the pump.

Users of forecourt airlines will know to release the air supply to get
an accurate reading.

regards


--
Tim Lamb

On 12/05/2011 08:46, Tim Lamb wrote:

http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Prod...?ProductId=103
Looks OK although they don't offer a price:-)

http://www.lsengineers.co.uk/pcl-e35...pump-2372.html

A thought on gauge accuracy.... pressure in the connecting pipe may be
more than that in the tyre if the Schrader or whatever valve has to be
opened by the applied air pressure. If the connector physically
depresses the valve release, air will flow back to the pump on the
return stroke necessitating a valve at the pump.

Uh? The tyre connector holds the Schrader valve continuously open.
There's always a non-return valve in a footpump.

--
Andy

In article , Tim Lamb
writes
In message , Andy Wade
writes
On 10/05/2011 15:57, mike wrote:

Is there such a thing as a reasonably constructed footpump with
accurate pressure gauge or is it a case of using the air line at the
garage?

http://www.pclairtechnology.com/Prod...?ProductId=103

Looks OK although they don't offer a price:-)

It looks very like one I saw in my local motor factor. The picture on
the box showed a beefy diecast valve head but on opening the box it had
been cost reduce replaced by a weedy plastic one with a tiny plastic
spigot connecting to the hose. After having one of those break off in my
hand (with a full flat, mid winter, snow on ground and -10degs) I've
searched fruitlessly for a pump with a metal head and none I've looked
at, regardless of cost, appears to have one.

On accuracy, I've always assumed the built in gauges to be crap so
marginally over inflate then check/adjust with a good hand held sliding
pressure gauge. The one I use is a low displacement one originally
intended for measuring air pressure in motorcycle forks and has a slim
plastic piston that has a better than average 2mm or so per psi
division.
--
fred
FIVE TV's superbright logo - not the DOG's, it's ********

In article ,
fred wrote:
On accuracy, I've always assumed the built in gauges to be crap so
marginally over inflate then check/adjust with a good hand held sliding
pressure gauge. The one I use is a low displacement one originally
intended for measuring air pressure in motorcycle forks and has a slim
plastic piston that has a better than average 2mm or so per psi
division.

Over inflation - although not dangerous - can lead to rapid wear in the
centre of modern low profile tyres.

--
*The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
fred wrote:
On accuracy, I've always assumed the built in gauges to be crap so
marginally over inflate then check/adjust with a good hand held sliding
pressure gauge. The one I use is a low displacement one originally
intended for measuring air pressure in motorcycle forks and has a slim
plastic piston that has a better than average 2mm or so per psi
division.

Over inflation - although not dangerous - can lead to rapid wear in the
centre of modern low profile tyres.

Isn't it likely to affect the stability program on some cars, just when you
need it?
AIUI they know what will happen when they brake a wheel, its not going to
behave as expected if the tyre pressures are significantly out in either
direction.
My car will actually warn you if the tyre pressures are unsuitable (too low
or too high) for the load in the car, so someone thinks its important.

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
writes
In article ,
fred wrote:
On accuracy, I've always assumed the built in gauges to be crap so
marginally over inflate then check/adjust with a good hand held sliding
pressure gauge. The one I use is a low displacement one originally
intended for measuring air pressure in motorcycle forks and has a slim
plastic piston that has a better than average 2mm or so per psi
division.

Over inflation - although not dangerous - can lead to rapid wear in the
centre of modern low profile tyres.

Second line, half way along, "then check/adjust". Is working in the
meeja shortening your attention span ;-?
--
fred
FIVE TV's superbright logo - not the DOG's, it's ********