CO2 tips?

[makoti]

Just got a Silca EoloIII regulator & a bunch of inexpensive cartridges to replace my hand pump. Tried it out inside before needing it on the road, and it was fast & easy, except...the regulator seems to freeze to the valve. Any tips on how to get it off without losing air (or CO2, I guess)? It's pretty stuck & takes a bit of twisting to break it free.
Also, can I recycle the cartridges in my normal recycling? Or should they go somewhere else?

[joosttx]

Just got a Silca EoloIII regulator & a bunch of inexpensive cartridges to replace my hand pump. Tried it out inside before needing it on the road, and it was fast & easy, except...the regulator seems to freeze to the valve. Any tips on how to get it off without losing air (or CO2, I guess)? It's pretty stuck & takes a bit of twisting to break it free.
Also, can I recycle the cartridges in my normal recycling? Or should they go somewhere else?

I could never get that one to work. Truth be told i tried it twice. Once, on the trail. It failed to inflate and I had to uber it home. Then I tried it at home and it didnt work. So, i sold it. i use the topeak micro airbooter and its works just fine everytime.

[eddief]

Had it in one form or another on all of my 4 bikes at the time. Bought way too many bulk cartridges to save money. Never got into using them on the road. Now all bikes have Topeak Morph pumps and no more gas.

[roguedog]

this one is my fave. both for it's function and it's form. some are just too bulky.

plus they seem to be a really good company.

https://ridepdw.com/collections/inflation/products/shiny-object

[abr5]

this one is my fave. both for it's function and it's form. some are just too bulky.

plus they seem to be a really good company.

https://ridepdw.com/collections/inflation/products/shiny-object

Check out pdw's ninja pump as well, a tiny pump with a built in co2 inflator. Just got one and haven't had to use it yet (finders crossed!), but their normal inflator has yet to fail me after multiple uses.

[teleguy57]

this one is my fave. both for it's function and it's form. some are just too bulky.

plus they seem to be a really good company.

https://ridepdw.com/collections/inflation/products/shiny-object

Hmm, that looks like one of the best I've seen. However, my favorite CO2 comes out of the valve end of a frame pump, mixed with other gases in the form of ambient air.

[Seramount]

this one is my fave. both for it's function and it's form. some are just too bulky.

plus they seem to be a really good company.

https://ridepdw.com/collections/inflation/products/shiny-object

just bought one...

love the simplicity and ease of use.

[shovelhd]

I recycle my used cartridges in the metal recycling bin.

[pdmtong]

I use a genuine innovations air chuck and microflate nano (https://www.genuineinnovations.com/us/products/inflators/)

Bulk cylinder source (https://www.gas-depot.com/products/co2-chargers-16g/threaded.html)

Once I froze the valve stem and it subsequently tore off the tube. gulp. no idea how or why that happened but it did happen.

I carry a spare tube, patch kit (regular + glueless) and two CO2 cylinders.

And yes, recycle the cylinders.

[Red Tornado]

I use a genuine innovations air chuck and microflate nano (https://www.genuineinnovations.com/us/products/inflators/)

Bulk cylinder source (https://www.gas-depot.com/products/co2-chargers-16g/threaded.html)

Once I froze the valve stem and it subsequently tore off the tube. gulp. no idea how or why that happened but it did happen.

I carry a spare tube, patch kit (regular + glueless) and two CO2 cylinders.

And yes, recycle the cylinders.

I also have a Microflate Nano & 2 other (can't remember the brand). Used CO2 for many years on both road & dirt, more recently just on the road. Never had a problem airing up or valve freezing to stem. I usually give it a quick shot initially, check to make sure tube isn't pinched, then add air in anywhere from 2 to 4 additional "shots". Let it sit for maybe 10sec or so between. May not be the preferred method but works well for me.

[vqdriver]

you could wait a minute or two for it to warm up with your hand? methinks summer weather would make this less of a problem.

co2 is fine.
inflators have been around a long time now so if that doesn't work well for you just get something else, a lot of them work fine without issues.

[pdmtong]

I also have a Microflate Nano & 2 other (can't remember the brand). Used CO2 for many years on both road & dirt, more recently just on the road. Never had a problem airing up or valve freezing to stem. I usually give it a quick shot initially, check to make sure tube isn't pinched, then add air in anywhere from 2 to 4 additional "shots". Let it sit for maybe 10sec or so between. May not be the preferred method but works well for me.
I do the same. You never want the first shot to be all in since if there is an attachment issue you don't want to empty the cylinder.

I make sure it's not pinched by using my jersey pocket blackburn airstik SL to do the initial inflation. plus, you need some kind of pump backup in case you empty both cylinders.

[makoti]

I also have a Microflate Nano & 2 other (can't remember the brand). Used CO2 for many years on both road & dirt, more recently just on the road. Never had a problem airing up or valve freezing to stem. I usually give it a quick shot initially, check to make sure tube isn't pinched, then add air in anywhere from 2 to 4 additional "shots". Let it sit for maybe 10sec or so between. May not be the preferred method but works well for me.

I'll try not putting it all in in one shot. Maybe that will help.
I know a lot are suggesting alternatives, but right now I'm just interested in if there is anything I can do to avoid this issue.

[dgauthier]

+1 for the Genuine Innovations Air Chuck. Tiny, indestructible, will last a lifetime. Mine is older and all brass, but I'm sure the new alloy ones are just fine. Sometimes I dump the entire cartidge at once, sometimes it requires a couple of shots if the CO2 doesn't all come out the first time. (I initially inflate the tube by mouth to keep the tube from pinching.) Never freezes. Never really have to think about it.

[regularguy412]

I try to make sure that the cylinder part of the inflator is above the valve stem when inflating. It's kinda awkward to hold the inflator vertical and the nozzle /stem horizontal unless you lay the wheel on the ground or have a riding buddy hold it. This seems to keep the cold from getting too severe when inflating. I also use the 2/4 shots -- that is: not inflating all in one go.

Mike in AR:beer:

[austex]

Also note that CO2 diffuses through rubber at a much higher rate than "air", so don't be surprised if your tire is "flat" the next day.

http://omnitech.net/reference/2014/07/27/co2-in-tires/

"[...]There is truth in diffusion rates being higher.
•CO2 diffuses through rubber much faster than air(5). Hydrogen is the standard “1” at roughly 11L/m^3, gas. Nitrogen is 0.16. Air is 0.22. Argon, 0.26. Oxygen, 0.45. Helium, 0.65. Carbon Dioxide, 2.9. Ammonia, 8.0. Water Vapor 47-110, depending on thickness.

(5)Scientific Papers of the Bureau of Standards, Vol. 16, 327-362 (1920) Scientific Paper 387 (S387), “Permeability of Rubber to Gasses”, July 12, 1990. https://archive.org/details/permeabilityofru1632unse
•The relative diffusion rates between natural rubber and butyl rubber are as follows(6):

Helium = 27%, Hydrogen = 15%, Oxygen = 5.6%, Nitrogen = 5%, Air = 4.8% and CO2 = 4%.
(6)Exxon Chemical, quoted by Timco Rubber http://www.timcorubber.com/rubber-materials/butyl.htm
•Combining these, Butyl lets through this many litres per m^3: CO2 = 1.276L; Air = 0.116L; Nitrogen = .088L.

SUMMARY:
While butyl rubber (IIR) is less permeable than natural rubber by far, CO2 diffuses through rubber 11x faster than air. If you have to air up your tires every 9 days, then expect CO2 to last you a day. If you have to air up your tires daily (latex tubes), then expect CO2 to last you a few hours. [...]"

[RC.]

this one is my fave. both for it's function and it's form. some are just too bulky.

plus they seem to be a really good company.

https://ridepdw.com/collections/inflation/products/shiny-object

Bulk cylinder source (https://www.gas-depot.com/products/co2-chargers-16g/threaded.html)


Man, this forum can be a definite goldmine at times...

[bigbill]

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10052_10551_1224893_-1_400167__400167

I use the older version of that. I buy 12g CO2 cylinders at WalMart in the sporting goods section for $5 for a box of 25. This type doesn't need a threaded cylinder. A 12g gets a 25mm tire to around 85#.

[pdmtong]

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10052_10551_1224893_-1_400167__400167

I use the older version of that. I buy 12g CO2 cylinders at WalMart in the sporting goods section for $5 for a box of 25. This type doesn't need a threaded cylinder. A 12g gets a 25mm tire to around 85#.

I was using the older one too until the inflator head malfunctioned in the field last month leaving me to gently ride my shamal mille to the nearest shop on less than ideal psi (good thing the flat was close to home). odd, since maybe five field uses lifetime but the thing was older and sitting in my saddle bag of years.

guess what? they no longer make 12g non-threaded inflation units so the "go to walmart gun section and get a box cheap" alternative is only going to be good as long as your non-threaded inflator head and body lives. I have two...the dead one that was in my road bag and another one that was in my hydration pak (mtb).

so that failed piece has "forced" me to go to threaded 16g for road with the genuine innovations air chuck head.

the resultant good news bad news.

good news GI lifetime warrantied my inflator head.
bad news the replacement 20g threadless body is too big to accommodate the smaller 12g cartridges.

good news 12g isn't quite enough for road or dirt - 20g great for 29er etc.
bad news got a box of 12g left which I guess I will double up for mtb use since I can carry plenty in my hydration pak

[Tony T]

Just got a Silca EoloIII regulator & a bunch of inexpensive cartridges to replace my hand pump.

I would still keep a small pump attached to the frame. (something like the lenzyne that attaches to the bottle cage)

[stien]

After being bitten by co2 once, I invested in a Lezyne pressure drive s, then two more for other bikes after I liked it so much. No chance of being stranded and gets nice pressure.