bring me up to date on CO2 inflators

[Lewis Moon]

The genuine innovations inflator has been the most durable and fool proof of any I've owned. Just threw away a Zeppelin that took a crap on me in a race.

[rnhood]

I have used several and, when used properly they all worked well. However, if one forgets to open (unscrew) the valve stem, then it will blow the gasket right out of the inflator head the moment one tries to inflate the inner tube. I would like to know if there are any inflators that will not blow the gasket should we forget to unscrew (or open) the valve stem.

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by eddief

been using pumps in the last few years but had a flat today on new tubeless capable rims. someone lent me a frame pump but was unable to easily get the tire snap up onto the bead.

think i ought be carrying CO2 again. what size cartridges for 700x28 tires to 70 psi?

need brainless effective inflator. i'm sure no opinions out there on this but open just in case.

are you using sealant?

[owly]

Was looking at inflator options over the weekend. Considered the Eolo III but went for the Lezyne Control Drive.

While working on my bike yesterday I was trying to mount come tight Compass tyres on a carbon tubeless rim, and set them with a floor pump. Had recently seen a vid where a guy in the field (without an inflator) seated most of the bead (mtb tyre) using a tyre lever; hooking up and over the bead onto the rim edge, while slowly sliding the lever around the rim diameter.
When you do this it eventually gets real hard to push the lever any further as the bead circle is getting really tight. You end up with a length of the bead no set but its enough seal to pump up the tyre by hand and get going.

However the Compass bead was super tight on my rims at the beginning (the tyres are on the rims, but not set yet on the bead). So I had a bit of a think.....

I removed the chain (master-link) and flipped the bike upside down on the ground. Working on the rear tyre, I stood behind the wheel/bike. Grabbed one lever and hooked it under the bead near the valve (easy to get under the bead here). Holding the lever in left hand I 'locked' the lever between the crank arm and chainstay, holding onto all three items (easy to do). Using my body weight I rotated forward the wheel placing my right hand on the tyre/wheel. This extra body weight/leverage made the bead/tyre rotation pretty easy, and the bead fairly easily moved up and onto the inner rim shelf.

Locking the lever by hand is good as you can adjust the lever angle (back-off the lever tension) as the bead gets tighter, working your way around the tyre.

Like the guy in the vid it eventually became too hard to rotate the wheel any more, so I then did the other side the same way. Easy

Did the same with the front wheel by using the longer rear-wheel skewer (qr) and dropping it in the rear drop out. Pumped up the tyres with my hand pump.

Pretty stoked it worked well for me. Just another handy mechanic trick option I suppose for when I'm out in the sticks.

[dmurphey]

I use the threaded CO2 inflaters a lot of the time for my road bikes with small seat bags, and I spend $3 for each cartridge. If you have room, as I do in my gravel bike seat bag, then the non-threaded cartridge inflator saves a bunch on the cartridges, a box of 15 or more at Academy is less than $1 each.

https://www.genuineinnovations.com/c...-tire-inflator

[Dude]

If I might get preachy for a moment...please don't use CO2 when a pump is reusable, cheaper in the long run and isn't as resource intense.

But, if you flat on the road with tubeless just put a tube in and get on your way. You can get the tire to seat with a hand pump (repeatedly and forever).

[mtechnica]

The PDW one is legit in my opinion because it has a nice little valve.

[mtechnica]

But also I use my compact folding floor pump thing most of the time it’s revolutionary lol

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01BV...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seriously it’s even small enough to keep in your jersey pocket if you aren’t mad about it poking out a few inches.

[sand fungus]

I always have a CO2 system in my bike bag and use them as they are way faster than a hand pump. I use a really lightweight Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Plus which takes up practically no space in my bag.

That being said I always have a really small back up hand pump in my jersey.

Also when it gets below 30 degrees outside do not use CO2. I did it once and ended up with a frozen block of ice in the tire that ripped up my tube. That was a taxi home experience.

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by Lewis Moon

Just threw away a Zeppelin that took a crap on me in a race.

The imagery is errm evocative, but I genuinely have no idea what you just said.

anyway, this is the Paceline forum, so the correct answer is always 'Frame pump'.

[Clancy]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

are you using sealant?

My question also

How does CO2 react with sealant?

[Seramount]

Originally Posted by Dude

...please don't use CO2 when a pump is reusable, cheaper in the long run and isn't as resource intense.

I'm pretty green, but not going back to a frame pump.

but, if one does opt for CO2, don't leave the used cartridges on the side of the road.

they're steel and can be recycled.

kinda aggravating how often I find them (and tubes) that people just toss after flatting...

[Lewis Moon]

Originally Posted by rustychisel

The imagery is errm evocative, but I genuinely have no idea what you just said.

anyway, this is the Paceline forum, so the correct answer is always 'Frame pump'.

I meant this one.

The GI inflator I use is this one. Piece of crap.

[pdonk]

I had mixed results with my leyzne trigger drive, until I reread the instructions and spent a few cartridges at home to make sure I was using it correctly. Now I am confident I can get it to work in the field.

A bus, train and uncomfortable walk home had me considering a frame pump. But since I only flat at most a half dozen times a year, and keep a floor pump in the car and can't afford a painted to match pump, plus I forgot the pump peg on the bike, I'll stick with CO2.

[biker72]

To answer the OP's question...YES. Had my first flat in over 4 years. Ran over some debris left by high water and down went my rear tire. A 700x28 Schwalbe was inflated to 72 psi with a 16 gram CO2.