The Best Tyre Pumps... in the World?

[Rhyolith]

Nice!

Thats a good idea with the gauge. Its one of the few design flaws with the master that theres no convent way to attach and pressure gauge to the pump itself, this is an area where the old Dunlop's defiantly have an advantage.

Finished another one, been 2 years in the works (may have even posted it here before i completed the restoration, can't remember!). But now it finally is fully working!

Hattersley and Davidson 3 Stage by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Hattersley and Davidson 3 Stage by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Hattersley and Davidson 3 Stage by Rhyolith, on Flickr

It took new springs from Gordon, new sleeves for the springs to ride on machined by me and full set of new leather washers... the top hate ones being a total pain in particular (and the main reason it took so long).

Edited by Rhyolith on Friday 26th October 17:22

[Brum_Brum]

Just going through some of my late Dad’s stuff. Found these, the gauge on the middle one looks too new - but seems to work fine, the others don’t seem to ‘push’ any air

[Rhyolith]

One on the left is a “Desmo” I think. Probably the leather washers need replacing, but you could try just squiting some vegetable oil into the cylinders (usaully theres a hole in the side somewhere for that purpose), that might fix it.

[Jonny TVR]

These are things of beauty and relatively cheap.

When are the earliest ones with gauges?

[Rhyolith]

Depends what you mean by “gauge”. I have adverts for Kismet Masters with in line stick gauges from the early 1920s. Also Woodmilne had a dial type gauge back around the same time. So the answer is probably 100 years ago. However it does not seem to have become standard until the ~ 1970s (thats a guess somewhat).

[Jonny TVR]

Rhyolith said:

Depends what you mean by “gauge”. I have adverts for Kismet Masters with in line stick gauges from the early 1920s. Also Woodmilne had a dial type gauge back around the same time. So the answer is probably 100 years ago. However it does not seem to have become standard until the ~ 1970s (thats a guess somewhat).

A stick gauge would work .. would like to buy one but not to restore.

[Rhyolith]

Jonny TVR said:

A stick gauge would work .. would like to buy one but not to restore.

In that case be prephared to pay more, ones with original working gauges are rare.

My recommendation though if you just want to get one that works ‘out the box’ would be to pay someone to restore one for you, they could also fit an appropriate new gauge for you. Gordon would probably do this for you, he has been active on this thread a bit but you could look at his website: http://www.vintagepumps.co.uk/index.html I could also do it, feel free to pm me.

I have found Dunlop pumps lend themselves more naturally to having a gauge fitted in a logical place (they also look good with it). The Dunlope Major is always a good choice, they are fairly common, well built and look good (they are from the 1950s I think).

[Lozrington]

Perd Hapley said:

The Scooterflator is adorable.

Here's an ACTION SHOT of mine. I oiled it with vegetable oil as advised and fitted an ugly but functional new hose. It works beautifully, and is one of the quickest foot pumps I've ever used. The lack of a built in gauge wasn't an issue as I just deliberately overshot a bit and then let the excess air out with the pressure gauge.



Does anyone know what the thread is (in the pump body) for this valve? I want to replace it, it leaks.

I'm in the process of restoring a Kismet Duplex Master and am hoping that I've found a suitable replacement hose connector- see https://www.ukpumpsupplies.co.uk/buy-online/hose-f...
I've ordered the 1/8" MBSP x 6mm barb in brass and am praying this is the correct thread. I'll let you know if so.

Does anyone know where I can buy the small little top hat leather washer thats part of the Kismet Duplex Master? Mine has perished a little...

[Lozrington]

Lozrington said:

I'm in the process of restoring a Kismet Duplex Master and am hoping that I've found a suitable replacement hose connector- see https://www.ukpumpsupplies.co.uk/buy-online/hose-f...
I've ordered the 1/8" MBSP x 6mm barb in brass and am praying this is the correct thread. I'll let you know if so..

Just to confirm that this is a perfect replacement hose connector for anyone missing theirs.

[RicksAlfas]

Lozrington said:

Just to confirm that this is a perfect replacement hose connector for anyone missing theirs.

It is indeed!
(If you read back to Wednesday 16th November 2016 I used the same thing).

[Rhyolith]

The threads are BSP ones, 1/8 sounds right.

[MARCUS-8tke0]

i just picked up a stuart turner foot pump - i have had it vapour blasted - looking good - sadly he did the label which is now not so easy to read....i will get some pics tho

[Chubbyross]

Lovely thread. I always use foot pumps on my weekend cars, the boring family car has to do with the horribly noisy electric one. There’s something very satisfying about inflating tyres by foot.

[anonymous-user]

Does anyone else find the initial angle of the pedal is wrong on most foot pumps, so the first stroke is backwards rather than down , so the pump slides along the ground ( usually bare metal on tarmac , not much friction ) and you have to move it back and start again.

Maybe it’s just me doing it wrong, but I switched to 12v years ago.

[Gad-Westy]

Cliffe60 said:

Does anyone else find the initial angle of the pedal is wrong on most foot pumps, so the first stroke is backwards rather than down , so the pump slides along the ground ( usually bare metal on tarmac , not much friction ) and you have to move it back and start again.

Maybe it’s just me doing it wrong, but I switched to 12v years ago.

Yeah same. Angle wrong so pump gradually slides around, all the while leg muscles beginning to catch fire. I persevered for years with foot pumps but I'm now a full electric convert. I normally use a cheap USB charged one these days. Does a great job.

[Baldchap]

I used to do battle with cigarette lighter sockets and the like but got a bit cheesed off with it all when I had a few sheds with non-working cigarette lighter sockets and would have to drive another car alongside to get the corded inflator working, so I took a steer from the Tools You Wish You'd Bought Sooner thread and got myself a Makita 18v cordless one.

A-mazing! Highly recommended.

I have a 3Ah battery on mine and despite regular use, including a neighbour's van to 60ish PSI, it's not yet flattened a battery.

Stock image (feel the need to point out it's not my wrist tattoo ):

[anonymous-user]

Baldchap said:

I used to do battle with cigarette lighter sockets and the like but got a bit cheesed off with it all when I had a few sheds with non-working cigarette lighter sockets and would have to drive another car alongside to get the corded inflator working, so I took a steer from the Tools You Wish You'd Bought Sooner thread and got myself a Makita 18v cordless one.

A-mazing! Highly recommended.

I have a 3Ah battery on mine and despite regular use, including a neighbour's van to 60ish PSI, it's not yet flattened a battery.

Stock image (feel the need to point out it's not my wrist tattoo ):

Yes, that is an improvement on my £3.99 one from Hime Bargains.
However, I generally only use it on bikes , so it’s adequate.

[Pugwash03]

Lozrington said:

I'm in the process of restoring a Kismet Duplex Master and am hoping that I've found a suitable replacement hose connector- see https://www.ukpumpsupplies.co.uk/buy-online/hose-f...
I've ordered the 1/8" MBSP x 6mm barb in brass and am praying this is the correct thread. I'll let you know if so.

Does anyone know where I can buy the small little top hat leather washer thats part of the Kismet Duplex Master? Mine has perished a little...

Might try small 'o' rings. I fit 4 nitrile rubber rings 15mm o.d. x 9mm i.d. so you can just get the slotted cap on and then tighten to suit. Does the job for me.Add drops of castor oil in amongst the rings as you go.

[anonymous-user]

Iva Barchetta said:

Deisel Weisel said:

caelite said:

I paid £20 on a Michelin branded double barrel footpump, yes it may not work as well in 70 years but is a fantastic piece of kit when compared to a lot of the bargain basement single barrel ones.

[Img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTXCr1Uz5N0O1nyHshPnSMF5MkBfyns8dIhjJXnfaOucsEZOciQvQ[/thumb]

Mine fell apart in under 6 months with light use. If you check out Amazon reviews, you’ll find mine wasn’t the only one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michelin-Double-Barrel-Fo...

I have the single barrel version of that, a few years old ,doesn't get much use as my tyres

retain good pressure, mostly.

Used it at the Dover dockside 10 days ago when my O/S/R looked a bit deflated just before a 1200 mile road trip.....

i had one of these for years and it was very good, in the end it was the rubber hose that perished and leaked that finished it off.

[Pica-Pica]

I used to swear by my twin-piston Halfords foot pump (see my post 3 years ago). That is until I got a track pump (for a bicycle). Ditching my foot pump now. Having said that, my runflats on the car do not lose much air. The bicycle needs regular pumping up.

Topeak Joeblow Sport

Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 17th May 22:58

Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 17th May 23:00