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Following 2 hours fighting and failing to get 2 x gravel tyres seated with my trusty JoeBlow inflator at the weekend I rage-purchased a small air compressor from the local hardware shop.
I know nothing about air compressors or the world of BSP/JIC/" fittings and connectors. I am a simple man.
The car tyre inflator attachment (with pressure gauge) isn't allowing sufficient pifft either so I'm looking for alternative methods, perhaps some sort of 1/4 turn ball-valve maybe?
Has anybody got such a thing? Am I building a potential deathtrap that will melt my face? Is there a proper, actual thing that would do a safer, better job?
The compressor itself has BSP quick release fittings on it and all the attachments if that helps narrow things down any.
Thanks loads! JM
Is it an inflator or an actual compressor?
Are you removing the valve core for a blast to seat the tyre?
I have a feeling that those car tyre fittings with the pressure gauge do limit the output of air.
With mine, i bought a spare track pump head, cut the car valve one off and pushed the track pump head into the hose.
It works well and allows a full blast of air.
Yeah, actual compressor. Plug in, wait to noisily fill up type thing.
Valve-core removals, yep. That's my go-to method using the JoeBlow canistor, which is usually great. But these Schwalbe gravel tyres + WTB rims seem to be a combo from hell to fit.
I think, and someone is bound to disagree, but if you haven't been able to seat the tyres then the rim isn't going to work or you need to change technique. If the tyre doesn't try to seat then it doesn't matter how much air is blasted in it will just go out the gaps. I've found having a spare hand to pull the tyre onto the outer rim bead while someone else is pumping is the trick. It's a pulling the tyre up and out movement.
Have you tried soapy water around the bead?
Other think I've seen suggested (but never had to try) is to put tubes in the wheel\tyre overnight to get the tyre in to the correct shape. Remove tubes and try again with the JoeBlow.
As suggested above I use a track pump head on my ghetto inflator and then blast with core removed (and soapy water on the bead).
I use the inner tube method to get the bead on. Only need overnight for a newly unfolded tyre with kinks and folds in it.
Once the inner is removed, add the valve and drop some sealant in. The bead that was broken to remove the inner always reseats fine with a standard track pump (not inflator) no problem.
Buy a cheap air gun to go one it. More air comes out. They’re dirt cheap (£5 to £10) and good for cleaning out all the nooks and crevices in the car/van as well.
I bought one of these for my compressor and attached it after the pressure gauge on the car pump fitting. Works a treat.
Remove the valve and use a basic air blower gun
That said, any tyres that are a real pain aren't worth the trouble. Get some that go up easily.
leave it in the airing cupboard to warm up while you have a cup of tea.
that always works for me
Is the tyre too baggy and letting the air out before the beads click into position?
Try another wrap of tape around the rims.