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Taken the day off to build my new bike. Decided to start with the wheels and got the tyres up on both rims without any issues. Cracked the bead on one of the tyres, put some sealant in and it just pished air everywhere, so cracked the bead all the way round any pumped like a madman.
My late nineties Joe Blow started to stick a bit, then seized completely. I took the bottom bit off and now the handle started to move freely, but once it was back on, it doesn't pump any air. I canny find any maintenance guides on the Topeak website, just some spares, but I have no idea what model I have.
Has anyone taken ones of these to bits to fix it before? If so, what do I need to do...?
Late nineties? it owes you nothing, buy a new one.
Late nineties? it owes you nothing, buy a new one.
After years of use from my first one, I bought a new one, I wouldn't, the head broke and now the non return valve is sticking. It's still better than the equivalent high volume SKS 29'er pump I've also got, but I wouldn't recommend the topeak anymore unless I can figure out whats up with the valve (no amount of cleaning and various lubes has solved it).
If you do try and disassemble it, they're pretty straightforward, just unscrew the bits that look like they unscrew and see if they look damaged inside.
Sounds like the piston head may have come detached or broken. Unscrew the parts at both ends of the barrel, removing the handle and shaft as well, and see what's in there. Poke out anything that's stuck and see what you're left with.
If in doubt, pretty much everything on pretty much every pump can be unscrewed and reassembled, so don't fear dismantling it.
you used to be able to get spares for Joe Blows but maybe not that old.
Piston might be sticky in barrel.
I did rebuild mine from many years ago, worked for a few years and then died again.
Now have a Specialized track pump and it's been excellent.
If the piston washer is borked, you can bodge one up from the tongue of an old shoe. Usually a dab of grease helps too.
My nowhere near as old can't remember the brand track pump seized one day. Took it apart. Dry as a bone, causing the rubber ring to catch and roll out its groove jamming it quite impressively I almost threw it out it was do solid and not very expensive. Spray of silicon and jobs a goodun.
In fact it started sticking first. And probably wasn't helped with pressure pushing the seal up.
Take the bottom back off* and spray a bit it and work the handle a bit.
Mine unscrewed from the top.
Took the bottom off, then unscrewed the top. Looks like the plunger o-ring is M.I.A. I can't see if it's wedged at the bottom of the tube or not. Hopefully a new o-ring and it'll at least keep trucking for a bit longer... 🤷♂️
