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Need to get something for doing tubeless, my old compressor (£40 Lidl) no longer hacks it so Airshot or any other recommendations?
I’m not building anything out of discarded fire extinguishers and price is not a major factor. Fairly normal sized mtb tyres ie no fat bikes and cx tyres only.
I’ve got a Giant branded cylinder. It works, but the valve handle to select between charge and inflate doesn’t. I had to pop the cover off and turn the valve stem with an Allen key.
Airshot has served me well for a good few years now and I've felt no need to replace it. Some of the combined pump/tubeless inflaters look good but haven't used them.
milkit Booster? simpler and more portable, plus no hose so the initial rush of air is delivered that bit faster.
Airshot is fine. Reliable and durable. Just make sure you have a track pump that gets to 140psi easily.
+1 for Airshot, has served me well in the 3 or 4 years I've had it. However, if I was choosing again and money was no object I'd maybe go with one of the track pumps that combines pump/canister like this.
Another vote for the Airshot. Never had an issue with it.
WOW!!! I thought my Booster for 90 quid was a bit of a push, but another 50 smackers on top of that...
Very happy JB Booster user, for last 3 or 4 years.
Many successful tubeless conversions done with it.
Recommend it, if you have money to spare.
Cheers!
I.
I use a Birzman tank (similar to an Airshot). Works well...
I also have one of these from CRC: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-airblast-tubeless-tyre-track-pump/rp-prod155451
The Airblast was on sale recently but seems to have gone back to full price. I picked up the original version for about £35 a couple of years ago and its been good (used again at the weekend to mount tyres on new wheels), but the metal switch to release the air is too short and stubby to not dig into your finger, which if using multiple times starts to hurt (so wear gloves!). Also, used some spare bar tape on the handles and now much much easier to use...
I bought a Lifeline Airblast from CRC for £55 as it seemed a neater, easier solution. So far it's only failed to pop a dry 29*3.0 Minion onto a 50mm rim. Some washing up liquid solved it.
Cheers all, looks like Airshot is the winner.
I've got an Airshot and a Lifeline pump with tubeless chamber (about the cheapest of those on the market). The Airshot would presumably have a chunk more oomph if the pump didn't have enough for a tyre but in a couple of years use my pump hasn't yet come up short, and the pump is so much more convenient.
If you fancy and all-in-one then the Trek/Bontrager flash charger is also good.
I wouldn't touch the milkit with a bargepole. The plastic threads gave way on a mate's and the valve punctured his leg as it flew off!
Do you want portability? A cheap compressor is barely any more than an airshot
If you fancy and all-in-one then the Trek/Bontrager flash charger is also good.
The Flash Charger is very good but a word of warning: spares are not available. Mine stopped generating pressure a few months ago. Turned out the rubber seal/washer on the end of the shaft had torn. Got in touch with Trek and they confirmed it is not a part they hold as a spare. So my £100 pump is useless for the sake of a rubber seal that probably costs about 50p.
I have tried a few similar seals that I bought after measuring the torn one but none of them fit correctly.
Trek did give me a £50 voucher in compensation so I have used it to buy the Flash Can. Used it today to seat a couple of tyres and it worked really well.
Moral of the story - get a separate pump and Airshot/Flash Can/Ghetto inflator. It's less costly when it goes wrong.
I use a garden sprayer as a pump/volume bottle. This is enough to seat the tire then just finish with track pump. Much cheapness. still works as a garden sprayer too
I have the schwalbe tire booster tank and I would only half recommend it. It does the blowy up part very nicely but screwing the tube onto the valve is incredibly painful. Don't know why it is so bad, I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong
Am I the only one that just pumps faster ?
I use my Joe Blow and sweat.
brads
Full MemberAm I the only one that just pumps faster ?
Doesn't always work though. I have some tyres that are hard work even with the compressor.
I know, it was part tongue in cheek.
I have just used CO2 for the really stubborn ones but that's far from ideal.
When the Joe Blow gets replaced it will be with a blasty compressory type thing
I wouldn’t touch the milkit with a bargepole. The plastic threads gave way on a mate’s and the valve punctured his leg as it flew off!
They did do a recall on the original ones because of a few cases of the valve popping out.
Mine got swapped for the updated one and has been fine since then.
Though the best thing I did was use Stans rims (Flow mk3s and Barons) - every tyre I've fitted on those has gone up with a track pump no sweat.
I’d go airshot - which is what I have now. Very little to go wrong with it as it’s essentially just a small tank with 2 valves on. I use it with a Lezyne track pump that fairly easily gets it to 160psi. Never had it fail to seat a tyre - normally just one blast does it except one really stubborn tyre I had once that needed 2.
I tried a combined pump / tank thing from CRC - think it’s been discontinued now - Airwave I think it was branded. It was ok - but had a lower volume than the airshot so often needed a 2nd blast of air. Within 18 months it failed too - a seal or something in the bottom of it blew and it would no longer hold pressure. CRC refunded me in full by voucher to be fair to them.
I have the Giant tank mentioned above. Works fine, no issues with the switch.
I have an Airwave one from CRC (looks to be the same as the Lifeline one). When it's working it does the job fine and hasn't ever failed to seat a tyre (soapy water has been required on occasion). The problem is it's not particularly well built and I've had to strip it down a few times to get it working. For the £35 I paid it's done well but I wouldn't pay any more than that for it.
Another vote for Airshot. Just one of those bits of kit that works consistently and makes what could be otherwise a PITA hassle a trouble free 2 minute job. if you've got multiple bikes or are a tyre-swapper, this (or something like it) is pretty indispensable
I have used an Airshot before and thought it was great did the job no problem. I own the Lifeline one as I wanted a single pump/booster to live in the van and take up less space it's also never failed me yet.
If you’re not planning on taking it far (or have a van), I’d recommend another half decent compressor.
Beto inflator here and it just does exactly what it's mean to.
I've done the 'frantically pumping away with sweat dripping off me' thing enough times, an inflator is the way to go.
I have pump with a tank, not sure which one.
As a pump it's not very good, I always reach for my conventional track pump.
I'd buy an airshot next time.
I really fancy trying that trick with the lighter fluid.
And a disposable wheel and tyre obviously.
Din't Pinkbike try it? I don;t think it went all that well for them.
As mentioned above the Airshot just works, I'd recommend one every time.
Any stress you have after that will be with the * tyre or the * rim (WTB, I'm looking at you).
I'm tight & use the method the OP doesn't want to use, track pump & fire distinguisher.
In fact I've just fitted a Gravel King to a Roval rim using it.