[Closed] Tubeless inflator recommendations

I've got an Airshot, which works very well.

Me too.

I have a presumably similar air reservoir track pump and it works really well, much less effort and higher success that just repeatedly trying with a standard track pump.

Airshot here too. One of those “right tool for the job” purchases I’ve never regretted.

2 litre Coke bottle ftw.

Airshot for me too. Works really well unlike other methods I've tried.

There's an Airshot on Ebay for a fiver, normally they're £45 elsewhere ? Too good to be true ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/123252462904?chn=ps&var=423657368719

Airshot here as well. It just works, you won't regret getting it.

Personally reckon its simpler to just get a track pump with an included reservoir rather than buying a separate device.

Airshot here as well

Yes I bought a 10 litre sprayer, bodged it, and it works a treat.

Airshot here as well. It definitely makes things easier but I didnt find it infallible. I still needed to use soapy water on the rim bead for the last 4 tyres i used it with.

I can never understand when tyre reviews state that 'it was hard to set up tubeless, we had to resort to a compressor rather than a track pump'. Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

<div class="bbp-reply-author">trevmccdonald
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There’s an Airshot on Ebay for a fiver, normally they’re £45 elsewhere ? Too good to be true ?

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/123252462904?chn=ps&var=423657368719/a >

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That's just for the schraeder adaptor, not the airshot.

Oh ffs - is the quote function still ****ed?

How can they not fix something so ****ing fundamental to a forum?

No wonder I hardly nother to log in on here any more.

I can never understand when tyre reviews state that ‘it was hard to set up tubeless, we had to resort to a compressor rather than a track pump’. Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

Never used anything other than a track pump. Levels of profanities whilst doing so does vary.

Compressor from lidl, never regretted mine 🙂

As above that 5.99 is just for an adaptor. The airshot in that listing is 49.89

I've only ever needed a track pump. My first attempt (non-addix Hans Dampf on 650b DT Swiss E1900 25mm internal rims) required a tube to get the bead to seat, but recently replaced front with a Magic Mary and rear with Hans Dampf, both addix softs, and found they both seated quite easily, with only a track pump required. The recent tyres also inflated nicely on the dry runs (no sealant). I agree with nhamer though - my first experience was reasonably frustrating, but the lessons I learned definitely made the recent tyre switching much easier.

I've the beto one. Works well, built  well and cheaper (price match at tredz from Merlin then use their perpetual £5 off code).

Airshot user here - since they carme out.  A bit of soapy water on Hans Dampfs is the only thing I have had to do - all other tyres have gone on fine on a variety of rins - Arch EX, Flow EX, Roval Fattie, Easton Haven.  Purgatory/Butcher, Magic Mary and Trail Kings - all inflated straight away.

Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

Yes.  For many years.  Some cursing involved on a small number of occasions - generally though, no hassle.

I’ve got a CRC Airwave pump with tank built in. Does the job pretty well - just have to see how long it lasts as it was significantly cheaper than similar other products (sub £40).

Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

Me Me Me.... but tbh I'ts a bit hit and miss and more miss but funny to watch the frantic pumping.

Airshot now makes it soo much a no brainer.

Fire extinguisher for me. I got 2 for a tenner and it even works far better than my compressor. Plus a free bike wash when you first empty them out!

Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

Nearly all the time ... my 8 yr old can seat his own rocket ron's on Crest rims...

I’ve tried the pop bottle before but could never get the valves on the lid to seal properly.

Bath sealant

I got a Beto one ... works fine... less hassle than getting the hose onto valves and clamping with molegrips but otherwise works the same as the pop bottle....

Nobbyflator

Screwfix garden sprayer. £7.95. Comes with everything you need to convert it and works a treat.

Never used anything but a track pump.

Although this weekend's challenge of a Trail Boss on an ARC30 was the closest I've ever come to buying a compressor.

Airshot duct taped to my track pump, hey presto new fangled track pump.

Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

Yes, but my arms were pumping like a schoolboy enjoying some me time when he's just heard his mum coming up the stairs.

Thanks all.

Had a go at converting my broken garden sprayer earlier:

Broken spray nozzle & valve replaced with 1/4 turn ball valve:

[img] [/img]

Pump it up!! 8 litres at 3 bar and see what it can do:

[img] [/img]

No sealant at the moment and the tyre popped on without using soapy water either.

Topped up with track pump and currently holding 40psi - will see how it is tomorrow.

if you are using anew folded tire- mount it on a spare rim with inner tube for a few days- so that the bead gets into shape.

if you are using mavic ust rims and decent clean tire with stans juice - a track pump will suffice.

but if that fails - airshot - but you still might need to compress the tire to get it started..

I love doing it!

I have also used my airshot to clean out my sunroof drains!

Nice bit of re-purposing Dirk.

Nice bit of re-purposing Dirk.

And on the plus side can still be used to rinse down bikes...

No sealant at the moment and the tyre popped on without using soapy water either.

Topped up with track pump and currently holding 40psi – will see how it is tomorrow.

It doesn't really matter.... (except in how much sealant you use)...  That's the tricky bit over unless you have massive tears in the tyres.

If it popped on and it's holding 40 psi and not sounding like a jet going overhead just stick the sealant in.. put the valve core back and pump it back up to 40... give it a shake and spin etc. and preferably a ride...

Airshot here too. One of those “right tool for the job” purchases I’ve never regretted.

This. Love mine. If I could improve ONE aspect, I'd add an extra flap to the neoprene cover so it can sit on the track pump. Just the right tool for the job.

I can mount some road tubeless with just the track pump, but the Airshot is one of those tools you know will do the job and is the right tool for the job. Very satisfying purpose.

We had one of those garden sprayers go bang when using it with water (so less air to compress) and only a few pumps of pressure. Bits of sharp plastic shrapnel everywhere. Wouldn't want to be bending over one with even more stored energy and no safety goggles.

Just lube up the rims with a bit of muc off (other detergents are available) after you have the sealant in and the tyres on the rims. Then one shot of the compressed cartridge and its on. maybe top up with the track pump to max pressure  and bounce the sealant around a lot. Leave over night if you can and then take it down to the desired pressure for riding. Used this technique on road, MTB and CX. Works every time.

Taking inspiration from The Nobbyflator, I give you the Frankenflator:

I built an extinguisherflater too, but I used a full size water extinguisher and tbh it's a bit stupid. Ironically, most times when I charge it up I do it from my 2hp compressor 😛 If I did it again I'd use a smaller can.

Or maybe I'd just buy an airshot these days as they're good value. But I wouldn't expect to get my fatbike tyres up with one, it's enough of a pain with the compressor.

Taking inspiration from The Nobbyflator, I give you the Frankenflator:

Love the Van Halen paint job!!

I put a tube in seat both beads, pop one side off, remove tube, add 60ml stans, spray soapy water around open bead, then pump with track pump for 30-60 seconds, until you get the pinging seat confirmation.

On my old Stans Arch rims didn't need to use a tube at all trackpump would do it no problem.

In what world is 46 quid for a bottle some tube and fittings good value?

I've got the Specialized one, it's rather good and reassuringly heavy / well made. It's never failed to get a tyre to go up once.

Yes I can seat all my tubeless tyres with a track pump, but sometimes I just CBA'd

In what world is 46 quid for a bottle some tube and fittings good value?

The one where the option is chucking a £47 tyre...???

Seriously though ... most of my tyre/rim combo's go up no problems with a track pump.. quite a few I reckon would go up with a half decent hand pump... I've never tried since I've always had the track pump...

Then there is always one, I spent hours and hours on one tyre... probably 49 hours... so at £1/hr ???

What pressure is required to seat tubeless tyres onto the rims when using something like a compressor?

I tried 90psi with some Schwalbe Nobby Nics... no dice.

Edinburgh Bike Co did a £50 voucher for £25 a few months ago and I used it to buy the Specialized tubeless pump - so far so good and it works well. Personally speaking, for £25 it wasn't worth faffing around.

Yes I can seat all my tubeless tyres with a track pump, but sometimes I just CBA’d

I would have said the same until I came to fit Schwalbe G-Ones to my CX bike. They absolutely defeated my track pump and nearly defeated the compressor I borrowed! In the end, they were the reason why I bought a proper tubeless pump. Great tyres once fitted and not had a single issue with them since though 🙂

Has anyone in the history of tubeless tyres ever managed to mount a tyre tubeless with a track pump alone?

It does depend on the model of tyre but usually Bontrager tyres go up no problem with a track pump, you don't have to work particularly hard either. So long as one of the beads isn't caught on the valve then it's straightforward.

It can also vary from tyre to tyre: I put tubeless CX tyres on my singlespeed. Same tyres front and rear, same rims front and rear. The front inflated first time with just a track pump and stayed inflated without sealant. The rear took about five days to get sorted.