ben,
I'm with Bill on this one. I have used Silca pumps for 30 years and have had no difficulty getting full pressure out of them. (Check out that tandem shot --that's a Silca under the rear top tube!) I have never had one break in my hand, though I did bend one over a dog's skull once. Annually, you need to pull the pump apart and flex the leather washer back on itself, softening it up so that it will seal against the pump barrel. The Vasoline idea is a good one, especially if the pump chatters in use. They say to stay away from oil, as it supposedly rots tubes. It takes strong arms to get to 120 psi, but hitting 80-100 shouldn't be too hard. Remember, these were marketed as racing pumps. They are not designed for daily use.
Never use the plastic Silca pump ends that often came with these pumps. They have a tendency to push onto the valve too hard. I've seen a person "top off" a tire with this setup, only to have the shaft of the pump become a rocket, and the tire completely deflate before he could pull the pump off. I've never seen this happen with either of the Campy ends. The flat rubber washer goes under the chrome aluminum grip, between it and the pump body. Use the Campy version, if you can find one.
True story--Last year, I stopped on the north side of the Mohawk River to help a couple of guys who were trying to pump up a tire with one of the new style pumps. I whipped out my Silca Impero and had the tire up to pressure in a little over a minute. "Where can I get one of those pumps?" the flat tire guy asked. I just sniggered as I flipped up my toe clips and cruised away, waving.
Steve Barner, full of hot pump air in Bolton, Vermont
Ben,
No one else mentioned it, but is the rubber washer in place and in good condition? It belongs between the aluminum sleeve and the pump body. If it is missing , it will leak like a sieve. Also, make sure that the cap is tight enough on the rubber insert and that the insert is still soft. If it is hard, it will not seal around the valve stem. I think that the rubber from the plastic head should fit the metal head, but not sure. Sounds like the problem is not in the pump, but in one of the two rubber pieces that are meant to form seals. Never had any problems with Silca pumps and could generate 120 psi when using tubs on my tandem.
Bill Boston
Wilmington, DE
> Hey cool cats,
>
> I bought a NOS silca frame pump (chrome-plastic ??) and a NOS Campy steel
> pump head. I put the two together and pressure and efficiency is pretty
> woefull - i didnt expect brilliance but the same pump with a plastic Silca
> pump head is far better. Before i try to figure out how to secure CO2
> cartridges to my Zeus Porta Tubulares id like to make sure i can pump a
tire
> up eventually using the frame pump. It seems to thread on correctly and
fit
> as it should.
>
> Yeah, yeah, i know, i know - i shoulda bought a Zefal but they look about
as
> appropriate as teats on a bull and im a stylin' guy.
>
> Any tips or ideas for looking into whats not right or what to look for in
> setting it to work as best as possible. Any rocket scientists out there?
The
> steel campy head isnt necessary - i bought it for its extra weight as it
may
> prove handy if its swung in anger or against an attacking assailant -
> nothing worse than being in a bar room brawl and swinging a haymaker that
> doesn't make an oppponent flinch, ... what next ... exit stage left - fast
> !!!!
>
> ciao,
>
> ben kamen NYC