I have another question for the experts. Not too comlicated, I presume, but being wrong can be rather inconvenient when trying to order a Silca frame pump for a restoration job I'm working on. If I had a bunch of pumps to try, no big deal, just squeeze it in the space and see if it fits. But here's the deal I just need to know what length Silca pump to buy for my Bianchi 58cm frame. I need the horizontal top-tub mount version and the exact measurement from head-tub brazed-on pump nipple to the resting area on the front of the seat tube is 21", which I calculate as 53.5cm (21" x 2.54cm = 53.5cm). This was my calculation. Now, it seems clear that I need a pump than when squeezed in will fit nicely in that space. I am not sure how to measure the Sica pump but I was told it was measured without the head on and from end-to-end without compressing it. Is this correct. Soooo.... The way I calculate it, the amount of compression is abnout equal to the length of the pump head. Therefore I need a pump that measures 53-54cm, (without the head and uncompressed, measured end-to-end). How much variance from that can I get? I found a guy who has the right (Celeste) color that I need, but he has a 56cm pump. Will this work? I am guessing that those pumps will compress at least another 3 cm. I do have a Silca pump here in the wrong color and it measures 19.5" (49.53cm) without the pump head, but it won't fit because its too loose, once I screw the head on it. So I know I need one larger than that. That pump does fit fine along the seat tube however. I have 2 old Silca pumps here, one with the flat top, and another with the 'frame-fit' contoured head on it. The flat one compresses 4.2cm, while the coutoured model only compresses one inch or 2.54cm. It looks like the 56cm pump will just barely make it, if it compresses like my flat head punp, but not if it compresses like my 'contoured-head' pump. Frustrating. Does anyone on the list have a nice Bianchi (Celeste colored) Silca pump laying around that will fit? It looks to me (from all my calcultions) that I need a 53.5cm - 3cm = 50.5cm max, and with compression I have about 3cm to play with, which means I can use a 47-50cm. Also, the head that I am measuring on my old Silca pump measures 3cm, so I subtract that from the measured frame space to give the uncompressed pump measurement of 50.5cm. Maybe the old metal Campy pump head is a little shorter, from what I recall. Sorry for all the wordiness, and I think I made it more complicated. It seems kinda crazy considering all I have to do is slip a pump in there, but I could use some help.
Thanks,
-Dave Gordon
Los Angeles