Tyre Compressor

[Beemerman59]

I'm looking to buy a new air compressor - must be compact but powerfull. I like the look of the Slime pump but with no integral guage you have to guess tyre pressures and then test with a seperate guage. Michelin do a compact one to but have a bad reputation for valve fitment.

Anyone got a recommended compressor thats compact but powerful enough to inflate a GS's tyre without draining the battery flat?

 

[Slowdown]

You could always inflate the tyre while the engine's running

 

[VAL. H.]

I bought one of those cheep compressors you see in petrol stations, removed it from it's plastic case and covered the moving parts with tin and carry it with my puncture kit in my top box.

It works fine (Though the guage is commonly about 10psi out) and the whole lot was under £20.00


BTW: The only reason the DIY repair kits are marked as 'Temporary' is the liability issue. I've done quite a few tyre plugs, and many thousands of miles on them with absolutely no issues what so ever.

HTH

Val.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

make your mind up - do you mean air compressor or tyre compressor.

i think ones a lot bigger than the other. ?

 

[Beemerman59]

I bought one of those cheep compressors you see in petrol stations, removed it from it's plastic case and covered the moving parts with tin and carry it with my puncture kit in my top box.

It works fine (Though the guage is commonly about 10psi out) and the whole lot was under £20.00


BTW: The only reason the DIY repair kits are marked as 'Temporary' is the liability issue. I've done quite a few tyre plugs, and many thousands of miles on them with absolutely no issues what so ever.

HTH

Val.

Thanks for that Val - I'm of the same opinion about the liability issues. So I tried my hand with the repair kit and broke the reaming tool - I( have to laugh at myself about that!) I have ordered a new tyre which I will fit and then get the old one fixed properly. I still want to sort out the repair kit so I'm self sufficient on the road and will look for a seperate reaming tool or different kit. At least I understand the problems now.

I broke my 5.95 Tesco's compressor when trying to help a friend with his flat at the weekend so thought I would invest in something a bit more up to it and compact. I don't like the idea of running an air cooled engine too long - heard too many horror stories so want to run it purely off the battery which shouldn't really be a problem.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

.....I don't like the idea of running an air cooled engine too long - heard too many horror stories so want to run it purely off the battery which shouldn't really be a problem.

why ? - do you think all the air in the world will overheat and seize the motor ?

most workshop air compressors are air cooled anyway

look up 'convection' and stop worrying

 

[MattW]

why ? - do you think all the air in the world will overheat and seize the motor ?

most workshop air compressors are air cooled anyway

look up 'convection' and stop worrying

Isn't he referring to not running his bike on tickover while pumping up his tyre?

If so then I think he's probably justified - as we all know, the manual is quite specific about the 'no-idling' instruction and given the lean (and hot) running 1200's and their chocolate RH exhaust valves I don't think I'd idle it unless I had to (assuming I had a 1200 of course, which I don't ).

Of course if you've got to run it on tickover, then you've got to, but I'd minimise it

 

[Parky]

I'm looking to buy a new air compressor - must be compact but powerfull. I like the look of the Slime pump but with no integral guage you have to guess tyre pressures and then test with a seperate guage. Michelin do a compact one to but have a bad reputation for valve fitment.

Anyone got a recommended compressor thats compact but powerful enough to inflate a GS's tyre without draining the battery flat?

Here's what you want. £8.99 at Wilko's.

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Car-Maintenance/Air-Man-Everyday-Compact-Air-Compressor-C60A/invt/0120244

 

[MattW]

Here's what you want. £8.99 at Wilko's.

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Car-Maintenance/Air-Man-Everyday-Compact-Air-Compressor-C60A/invt/0120244

I've got one of these - cheap and cheerful, but does the job

 

[Beemerman59]

Isn't he referring to not running his bike on tickover while pumping up his tyre?

If so then I think he's probably justified - as we all know, the manual is quite specific about the 'no-idling' instruction and given the lean (and hot) running 1200's and their chocolate RH exhaust valves I don't think I'd idle it unless I had to (assuming I had a 1200 of course, which I don't ).

Of course if you've got to run it on tickover, then you've got to, but I'd minimise it

Yes - I was referring to running the 1200 engine on idle whilst stationary. Glowing pipes, hot valves etc not a good idea to do for very long.

 

[Steptoe]

Yes - I was referring to running the 1200 engine on idle whilst stationary. Glowing pipes, hot valves etc not a good idea to do for very long.

How long do you think it takes to re-inflate a tyre from totally flat - 5 mins max. And if you think that 5 mins idling is likely to damage any engine i'd sell the vehicle.

I've a wilco £8.99 inflator, perfect for bikes. [URL="http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185719"]HERE[/URL] in the bargain forum with a review.

 

[Fanum]

why ? - do you think all the air in the world will overheat and seize the motor ?

most workshop air compressors are air cooled anyway

look up 'convection' and stop worrying

The cheap ones tend to run for a few minutes and then cut out, presumably by some internal heat device, 'cos if you let them stand for 5 mins, they work again.

We carry a proper 4x4 heavy duty compressor in the truck in Morocco but I have been impressed by the SLIME unit....it does seem to run for a lot longer before it gets too warm, certainly enough to get a bike tyre inflated (we did have to spend an hour with lots of stop/starting with Whatton's one to re-inflate a tyre on the Landcruiser once though....it did it, but it took some time)

The integral tyre pressure guages on mist small units are pants ...IMO it's always a good idea to check afterwards anyway- a pencil tyre guage is small and light and stashes away easily so there's no problem having one of those with a bike puncture repair kit as well.

 

[MattW]

I've a wilco £8.99 inflator, perfect for bikes. [URL="http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185719"]HERE[/URL] in the bargain forum with a review.

I bought mine when they'd misspriced them. They weren't too happy when I told them about the shelf ticket (the till tried to charge me full price) but they let me buy it at the marked £5.99

I 'stress tested' mine reinflating a car tyre from about 1bar. As Fanum says, it did cut out once or twice but it did the job. Also as noted earlier, the built in gauge is rubbish.

 

[Steptoe]

I 'stress tested' mine reinflating a car tyre from about 1bar. As Fanum says, it did cut out once or twice but it did the job. Also as noted earlier, the built in gauge is rubbish.

tested mine on my car tyre after using a stop and go to plug it. The guage is just a guide ( as it is on all plug in inflators).

 

[cookie]

we used a little manual pump when swapping tubes on Springer's GT750 tyre in france recently.

didn't take long

 

[Steptoe]

we used a little manual pump when swapping tubes on Springer's GT750 tyre in france recently.

didn't take long

Ahh the good old low tech days- BMW's used to have a handpump fitted under the frame tubes and held in place at each end by the same method as push bikes.

 

[WindyChuffer]

This one is pricey but it delivers enough airflow to seat a newly fitted tyre to the rims.

http://www.metalmule.com/news/latest/mm---uk-distributor-for-bestrest-products.html

 

[Beemerman59]

This one is pricey but it delivers enough airflow to seat a newly fitted tyre to the rims.

http://www.metalmule.com/news/latest/mm---uk-distributor-for-bestrest-products.html

Looks good but also 80 quid. I ordered a Slime pump for 30 quid and should do much the same.

BTW - A footpump can be used to seat a new tyre - its all in the technique.

 

[MattW]

Ahh the good old low tech days- BMW's used to have a handpump fitted under the frame tubes and held in place at each end by the same method as push bikes.

Did they have those little 'hinging' dynamo's which rubbed on the tyre for the lights too?

Edit: Just noticed - happy new website.

 

[Greg Masters]

£2.95 - Decathlon



Greg