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Written by Gary Johnson / Fact checked by Henry Speciale
Most of the time, you can pump your bike tires in the comfort of your garage or a nearby bicycle shop using either a static floor pump or a portable mini-pump.
However, suppose you like biking in the great outdoors, especially on natural, isolated terrains, where there are no nearby places to pump up a bike tire. In that case, it will be very dangerous if you have accrued a deflated bike tire. This will make your cycling trip a disaster instead of a fulfilling activity.
Therefore, learning how to pump a bike tire without a pump is important know-how for nature cycling enthusiasts. Read on below.
Table of Contents
This method is the most popular for cycling enthusiasts due to its simplicity.
One drawback of this method is that this is a temporary fix, and real air must be pumped as soon as possible because CO2 disappears quickly.
What you will need
Steps for putting air in bike tires using a CO2 cartridge
Step 1. Remove the dust cap
There is a dust cap to avoid mixing dust and particles with pressurized air in the bike tire. So, simply remove it and put it in a safe place.
Step 2.
Check the Tire then Connect the Inflator Head to the Cartridge
Check the Tire and tube to see if they still work before inflating. After that, connect the inflator head to the CO2 cartridge neck.
Step 3. Remove the Inflator Head from the Valve
Carefully remove the inflator head from the bicycle valve to avoid excess air leaking from the tire.
Step 4. Return the dust cap
Retrieve the dust cap that you removed in the first step. Please put it back on the tip of the valve.
Cover the tip until there is no more space between the tip of the dust cap and the bicycle valve. Then, you are good to go.
Second Method: Manual PumpingIf you have no pumping equipment (e.
g. CO2 canister, mini-pump, etc.), one way to pump up a bike tire is simply to do manual pumping. This method requires you to use your mouth as an inflator.
This may not be hygienic, but it is a viable method and may save your tire and your biking adventure. However, this is also a temporary fix.
What you will need
In order for you to pump air into a bike tire with this method, you only need a clean cloth or your shirt to clean the valve.
Steps for putting air on the bike using Manual Pumping
Step 1. Remove the dust cap
Simply remove the valve cover and put it in a safe place.
Step 2. Clean the valve
Clean the parts of the valve that will be in contact with the mouth using a clean cloth or your shirt.
Step 3. Pump Air into the valve using your mouth
Start the process by blowing a little air into the tire from the bicycle valve. After that, check if the tire is aligned with the rim.
If not, make sure to adjust it to achieve the correct position.
After the initial pump, simply continue the process until reaching the proper pressure and blow up the tire.
Step 4. Return the dust cap
Put back the dust cap to the tip of the valve.
Cover the tip until there is no more space between the tip of the dust cap and the bicycle valve.
Third Method: DIY PumpingIf you have no pump but some tools and equipment in your vicinity, a DIY pumping method may suffice.
What you will need
Steps on DIY Pumping
Step 1. Remove the dust cap
Step 2. Connect your valve adaptor to the pressurized air source
This step requires thinking because an air leakage must be avoided. Make sure that the adaptor is an exact interface to the mouth of the pressurized air source container.
Step 3. Connect the valve adaptor to the tire valve
If the adaptor is placed correctly, the air transfer will start. Continue putting air into the tire until the desired tire pressure is obtained or the pressurized air source is depleted.
Step 4. Remove the valve adaptor the tire valve
Carefully remove the valve adaptor. It is important to make sure the removal process clamps the tire valve seal to avoid air leakage.
Step 5. Return the dust cap
Cover the tip until there is no more space between the tip of the dust cap and the bicycle valve.
ConclusionThe most common methods on how to pump a bike tire without a pump are described in this article.
Follow the steps carefully not to blow up a bike tire.
If you understand the different methods to inflate a bike tire without a pump and the steps for each method that are explained in this article, you can bike wherever without a problem. Do you find the article helpful? Feel free to share the article with those who need the guide.
Gary Johnson
“I ride my bike to work for years, but is that enough? Our carelessness towards our surroundings has taken a toll on the environment. And now, everyone is responsible for changes; even the most minor contribution is counted. With this hope and spirit, I started with my partner to establish Biketoworkday to help more individuals commute to their work sites on their bikes.”
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by Patrick Wise
A cyclist or a biker for that matter needs to be alert and prepared in case of emergencies on the road.
As a bike enthusiast myself, I have been looking for ways to learn different skills that will be useful if any problems arise during the ride. One skill that I have developed over the years is how to put air in bike tires without a pump.
This is a skill that will be helpful if and when you accidentally forgot your pump when doing any biking activities. Also, if you do not own a portable pump right now, then learning some of the methods below will certainly help you as a biker. However, please be reminded that most of the process requires some do-it-yourself skills and a little know-how. Please be guided accordingly.
Contents
Putting the right amount of air in your tire is important in terms of your safety and getting the best performance of your bike.
Having it inflated with the right amount of air will also increase the lifespan of your tire than what is expected.
But what if you need a pump in the middle of the ride and you do not have one in your position? You need to use one of the methods below to make your tire inflated properly:
Using C02 CartridgesThis method is arguably the most popular alternative to inflating your bike’s tire without using a pump. The best thing about C02 is it’s portable, comes in small size, and light which makes it easy to bring when biking.
But please take note that this is just a temporary solution to inflating your tire and should be used only for emergencies. The best way to inflate is still to look for a regular pump to put air in your tire. Here are the steps when inflating your tire with a C02 cartridge.
Step 1: Removing the Cap
The first thing to do is remove the cap of the cartridge. The right way to do it to turn the cap counterclockwise using your bare hands.
Retrieve the inflator fitting and the cartridge from the tube by tipping the other side of the inflator up.
Step 2: Check your Tire
After opening the cap, you may proceed to check your tire if it is flat or not. You also need to check the tube if it is in good condition. Otherwise, if it is broken, you might end up with another flat tire just a few seconds of putting air into it. You can also adjust the tire so that it is position properly on the rim before putting the air.
Step 3: Filling the Tire with Air
Put the C02 cartridge into the inflator fitting by inserting it with your hand and pushing it clockwise until you will hear and notice an airflow. Hold it for a few seconds depending on the size of your tire. If the inflation level is enough, turn the cartridge counterclockwise to stop the air from flowing.
Step 4: Removing the Cartridge from the Inflator Fitting
Remove the cartridge off the valve by unscrewing it from the inflator fitting.
Close the nozzle while pulling the nozzle away from the valve. The right way to do it is to pull it straight to avoid damaging the inflator tube of your tire.
Step 5: Replacing the C02 with Regular Air
The C02 is just a temporary remedy and should be replaced immediately as soon as there is a regular pump that is available. Since C02 disappears quickly, replacing it with normal air should be your priority.
Manually Inflating the TireIt may not be the most popular way but if there is no other option, putting air to the tire manually is another way to do it. It may require a lot of effort on your part but this method can be done. But first thing first, you need to clean the tire and the valve before doing this method. Any piece of cloth can be used to clean the tire and the valve but make sure to clean it completely.
Once the tire and the valve are clean, begin the inflation process by blowing some air into the tire. After putting in some air, check the tire if it is aligned with the rim.
If it is not, make sure to make the necessary adjustments to make it in the right position. After that, continue to blow into the valve until you put enough air into the tire.
For sure, this method will take time and need you to exert a lot of effort. But to be able to succeed, do not be discouraged. From time to time, check the alignment of the tire and the rim and adjust accordingly.
Make a DIY Inflating ToolThis method requires a lot of creativity and imagination on your part. Inflating a tire can be done without using a pump by using an inflating tool that is made by you. This method requires some Do-It-Yourself skills and your creativity to pull it off. To inflate the tire using this tool, you will need to transfer the air from one tire to the other.
In making the inflating tool, you will need a siphon hose which will be used to transfer the gas to the tire. Then, get a pair of Schrader valves which will be attached to both sides of the hose.
One valve must be a clip-on variety so that it can be attached to another side of the tire while you do the inflation process. Insert the two valves at both ends of the hose and secure it with a clamp to prevent it from detaching.
So, how do you pump a bike tire without a pump through this method? You can attach the other side of the hose to the other tire of your bicycle with air and transfer the air to the one that needs inflation. Another way is to get the air from tires from other bicycles. All you need is some PR skills to do the trick.
Learning how to put air in bike tires without a pump is a much-needed skill to have as a biker. It will be a big help during emergencies, especially during your bike riding activities. The most important thing is to keep your tire with enough air all the time for your safety and to make your tire last longer than expected.
Categories Gears & MaintenanceCopyright © Bike Shepherd 2022
0003Related materials
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Inflating a tire in the city is not a problem.
There will always be a thrifty car enthusiast nearby who will lend a compressor. In extreme cases, you can drive to the nearest auto parts store and buy this useful device. But if the need to pump up the wheel caught on a long journey, on a deserted track, you will have to use your ingenuity.
A very banal way is to turn to professionals, that is, truck drivers. The fact is that any truck with pneumatic brakes can supply dried and purified air with high pressure through a hose that a thrifty truck driver always has with him.
Many gas stations now have tire inflation points, and perhaps the easiest way is to hitch a wheel to it and then return to your car in the same way. If all of the above did not work, then read about the tricks that we personally tested for effectiveness:
Attaching a can (any) to the nipple is not so difficult. The pressure inside the cylinder is 1.8-2.8 bar. It is important that the contents do not dissolve the rubber and do not harden, such as building foam.
Here, of course, compressed air canisters are good for blowing, for example, office equipment. But the inner volume of a wheel of a small class car is about 20-25 liters. For pumping, you will need several boxes of cans. Unacceptably!
It is possible to connect the tire valve to the brake master cylinder connection after draining the reservoir. After that, we begin to press the brake pedal in the same way as is usually done when bleeding the brakes when replacing the brake fluid. To inflate the wheel, it will take a gigantic number of clicks. Unacceptably!
Connect the hose to the air path after the turbocharger. The boost pressure in the line between the compressor and the intake valves of conventional (non-sport) engines is not enough to inflate the wheel. No matter how you gasp - unacceptable!
Advanced car enthusiasts know the method of transferring the bead ring over the hump of the rim with the help of an explosion of fuel vapors.
The Internet is full of videos on this topic.
It is usually advised to unscrew the spool from the valve. I wonder what will happen if this is not done? We need to keep up the pressure. We conducted an experiment and got an unsatisfactory result. With this method, it is possible to provide a very small pressure in the wheel - about 0.2 bar. The method really allows you to brilliantly cope with the task of transferring the sidewall through the hump, but it is not suitable for pumping!
And this is perhaps the most unusual way to inflate a tire. After conducting an experiment with a large 6-kilogram fire extinguisher, it was possible to raise the pressure by a completely ridiculous amount of a couple of tenths of a bar. And this despite the inverted spool. Everything around was covered with a rather nasty powder. Unacceptably!
The average car owner usually has a powder-type fire extinguisher in the trunk.
A powder fire extinguisher of a rather large volume worked very badly. It was not possible to pump up the wheel.
The average car owner usually has a powder-type fire extinguisher in the trunk. A powder fire extinguisher of a rather large volume worked very badly. It was not possible to pump up the wheel.
If you can attach a hose to the exhaust pipe, then you can inflate the wheel in this way. The engine is able to provide a pressure of two or more bars with a sealed exhaust system and if you “give it a gas”. The method is acceptable, but only as a last resort. The fact is that with this method, the catalytic converter, and even the corrugation of the exhaust system, may suffer.
The most difficult thing is to achieve tightness of the junction of a thin hose with an exhaust pipe. A variety of caps from bottles, washers, water squeegees can go into business. What will be at hand. Electrical tape will help seal the connection.
The most difficult thing is to achieve tightness of the joint between the thin hose and the exhaust pipe. A variety of caps from bottles, washers, water squeegees can go into business. What will be at hand. Electrical tape will help seal the connection.
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Using a hose, you can transfer part of the air from other wheels to the one we need to inflate. The method is complicated, because the valve mechanism will interfere with such a procedure. If we turn out the spools, we risk leaving several wheels without air. But even if you manage to get by with minimal losses, the pressure in all the wheels will turn out to be insufficient. In the best case, 75% of the pressure will remain in the wheels. Without preliminary preparation, which consists in assembling a hose with two tips like those installed on the compressor, we do not recommend trying this method!
***
Alternative ways to inflate tires are complicated, inconvenient, require advance preparation and can damage your vehicle.
Therefore, we advise you to always have a serviceable and inflated spare tire. And just in case, you should carry a portable electric compressor with you. It will be useful not for yourself, but for a less thrifty car enthusiast.
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There is such a situation: a flat tire, but there is no one and nothing nearby, and the wax does not have a compressor in the car.
In such a situation, the motorist will be delighted even with a bicycle pump. Like an exhausted traveler in the desert - a mug of water. Stop lamenting, it's better to read this article and find out how to pump up a wheel without a pump, since there are methods. Here are just some of these methods - sheer myths, and some we do not recommend you practice because of the huge harm to health, and even life.
So, in the city, almost any other driver will help you out, and you can buy a pump in the store, for that matter. Numerous trucks and trucks drive along the highway, the drivers of which also often help their colleagues. Large trucks have pneumatic brakes - they will become the source of air for the wheel of your car. A thrifty driver almost always carries a hose with him, with the help of which clean air under high pressure can be supplied from the braking system to the wheel.
You can also take the wheel on a ride or bus to the gas station, where it is often possible to check the pressure and pump up to the standard.
In the absence of all these possibilities, you need to read the material further - here are the methods that will be proposed: Connecting it to the nipple is not particularly difficult. The main thing is that the substance in the container cannot dissolve the rubber. The ideal thing here would be to inflate the wheel from a can of compressed air - they are usually blown through office equipment. Everything is fine, but the wheel needs 20-25 liters of such air, which is equivalent to several boxes of spray cans. In general, specifically “computer” compressed air is not suitable for us, other cartridges - maybe we need to figure it out in detail.
2. An explosion of gasoline vapors in the wheel really helps, but not in everything. If you need to throw the bead ring over the hump - this is one thing, but pumping up the wheel is completely different. Please note that in many online videos it is recommended to first unscrew the spool - I wonder why this is? It has been experimentally found that pumping wheels with an explosion helps to increase the pressure by only 0.
2 bar. In general, this method does not suit us either.
3. Fire extinguisher - this solution clearly claims to be unusual. However, even a six-kilogram cylinder with the spool turned out helped increase the pressure by only the same 0.2 bar as in the previous paragraph.
4. Turbocharger - here a hose is connected to the air path after the turbocharger. However, between the compressor and the intake valves, the inflatable pressure in the line is low for pumping the wheels, and even gasping is useless here. This refers to a regular turbocharged car, not a sports car.
5. Exhaust system - here it is important to be able to attach a hose to the exhaust pipe in such a way that the exhaust goes all into it. Then the pressure will be enough to fill the wheel, and not even one. When the exhaust system is tight, then, by giving gas, you can actually normalize the pressure in the tire. But we will immediately warn about the dangers of such an idea for a catalytic converter and even corrugated elements.
