Inflate tires by hand

[veloman]

Right on, basjoos.

For keeping them topped off, I don't see any downside to doing it by hand. Assuming you already own a bike pump (I'm a big bike nerd).

Not sure why people are afraid of a little workout. I say this because the reactions I get from people who see me doing it are quite something. Pretty much everyone that has seen or that I told I pump them by hand thinks I'm a crackpot.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My dad gave me his old Sears compressor, and I consider it to be a necessary tool in any mans garage. I use it for inflating tires, removing lug nuts, painting, cleaning, nailing siding and roofing. It's so useful that I recently installed a hose reel so that I don't have to fuss with putting away tangled hose all the time.

Now that we're on the subject, how do I change the oil on this thing? Is it simply opening the lower bolt to drain, and filling from the upper bolt? What oil should I fill it with?

Looks right on the drain and fill, probably a splash feed with a little blade on the bottom of the con rod (dipper-slinger). For oil I'd check for recommendations but 20 or 30 weight would probably be fine,doesn't even need to be detergent.

regards
mech

[whatmaycome14]

I go to Wawa gas stations where the air is free!

[California98Civic]

Out here the Chevron stations do not charge for compressed air.

[oldtamiyaphile]

I didn't think any service station would charge you for air They don't here or any that I remember in Europe.

I use a hand pump because its actually far easier than dragging out the big compressor, extension leads etc. Time wise it works out about the same, but it's less hassle. Adding 1PSI per tyre per three months isn't a big deal.

[order99]

Most places in NC charge for air-assuming the compressor hasn't been vandalized...

I've used a bicycle pump on my Festiva's liitle 12 inchers on many an occasion-but once I found a portable micro-compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter for $10 at a local flea market, I decided to use that instead and keep my manual pump on the '65 Schwinn Aristocrat instead.

[freebeard]

I also own an inexpensive ($45, after discount-$27) used compressor, and top balance the tire pressures with a bicycle pump for the exercise.

But I wanted to mention the utility of the 5-gallon hand portable air tank.

[user removed]

I once bought a pump from harbor freight and the first time I tried to top off my tires at 45 psi, the piece of crap chinese rubber hose blew out and by the time I got the clamp on air chuck off my tire was half flat. Luckily I was in my brothers driveway.

regards
mech

[redpoint5]

I find that my tires stay within 2 psi over the course of a year. Not sure why people need to inflate so often. Maybe it helps that I inflate the tires in the winter when it's coldest, and the warming weather offsets the minor loss of air.

I'd probably inflate by hand if I had a hand pump, but I've always had access to a compressor that has a dedicated space and is always plugged in.

It's illegal for CA to require service stations to provide air and water for free. No idea how they enforce that without getting sued.

[serialk11r]

I pump my tires with a bicycle pump too. I don't have an air compressor and the bicycle pump works fine. It's not even that slow, and I can do it when I remember to at home instead of putting quarters in at a gas station.