(tire) Air Pump

Just had 2 flats in the last 10 days and really took notice of the fact the "spare" is rather useless without a pump!! I was curious to what you all used. I saw the one by Porsche Pelican has and must admit finding it rather large and cumbersome. Do any of you have the one the cars came with? Was it any smaller? Other suggestions?
Thanks
Jean-Paul

I believe the one pelican sells IS the one the car came with.

I use a bicycle pump, a tire flat repair kit, and a cell phone if that doesn't do the trick. No spare needed.

I just carry a can of Fix-A-Flat.

I have never had to use this stuff before, but then again no other car I know of has a compressed spare! I ditched the spare for the can since I do not have a Porsche air pump.

I do not know how wise this is but it is lighter

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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

I relied on the can idea for my first flat and must admit that if I had not catched the tire with still a bit of air in it I doubt the can would have lifted it enough to save the rim-Perhaps a couple cans would be wise. So a pump will be on board soon. Then again these are the first flats I've had in years....

Jean-Paul

[This message has been edited by 85 Coupe (edited 01-30-2001).]

If you're talking about this one:



Then that's not the "correct" pump for an '85 but it will still work and is actually a better one than the original. The original pump is white. I can snap a picture if you are interested in originality.

I would be interested in the picture . My understanding, at least for the SC model, is that the pump you posted is the correct original equipment!

Also, just as an aside, that heavy little spare that the factory put in is part of the front rear weight distribution ratio. Be careful not to tempt the Porsche gods!

[This message has been edited by ras911 (edited 01-30-2001).]

You can buy air compressors from any auto store for less than $20. Won't they work just as well? Is there anything special about the more expensive Porsche pump?

As far as I know, only the cigarette lighter adapters on the Porsche air pump fits snugly into your cigarette lighter. Any other brands won't fit, at least I haven't seen one that fit, yet. I'd like to see that white air pump too.

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Jeff
1976 911S

[This message has been edited by Rufblackbird (edited 01-30-2001).]

If you are looking to buy the Porsche air pump as pictured above, these come up on ebay all of the time. There are a couple of them on ebay now. They typically will sell for $20+ less than you can find them at most other places. AJ USA usally has good prices on them as well.

OK, I'll get that picture soon. You're right any pump will work including later ones like shown and also aftermarket ones. This picture will be for people who are interested in originality.

I just checked the compressor I bought at Walmart for about $15, and the adapter fits perfectly into the cig lighter in my '88 Carrera. Must be different on the SCs.

Originally posted by Rufblackbird:
As far as I know, only the cigarette lighter adapters on the Porsche air pump fits snugly into your cigarette lighter. Any other brands won't fit, at least I haven't seen one that fit, yet. I'd like to see that white air pump too.

I believe the factory originally delivered the fist cars of the "74 model with CO2 cartriges like the ones bicyclists carry. They stopped using them due to injuries from overinflation by morons and i think they recalled them. I'm not positive about that but vaguely remember it, so don't quote me. Anyway, my point is that those CO2 cartriges the cyclists use, seem to me to be a much quicker, lighter, simpler and cheaper solution than the slow and heavy compressor.
Any thoughts on this?


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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet

The compressor pictured, is not the original equipment compressor for an SC. As someone else stated, the correct compressor is white. I will take a pic of mine tomorrow and post it......

Bill Carcot
1979 911SC
Diablo Region, P.C.A.

The correct one for the SC is small, white and has a handle on the top. It is one piece and not contained in a box. I once saw one on E-bay. I bid, but it ended up going for upwards of $175.00. Not worth half that much to me. I wish I could remember the name of the MFG which is stamped on the side.

Originality aside, any cigarette lighter run pump will work just fine!

Hope this helps.
Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe

My car has its complete tool kit, but no pump. Bought a Campbell Hausefield for $12. But I'm not sure I'd blow up that collapsible spare. Can I recollapse it or is this a dealer thing? Fix|A|Flat sounds like a better idea. Two cans. Then keep tools and spare parts securely fastened where the tire was. Interesting.

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'83 SC

Just curious if anyone has actually used the caned "Fix a Flat" or similar product. I considered using it but then worried that the goop that is injected into the tire to seal the hole would adversly affect tire balance. Does it? Or am I worrying needlessly?
Chuck

Here's the picture of the pump from my '85 Carrera. It says "Made in Canada" on it and I believe the brand is Webster. It has a big embossed "W" on it.



Here is a shot of it opened up.

I've used fix-a-flat in the past with good results. I carry it with me in my Land Cruiser for off-road forays (OK, let the SUV jokes fly) where it might be impossible to safely set up a jack and change tires. One can filled a 275/70-16 tire. You are directed to drive immediately away to spread the contents of the can throughout the tire which would probably offset any potential balance problem. Can't say that I would have noticed any imbalance, though, given the insensitivity of the car and the off-road environment.

Do your mechanic a favor and let him (or her) know that the fix-a-flat stuff is in there when you get the tire changed or repaired. I recall reading some time ago about some problems and precautions to be taken when a tire is changed with the "goop" inside.

Yes,

I've used fix-a-flat many times for temporary repairs of my 33" tires when I had older tires on my Jeep. You do have to advise the mechanic fixing the tire. They usually add a surcharge, I think they have to scrape the goo off of the tire to fix it right and one mentioned a flammability issue as they work on the tire recently filled with the stuff.

PS. The cigarette lighter in my '82 works fine for all accessories (air pumps, radar detectors, etc.)

Olivier
'82 SC