what is wrong with my Silca bike tire pump?
 

i have two of them. both the same. (one black, one white)

despite owning the black one for about 20 years..i dont know jack about them. never needed to. they have always worked. i loaned the black one out to a buddy and he disappeared. i needed one, so i bought the white one. then i found my friend and he gave the black one back.

now i need to know more about them. because they both now suck. i only have presta tubes. i cannot press the air chuck on and start pumping. i have to use one hand to hold the dumb chuck, and pump with the other. awkward! if i let go of the chuck..it pops off. i have to fiddle with the chuck. sometimes it doesnt allow air into the tube and the pressure rockets inside the airhose.

i've oiled them thru that small hole. but sometimes the pump moves without resistance. no air moved.

i've taken apart the chucks and it is only that black rubber thing, and a plastic cup..i assume the cup allows you to change to a shrader valve?

is it time to get a more modern pump? (one pressure gauge broke, so i only have one workable pump)

who knows silca pumps? i think i have that #24 brass chuck on both tools.

need pics?

My Silica pumps (I have four) use an oiled leather cup inside the tube. When the pump doesn't have resistance, the cup has curled up just enough to not seal against the tube walls. Usually I can give it a really hard, fast pump, and that opens the cup just enough to touch the tube walls and everything works again. Worst case, I have to unscrew the pump and sort of massage the cup to a more open shape.

Oh, wait - I have the frame pump with Campy head. I'm not sure if that is what you have. Sounds like you have the floor pump.

Anyway, see here for more info

Silca Pump Rebuild 136

Cliff,

Floor pump? Open it up and put some grease on the side and the face of the leather cup. Open it up and cramp it back in there. Its dried so a little grease will help. Get another rubber seal in that brass chuck and you are good to go. Maybe jsut get another chuck and replace the whole thing. as far as I know there are two different sizes. The earlier one are smaller then the later flat larger ones. Some times they are really hard to find.

Buy a Specialized or any pump head and a small clamp and be done with it. Personally I like the Silca head and dislike the locking type, simply because I am used to it.

John,

Do you have the matching paint frame pump? Those are nice.

Nope.

I buy the Silca frame pumps w/ Campy head whenever I see them in the used bin, for $20-25 each. I buy them w/ the other head too, but for $15.

Eventually I will have one for every bike (of appropriate era) and THEN I will paint them to match the bikes.

when you open the pump up take the leather off and flip it over and soak it in oil for a few days. They get hard and crusty after some time and if that doesn't work buy a new leather plunger.

The leather cup has been covered, well. If you can't referb yours they are less than $5 new.

Pressure in the hose and not the tube. When you loosen the nut on the presta valve always tap the valve to break the seal.

I never understood the love for the standard press on Silca chuck. Like the leather cup the rubber seal in the chuck can be bought for cheap. Silca actually used to make, I assume the still do, a nicer brass chuck with a throw lever that would stay on the valve. I swapped mine out decades ago.

FWIW I still have and use my first Silca pump I bought new in 1983. -J

Thanks.

Any oil? Gonna do this tomorrow.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

floor or frame pump?

no oil, is grease like ak47 needs.

An orange one? I think they only made them in one color. My was purchased in 84 with blood summer job money. It still works great. I still think they should make them in orange only. Buying any other color is like buying an orange or green Gios Torino or a brown Bianchi. Yes, I am a stuffy old man.

Cliff, listen to Jim. Grease. Its thick so it create a better seal.

Oh, even if youbuy a new leather cap, you still need to grease it or else it will be stuck and will not move well.

So.......80s, I use my Hitachi contractor compressor. Permanently set at 110 psi, dust blower on the QR fitting, length of hose from my old floor pump and the brass connector.

Comes up to pressure in one minute, spritz, spritz.....

grease!! check.

i'm tempted to do it now..but it's late. thanks!!

Former Zipp director buys Silca, will move it to Indiana | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News


I really wanted to start building pumps here! Glad to see that someone has the same thought!

I really hope they still use Columbus tubing and keep the damn thing orange. Wishful thinking? Heck for all I know, they stop using Columbus tubes for it a long time ago.

Now tell me about your idea of a pump. How will you compete with guys like Specialized or other large mfg. from China?

Cool that its coming here. Good pumps are hard to find, Silca is the bomb. Since I lost mine, I've gone to a compressor, but would love to have another one.

Greased up. Still sucks. Way better tho. Ordering a whole new chuck today.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

Not that it matters now, but there is never a reason to order a chuck-the rubber inserts are replaceable and cheap. There are 2 styles of heads, presta only and reversible presta/schrader (reversible inside by flipping the washer). The leather is replaceable as well.

you're right.. everyone will brutalize me with shipping. i'll probably just get a modern pump. sucks to get a $2.50 part and have to pay $10 for a box. i'll work on my old silca when time allows. i'll be in Portland this weekend. i bet money some of the shops there carry parts.

one time i ordered that shift shaft seal from our host. i think the shipping was 3x the part. funny. it came in a rather large box. :D

i hate shipping charges..but.

Phone Boulder Bicycle, tell them to just put the little parts in an envelope and mail.