Silca Super Pista problem

Quoted message said:

I've been using a Super Pista floor pump for about 2-3 years now,
changed the rubber gasket about a year ago. Lately, I've noticed that
the barrel doesn't fill up completely with air, so that I can only pump
in about a third of the barrel for each stroke. There's no leakage at
the head. When I pull the handle up and then push it back down, there's
no resistance until 2/3rds down the barrel.

I have no idea what caused this, or how it can be fixed. Anyone else
have this problem?

See if the piston has dried out or is in some way damaged.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Quoted message said:

I've been using a Super Pista floor pump for about 2-3 years now,
changed the rubber gasket about a year ago. Lately, I've noticed that
the barrel doesn't fill up completely with air, so that I can only pump
in about a third of the barrel for each stroke. There's no leakage at
the head. When I pull the handle up and then push it back down, there's
no resistance until 2/3rds down the barrel.

I have no idea what caused this, or how it can be fixed. Anyone else
have this problem?

Thanks.

At the end of the tube attached to the handle, there's a leather plunger
which forms a piston in the barrel. Inspection will probably suggest
how the seal has failed. Often working some sort of rubber-safe lube
into it will get it working better. A few bike shops can supply
replacement leathers; try Yellow Jersey.

--
Ted Bennett

Thanks for the replies. I pulled out the tube from the barrel and took
a look at the plunger. It's black rubber, and the bottom of it looks
pretty chewed up. I cleaned it up (there was a lot of greasy goop in
and around it), put some oil on it, and the pump seems to be better.
I'm going to have replace the rubber plunger soon, though. Checked
loose screws, but they only have leather ones. Is it okay to use that?
Otherwise, anybody know where I can get a replacement made of rubber?

Joe Blow Pro. Move into the modern age

Quoted message said:

I've been using a Super Pista floor pump for about 2-3 years now,
changed the rubber gasket about a year ago. Lately, I've noticed that
the barrel doesn't fill up completely with air, so that I can only pump
in about a third of the barrel for each stroke. There's no leakage at
the head. When I pull the handle up and then push it back down, there's
no resistance until 2/3rds down the barrel.

I've had two spots of trouble. Check the valve at the bottom of the
pump (flat hex head at the base) -- if there's some heavy grease-like
stuff down there, wipe it clean and use a lighter oil. Then check the
gasket; mine is leather, but it was stiff. Work a light oil into the
gasket, wiggle it around until it flexes, and re-install. One of
these should do the trick.

Pat

Email address works as is.

eflayer2 said:

Joe Blow Pro. Move into the modern age

Yes, we all have our preferences. But since he owns a
quality piece already, a new piston should do it.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Not to mention that the Silca will go over 200 lbs per square inch and the
Joe Blow Pro will only go to 160 lbs. Important if you run high pressure
tubulars, race on the track, time trial, etc.

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

eflayer2 said:

Joe Blow Pro. Move into the modern age

Yes, we all have our preferences. But since he owns a
quality piece already, a new piston should do it.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

My apologies for lack of respect for the Silca. But I nearly tore a
rotator cuff trying to pump with one arm and hold the pump head on with
the other. I am sure with right temprament anyone can do fine with a
Silca.

eflayer2 said:

My apologies for lack of respect for the Silca. But I nearly tore a
rotator cuff trying to pump with one arm and hold the pump head on with
the other. I am sure with right temprament anyone can do fine with a
Silca.

This has nothing to do with temperament, but rather with a little
motivation. If you don't like the Silca chuck (and it's certainly not
without it's design problems), replace it with another one. A year or
so ago, I bought a plastic chuck and hose from a well known mail-order
company for around $6 for replacement, and have never looked back. It
has certainly improved on the original Silca chuck design. And the
design and manufacture of the internals of the Silca pump has always
been good. It's only "real" weakness has been the chuck, and possibly
the gauge placement close to the ground.

TTBMK this replacement hose and chuck is still being sold by this
mail-order house at the same price.

eflayer2 said:

My apologies for lack of respect for the Silca. But I nearly tore a
rotator cuff trying to pump with one arm and hold the pump head on with
the other. I am sure with right temprament anyone can do fine with a
Silca.

This has nothing to do with temperament, but rather with a little
motivation. If you don't like the Silca chuck (and it's certainly not
without its design problems), replace it with another one. A year or
so ago, I bought a plastic chuck and hose replacement from a well known
mail-order company for around $6, and have never looked back. It has
certainly improved on the original Silca chuck design. And the design
and manufacture of the internals of the Silca pump has always been
good. Its only "real" weakness has been the chuck, and possibly the
gauge placement close to the ground.

TTBMK this replacement hose and chuck is still being sold by this
mail-order house at the same price.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the replies. I pulled out the tube from the barrel and took
a look at the plunger. It's black rubber, and the bottom of it looks
pretty chewed up. I cleaned it up (there was a lot of greasy goop in
and around it), put some oil on it, and the pump seems to be better.
I'm going to have replace the rubber plunger soon, though. Checked
loose screws, but they only have leather ones. Is it okay to use that?
Otherwise, anybody know where I can get a replacement made of rubber?

I've never heard of the {Super} Pista having a rubber piston,
only leather (not to say they've never been that way, only that I've
never encountered one). Of course there are other pumps out there
with the same size barrel, and it's entirely possible to transplant a
rubber piston from one of those (I think Zefal has spares available,
but acquiring one is another matter altogether).

On the other hand, I think the Silca Magnum had a rubber piston.
Even if it didn't, biketoolsetc.com lists having one available.

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=105489888716&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Tire%20and%20Tube&tc=Pump%20Parts&item_id=SI-73.2

Are you sure you have a Pista? The tube's outer diameter would
be 30mm if you do. Around 40mm if you have a Magnum.

-Luns