Super basic and yet I screw it up time and time again

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:21 pm

So at the MS demo I learned my crappy little tire pressure gauge was crappy - consistently off by about 4psi. So I asked for and received this for Christmas:

http://www.amazon.com...

I'm an orphan here all alone so YES I open my gifts as the come!!!

So I was stoked to try it today. Alls I successfully did was let all the air out of my front tire.

There weren't complicated instructions but I couldn't stop it from letting air out once attached. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?! Of course I tried 3 or 4 times until the psi said 10 then I gave up the ghost. It says "clip" the thing onto the valve and release clip. I do and hssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss is all I get. If I hold the clip, SOMETIMES it stops sometimes it doesn't. HELP!

As the day has progressed I realized that I've NEVER successfully attach things to my valves whether it be to pump it up or now check it. There must be something I'm missing. One person suggested I get a bike pump and then I remember the heck of time I had trying to connect those to tires. I'm just inept with this, I conclude.

Like I said the instructions were simple BUT it refers to the "end" several times sometimes meaning the end where it attaches to the tire and sometimes it means the end that attaches to the gauge. Am I pushing the thing on too hard when I attach it? How do I NOT let air out when I'm checking the dang air!!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:52 pm

The link doesn't appear to be correct. Is this the type of gauge that locks onto the valve?

I always struggle with tire gauges and pumps as well. It's stupid, but I always feel like I let 10psi out every time I check the pressure. (It's more like 2-3psi.

)

What I really should do is get one of these so I'd only have to connect once:

The inflator I have now doesn't have a built-in gauge, but does have alternate power hookups for vehicles without a 12V outlet.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:06 am

does this one work:

http://accutiregauge.com/digital-tire-g ... ire-gauge/

Yeah, one that pumps up as well is a great idea!

iwabj · Post by **iwabj** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:15 am

wrong thread. My bad.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:16 am

Hm—never used one with that little clip on there like that. The ones that lock down are the best for me. Otherwise I really fumble around with it.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:21 am

ericalm wrote:Hm—never used one with that little clip on there like that. The ones that lock down are the best for me. Otherwise I really fumble around with it.

can you show me an example of one that locks down?

iwabj · Post by **iwabj** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:25 am

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:27 am

Not sure of the exact one you using but the pump is on before you attach the end? With some small pumps they need a sec before you attach. Even if its not a great fit you should have more pressure going in than coming out. Some cheap pumps kinda suck. The slime pump isn't bad for the price. They had them for sale at autozone.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:27 am

jijifer wrote:
ericalm wrote:Hm—never used one with that little clip on there like that. The ones that lock down are the best for me. Otherwise I really fumble around with it.
can you show me an example of one that locks down?

I could if it actually existed. Stupid me. My gauge doesn't lock; my inflator does.

I have this:

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:35 am

Crap, were you talking about just checking pressure or a pump/compressor with a gauge. Checking the pressure... simpler is better.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:41 am

Try supporting the valve stem from the back while you attach the tire gauge. I'm out of town at the moment, so I'm doing this from memory ... and I might be confused with one of the ATVs, but I think if you reach around to the back side, you can grab the bottom end of the valve stem and support it that way. From what I recall, trying to attach the gauge to a floating valve stem doesn't work so well.

Rob

90843d4 · Post by **90843d4** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:14 am

I think you may have hit it spot on. Without supporting the valve stem from the back, she may not be able to press hard enough to get a good seal.

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:46 am

90843d4 wrote:I think you may have hit it spot on. Without supporting the valve stem from the back, she may not be able to press hard enough to get a good seal.

FLIP! I've only got 2 hands! so I should lay the gauge on the ground, do a reach around and then try to clip it on? I think my neighbors have a bicycle pump I can use to at least get this back up to a psi I can use to drive to the air compressor at the gas station.

I wanted this because it is supposed to be super accurate but frick, at least I wasn't letting all the air out of the tires with my $2 gauge!

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:21 am

Probably two ways to hold it. One hold like you are about to hammer in a nail, pointer and thumb. Other like holding a syringe, pointer and index.

bgwss · Post by **bgwss** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:35 am

I have that exact accutire gauge. I usually have to lay on the ground support the stem and push on the tang and push until you feel resistance and then release and it clamps onto the the stem and gives you a reading. Then you let go of stem and look at reading. It is pain but I have found no matter the gauge checking scooter/motorcycle tires are a pain. You might want to see if you can practice on a car tire so you know what the sweet spot is. I love mine and check my tires once a week on all my vehicles. I guess I am a fanatic.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:18 pm

bgwss wrote:...I love mine and check my tires once a week on all my vehicles. I guess I am a fanatic.

Not according to most motorcycle manufacturers. That's one of those things you should check before each ride.

I keep a keychain digital gage that I picked up for some inconsequential amount of money (cheap). I've checked it against other gages and it's correct. It takes all of a second to check the air with no clipping or contorting involved, but I'm still guilty of not checking as often as I should.

It's one of those things that people forget about. Tire pressure is important - maybe that should be in the crash thread... #9 tire pressure front & rear. Again... I'm just as if not more guilty of neglecting to check the pressure, so I'm not tryin to come down on anyone... except maybe myself.

iwabj · Post by **iwabj** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:52 pm

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:53 pm

bgwss wrote:I have that exact accutire gauge. I usually have to lay on the ground support the stem and push on the tang and push until you feel resistance and then release and it clamps onto the the stem and gives you a reading. Then you let go of stem and look at reading. It is pain but I have found no matter the gauge checking scooter/motorcycle tires are a pain. You might want to see if you can practice on a car tire so you know what the sweet spot is. I love mine and check my tires once a week on all my vehicles. I guess I am a fanatic.

Thanks. I think I will practice. My car is sitting in my driveway non-operational and one tire went flat all by it's self. I've got 3 to try! BUT I was thinking this morning how car tires you can't reach around and support the stem, why are cycle tires needing this?

Was tang a typo? are you saying you hold down the clamp, push it on until what? - no hissing? does the hissing stop once I release the clamp? And as silly as THIS sounds, how do I purposefully let air out once I have it working properly?

bgwss · Post by **bgwss** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:50 pm

Yes tang=clamp and it is hissing and until you release the clamp. Right above the gauge there is a button and when you want to release air you hit this.

easy · Post by **easy** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:01 pm

pushing in on the button that's in the neck will bleed off air

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:39 am

Join the club. I'm convinced that it's meant to be impossible.