Inflate tires in seconds!
Prestaflator is designed with a variable-rate trigger valve. A light squeeze lets you safely inflate to your desired pressure over a few seconds. You can watch as the pressure gauge provides a constant reading as you fill. A full squeeze on the trigger provides maximum pressure for seating tubeless tires. The included safety blower tip is great for parts cleaning on and off the bike. Designed for both MTB & Road tires with a wide range of pressure requirements!
Accessories
Quality
Prestaflator is engineered specifically for the needs of bicycles and bicyclists. Only top quality materials are used for it's components. We start with a cast Aluminum body and give it a bead blasted finish. Next we use Brass, Aluminum, Chrome and Stainless Steel components for all connectors and moving parts. The industrial grade hose is rated for 300 PSI of continuous use.
Prestaflator's unique variable-rate trigger plunger is long and narrow. This allows the user to more easily regulate very small amounts of air to reach the exact pressure desired in even the smallest racing tires.
The pressure gauge has a rubber shock housing and offers accuracy with +/- 2%. The dial has a bicycle-specific pressure range of 12 Bar/174 PSI. It's high enough to inflate any daily-use tire, but not excessive so the gauge is easy to read.
Serviceability
Prestaflator is designed to offer years of reliable service. The body has a ¼" NPT male threaded adapter so you can install any type of connector. It comes with the most commonly-used ¼" I/M Quick Coupler already installed and ready to use right out of the box.
The hose, trigger and pressure release mechanisms are all threaded and installed using #7 O-Rings. They can all be removed and serviced with a 14 mm wrench.
The Presta / Schrader head is made of all brass. This is no place for plastic. Drop your hose on the concrete with a plastic head and it could break. The Presta head connects to your tire valve with an industry standard "24.1 pump head gasket". Replacements are available through any cycling supply source.
Automotive Inflators
Automotive inflators are not the same and may not be safe at bicycle pressures. Don't let a high pressure gauge fool you...inside their package are safety warnings. Even one with a 230 PSI gauge may only be rated for 70 PSI maximum use. Use one on a bike and the air hose could burst or the weak 'quick-clip' Schrader connector could blast off the wheel. Basic metal parts are usually glued-on causing leaks and then you get no reading from the pressure gauge. Failure and disposal of automotive inflators is common.
Prestaflator is different... a high quality, serviceable tool... designed, built and warranted for use on Bicycles.
Specifications
- Variable-rate trigger!
- Presta AND Schrader!
- Professional shop-grade tool.
- Brass Presta chuck w/standard replaceable insert.
- Replaceable I/M compressor quick-release attachment.
- 174 PSI (in 2 PSI increments).
- 12 Bar (in 0.1 Bar increments).
- Large 2 ¼" / 6 cm dial pressure gauge.
- Rubber pressure gauge housing for shock protection.
- Cast aluminum pistol grip handle with bead-blasted finish.
- Two-finger trigger valve for precise air flow regulation.
- Thumb-control pressure release button.
- High-pressure hose for easy access on any wheel.
- Head threads-off to offer standard Schrader connection.
Disclaimers
Air compressor and air hose with quick release connector required for use - not included.
Maximum air pressure is limited by your compressor's capabilities.
Warranty
Prestaflator warrants all air tool products manufactured by Prestaflator to be free of defective material or workmanship for 90 days, and under the conditions stated herein. This warranty is expressly limited to repair or replacement of product found to be defective. Prestaflator assumes no liability for loss due to failure of any product to perform satisfactorily. Prestaflator makes no other warranty, expressed or implied, except that of title. Any and all other warranties are expressly disclaimed.
This warranty applies under conditions of intended use and is exclusive of equipment subjected to: Failure to follow recommended assembly and service procedures, Lack of proper maintenance, excessive duty cycle, exposure to the elements, shipping damage and modification not authorized by Prestaflator. No warranty claims will be honored without prior authorization for repair from Prestaflator. Any replaced or repaired equipment will be warranted for the remainder of the warranty term only.
Very useful, unique cycling product.
~ Kenneth G. Merkel, PhD, PE
Air Compressors
Please visit our Compressors Page for our evaluations and recommendations.
Downloads
Prestflator Owner's Manual
Presta Pump Head Directions
- I am not familiar with this type of Presta head. How do I use it?
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Just push the head onto the valve as far as it goes. Schrader valves and threadless Presta valves may fall back into the rim when the tire is empty. Push on the tire side under the valve to keep it sticking out. The head should require a firm push.
- Is it safe to use an air compressor with bicycle tires?
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Your concern is exactly what Prestaflator was designed for. The Prestaflator offers a unique variable-rate trigger valve. A partial squeeze on the trigger flows less air. Doing this permits small additions to the tire.
- Why is the head sometimes hard to remove from the tire valve?
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Use the pressure release button to let the air out of the tool before you try to pull off the head. Pressure inside the tool tightens the gasket during inflation. If you still find it difficult, moisten or lubricate the grommet. Any standard non-wax liquid chain lube works well.
- How does it work for Schrader valves?
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The small head screws onto the valve. This attachment method is safe at high pressures. A rubber o-ring inside provides a leak-free seal so you can accurately regulate high inflation pressures.
- Does Prestaflator release air from the tire with the push button?
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Not for Presta valves. It was intentionally designed so it does not hold-open the one-way Presta valve. Our tests have shown that tools which hold-down the tip on a Presta valve will also release up to 5psi out of the tire when the tool is removed. Even a stand-alone pressure gauge will bleed air from the tire as you take the gauge off.
Instead we've designed our tool with a variable rate trigger which allows you to ease-up to the exact pressure you want. And once you take our head off, nothing from inside the tire is lost.
- Does the gauge read the pressure in the tire or the incoming air pressure?
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Once inflation has begun the gauge shows the pressure of the tire. It holds the tire pressure reading after inflation until the tool or pressure button is released. Technically speaking, it measures the pressure you have allowed to pass-through with the variable-rate trigger into the tool. The pressure inside the tool is equalized with the pressure inside the tire because pressure opens the presta valve. The presta valve closes itself when the pressure on both sides is equal.
- I just want to take a pressure reading on my tire.
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We've all learned the benefits of checking your tire pressure on a car tire. Car tires have a large volume of air at a relatively low amount of pressure. You can take a pressure reading on a car many times and still maintain pressure.
Attempting to take pressure readings on small bicycle tires with any tool is a waste of effort. You know you'll have to push the Presta tip to loosen it, and that releases a quick burst of air. Then a device that reads pressure is going to take away more air to get the reading. Thanks to being a small, high pressure tire you've now lost up to 5-10 pounds. You have almost a 100% chance of simply confirming you need to add air anyways.
With Prestaflator you just hook-up, inflate to your number and go!
- Can you make the tool without the hose?
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You want the ability to do the whole job quickly like the Prestaflator does now, but to do it with only one hand. It sounded like a good idea from the start back when we designed the Prestaflator.
In real world testing we found a tool without a hose was a bad idea. Holding the tool very still while inflating was needed to prevent leaks and get a correct pressure reading. (Did you ever notice a pocket pump will leak if you don't hold it very still?) You also had to do more effort to put yourself and the wheel in exactly the right position first or you could not see the gauge. Even worse, attaching and removing a sizeable 1 pound 4 ounce tool from your wheel created plenty of chances for damage to the valve, the bike or the tool.
Prestaflator is designed with a hose because the tool has freedom of movement with a good seal, and a small 2 ounce head is easy and safe to get on and off the bike.
- Have you considered making the tool with a Digital Gauge?
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Digital gauges do not offer more accuracy than analog gauges. Air pressure is measured in an analog fashion by a moving or bending device. A digital gauge must convert or interpret that analog value into digits. The conversion step plus the limited number of decimal places on a digital gauge reduce accuracy. It can easily be argued that a digital gauge is less accurate than someone closely eye-balling a reading on an analog gauge. In general, larger gauges of any type are more accurate than smaller ones. Their calibration is more consistent and their rate of wear is lower, so they remain more accurate over a longer period of time.
Our choice for analog is from practical use. You can slowly fill a tire to monitor pinch-flats or other problems, and actually see the pressure rising to your desired pressure while you fill. Also, a digital gauge has the added complication of a battery that will run out.
- Have you considered making the Presta head with a right angle?
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Yes. It turned out to be a bad idea. Our head is designed for quickest use. Push-on, pull off. When we tested right angle versions, we found the user's hand was right underneath cogs and rotors. The "pull-off" step could involve pain, cuts and bleeding. The natural hand position with our regular straight head keeps you out of trouble.
Bikes with small tires don't use Presta valves. For regular Presta valve wheels there's plenty of room to use a straight head. If you are interested in using Prestaflator with Disc wheels, the new 2009 25.0 Silca disc wheel head is compatible with Prestaflator. We now offer it as an accessory you can purchase on our website.
- Are there different kinds of Presta valves?
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Presta Valves (also known as French valves) are standard. The greatest variation is whether or not the body is threaded for a hold-down nut. The Head used on the Prestaflator fits all types of Presta valves. The head maintains contact by friction with a rubber grommet.
Read more here.
