EngineAir pump

[Rocketman]

Anybody use one of these for pumping up tires?:
http://www.stopngo.com/products/inflation/PQE1.asp

I could have sworn I saw some comments about it here before, but I can't find 'em anymore.  Maybe they're in the old archive, which I can't find anymore either.

No, it doesn't pump fuel/air into the tire.
The questions I have in mind are:
1a) is there any risk associated with running the engine with one spark plug pulled?  1b) Would it be better to put the plug back on the wire and ground it before doing so?
2) Do the adapters fit the Valkyrie plug holes?
3) is the hose long enough to reach from the rear cylinder, around saddlebags, and to the rear tire valve stem?

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

Okay, silly question. How can it NOT pump fuel in tire along with the air?? 

[R J]

Doesn't look like any of those fittings will go that deep to the plug hole and be accessible.

That plug hole has some depth to it......    5' of hose should get ya there, but don't Listen to that sheet, no fuel or anything into the tire........     That is just a start, open valve, grab air and gas and presto, it is into the tire trying to blow it up........       K-Mart, Wally-World, Pro Shop, have a cheap air compressor that runs off of the battery that is real good at blowing up tires.   I have one in the bike and one in the Trike.   The cars I have AAA, unless my son is with me, if so he does the change....    Bike and Trike neither one carry a spare so that eliminates AAA, except to haul it into town.          LOL..... You have to look on the box and make sure it will put out more than 50#, as that is the minimum to blow a tire up...

[Rocketman]

Okay, silly question. How can it NOT pump fuel in tire along with the air?? 

I've been told that it uses the engine internal pressure to drive a piston that draws in clean air, then forces said clean air down the hose to the tire.

Doesn't look like any of those fittings will go that deep to the plug hole and be accessible.

That plug hole has some depth to it......    5' of hose should get ya there, but don't Listen to that sheet, no fuel or anything into the tire........     That is just a start, open valve, grab air and gas and presto, it is into the tire trying to blow it up........       K-Mart, Wally-World, Pro Shop, have a cheap air compressor that runs off of the battery that is real good at blowing up tires.   I have one in the bike and one in the Trike.   The cars I have AAA, unless my son is with me, if so he does the change....    Bike and Trike neither one carry a spare so that eliminates AAA, except to haul it into town.          LOL..... You have to look on the box and make sure it will put out more than 50#, as that is the minimum to blow a tire up...

The plug depth could be a problem.  I hadn't thought of that.  Thanks for bringing it up.
Without having looked at it/dismantled it, I don't see any reason to disbelieve their write-up.  The design concept sounds like a good one.
As for minimum pressure, I don't think they could have gotten even the slightest of good reviews I've seen with a shortcoming like that.  It is marketed for motorcycles, and if I recall, smaller bikes with smaller tires are running higher pressures, so surely it would handle a Valkyrie tire.

[Scott from FL, now in Maine]

I understand what they descibe on how it works, but I still can't believe that it wont put fuel along with air in to the tire. Unless you can cut off the fuel flow to that carburator, fuel has got to go in to the cylinder and on to the tire. At the very least fuel fumes which is gas at it's most explosive state.
 

Okay the check valve concept might minimixe the fuel contamination, but I can't picture it being perfectly efficient. 

[vanagon40]

I remember using an identical gizmo in the 60s or 70s to inflate tires.  Ran it off a Ford 8N tractor (4 cylinder flat head).

Don't remember much more about it other than it did work to inflate tires.  Not sure about the air/fuel mixture.

[Willow]

I've used one.  I was disappointed in the results.

If I'd thought about it I would've known it wouldn't perform well on a Valkyrie.  What sounds like a really cool idea on a large displacement twin just doesn't work well with a relatively small six cylinder engine.  Each of our cylinders only displaces about 250 cc's.

The biggest dissatisfaction I experienced was with trying to get the beast started after I'd run the battery down trying to get a minimal amount of pressure into the tire.

I'm going with the small electric pump from now on.    

[Rocketman]

I've used one.  I was disappointed in the results.

If I'd thought about it I would've known it wouldn't perform well on a Valkyrie.  What sounds like a really cool idea on a large displacement twin just doesn't work well with a relatively small six cylinder engine.  Each of our cylinders only displaces about 250 cc's.

The biggest dissatisfaction I experienced was with trying to get the beast started after I'd run the battery down trying to get a minimal amount of pressure into the tire.

I'm going with the small electric pump from now on.    

Good info.  I would expect, however, that the throw of the piston (on the pump, not the engine's piston) would determine airflow through the pump, and once the engine has displaced more than the pump's displacement, all further engine displacement is wasted.
Is it not possible to run the engine with it in place, thus not draining the battery, and allowing you to pump air longer?  Would that result in backfiring, pushing unburnt gasoline through into a hot exhaust pipe?

[Willow]

Good info.  I would expect, however, that the throw of the piston (on the pump, not the engine's piston) would determine airflow through the pump, and once the engine has displaced more than the pump's displacement, all further engine displacement is wasted.
Is it not possible to run the engine with it in place, thus not draining the battery, and allowing you to pump air longer?  Would that result in backfiring, pushing unburnt gasoline through into a hot exhaust pipe?

What you see is what you get.  It is simply pumping air (gases) from your engine into the tire.  If I remember correctly the directions advised against running the engine.  I suppose that's because it would be difficult to control when enough is enough?

I still have it.  I'll give it to you for nothing, but only if you promise not to give it back.   

[Daniel Meyer]

I have used one, and I recommend them. I'll tell ya why below.

It supposedly does not pump (much) fuel air mix into the tire as on the piston downstroke, it has a one-way valve that opens and lets fresh air into the cylinder with less resistance than pulling it through the air filter.

Yes, you DO run the engine with it in. It works quite well and is intended to be run that way. THAT said, don't run it for a long time as it (the device) gets very hot.

The adaptors will fit the Valk, but are harder to remove than install (that deep plug hole dont-cha-know). Do not install them tight, and practice with it before you have to do it on the road so you have the right tools.

Yes, it will reach front and back tires (if you pick the appropriate spark plug.

The main advantage to it, is it WILL seat an unseated tire. It puts out enough volume to seat one that is not quite sealed. That is the sole reason I carry it...as a plug kit and electric compressor do nothing for you if the tire unseated before you got stopped (pretty normal for me).

I carry it just for that, but if the tire is seated, I just use a small electric pump as it is so much easier.

I've seated at least 5 tires with mine (2 on "not mine" bikes). It has saved me hundreds in wrecker bills.

I don't expect it to last for very many more (remember I said it gets hot, and it's not "top notch" material). I've already ordered the replacement.

[Thunderbolt]

each day.  I learned something by reading this thread.  The part that Daniel posted re seating the tire.  I have one of those devices, and have never used it.  I also have the cheapo compressor with the cover off that I use if I or someone with me needs air.  I did use the compressor when just after exiting Deals Gap, noticed that I could barely turn the bike anymore.  OEM front valve stem was leaking where the metal stem met the rubber.  Not one to be had short of going to Asheville the next day.  I put super glue around the old one and aired it up a couple of times and made it there without another mishap.  I have the patchboy stems now.

[Rocketman]

I understand what they descibe on how it works, but I still can't believe that it wont put fuel along with air in to the tire. Unless you can cut off the fuel flow to that carburator, fuel has got to go in to the cylinder and on to the tire. At the very least fuel fumes which is gas at it's most explosive state.
Okay the check valve concept might minimixe the fuel contamination, but I can't picture it being perfectly efficient. 

I was under the impression that it worked like a two-stroke engine (or, if you prefer, a four stroke engine skipping the compression and the combustion strokes).  The difference being, that instead of a crankshaft driving a rod driving the piston, it would be engine cylinder pressure driving the piston.  In that case, the only fuel/air you'd get would be equivalent to ring blow-by.

I have used one, and I recommend them. I'll tell ya why below.

Good info.  Thanks.