Tire Inflators

[FJRoss]

I know it has been discussed a number of times, but I decided to have a look and see what's out there. I currently have a Slime pump - one without any sort of gauge on it. Pain in the ass to stop, check, fill some more, repeat. Getting a little long in the tooth anyway. I used to have an Airman that had an analog gauge and worked great until suddenly, it didn't. (Wasn't especially compact.)

I know all about the Aerostich Mini and the Cycle Pump ($$$) - both are nice and compact but a little more spendy than some (and still don't have a gauge). Antigravity sells a nice compact pump with an analog gauge that I was considering. Amazon, Ali Express and eBay list literally hundreds of pumps of all sorts. I expect they vary between great and awful. I don't especially care if it is particularly fast, but I want it to be utterly reliable, reasonably compact and with a gauge that is at least fairly repeatable if not dead nuts accurate. A pump to carry on the bike is unlikely to be used more than a few times per year to top off a tire on road trips. I'm not filling tires on an SUV and not using it every day so longevity probably isn't a big deal. (I do make a point of using my bike's pump at home from time-to-time to keep it "exercised" and know it will work when needed.)

The biggest change since I looked at pumps a few years ago is that there are now MANY that have built in lithium batteries rather than cords and most have digital pressure gauges built-in. Of course, there are a bit more expensive and possibly larger than a comparable corded pump, but they seem to be a convenient option. I suspect they have sufficient capacity to fill or top off a number of tires and can be charged via USB or cigarette lighter socket while you ride. As an added bonus, some of these can be used as a power bank for charging mobile electronic devices - don't really need that feature as I can do the same with my portable lithium jump starter.

Does anyone have any experience with these or would recommend one? I would hate to find myself in need at the side of the road and find it DOA or without sufficient capacity to fill a tire I just plugged. I recently commented on someone's choice of a battery operated inflator and said I wouldn't consider it but am having second thoughts...

I am more likely to just go with a regular corded pump with gauge, using online customer ratings to pre-judge suitability for my needs but thought I would toss it out there in case I'm missing a great option.

[raYzerman]

I'm sticking to corded... don't want to find out the battery one is dead just when you need it. Same goes for power banks, check them regularly.
I have the current smallest Slime, which is a wee bit bigger than the original I had. Swapped the lighter plug for an SAE so I can run if off my Battery Tender lead.

[CollingsBob]

This looks interesting…


https://youtu.be/ls1LJywh_dU

[FJRoss]

I'm sticking to corded... don't want to find out the battery one is dead just when you need it. Same goes for power banks, check them regularly.
I have the current smallest Slime, which is a wee bit bigger than the original I had. Swapped the lighter plug for an SAE so I can run if off my Battery Tender lead.

My thoughts as well but wanted to see if I'm missing out by not considering a battery powered one. +1 on power banks (and portable jump starters). A failed power bank might be an inconvenience but the jump starter could be a disaster. I carry one if I expect to be off the beaten path - especially on camping trips. They get checked regularly.

[FJRoss]

This looks interesting…


https://youtu.be/ls1LJywh_dU

Not sure if that one is readily available in Canada but seems comparable to a number of others available online. A bit chunky, but I expect most of the battery powered ones will be as well. You don't get a sense of the size until you see someone handling it.

I'll continue to look but I'm thinking corded is more likely - for size and cost as well as one less potential point of failure (battery).
Compact
Reliable
Gauge
Cost
Some have the auto shutoff feature at the programmed pressure. Great idea in principle; at least until it doesn't shut down (or prevents it from starting up). I wouldn't want to rely on that anyway.

[D-Eagle]

I've wondered if the battery ones would be ok locked in the trunk on a hot day. When I was looking at the "jump starter" devices it seems to me they couldn't stand the interior heat of a car in the sun all day. But on the other hand most people seem to leave them in the trunk.

[FJRoss]

I've wondered if the battery ones would be ok locked in the trunk on a hot day. When I was looking at the "jump starter" devices it seems to me they couldn't stand the interior heat of a car in the sun all day. But on the other hand most people seem to leave them in the trunk.

My motorcycle luggage doesn't get nearly as hot as a car interior so I don't think it would be an issue - at least not where I live. Could be a different situation in the south or if you parked in direct sun all day.

[Cav47]

I've wondered if the battery ones would be ok locked in the trunk on a hot day. When I was looking at the "jump starter" devices it seems to me they couldn't stand the interior heat of a car in the sun all day. But on the other hand most people seem to leave them in the trunk.

My motorcycle luggage doesn't get nearly as hot as a car interior so I don't think it would be an issue - at least not where I live. Could be a different situation in the south or if you parked in direct sun all day.

My past ones have fit under the seat. I can assume it gets pretty warm under there on hot days when the going is slow.

I posted up a question earlier about this and have yet to find a replacement. I have been pulling my old Slime model from bike to bike.

Like some other have said, I am not going with a battery powered unit. That is a recipe for roadside frustration times TWO. First your tire is flat and now your inflator is dead. NOPE, give me a corded one.

My local AutoZone has the Slime pump, but they are getting bigger and adding crap I do not need. Just give me a solid pump with a gauge. I can make the conversion.

[FJRoss]

I've wondered if the battery ones would be ok locked in the trunk on a hot day. When I was looking at the "jump starter" devices it seems to me they couldn't stand the interior heat of a car in the sun all day. But on the other hand most people seem to leave them in the trunk.

My motorcycle luggage doesn't get nearly as hot as a car interior so I don't think it would be an issue - at least not where I live. Could be a different situation in the south or if you parked in direct sun all day.

My past ones have fit under the seat. I can assume it gets pretty warm under there on hot days when the going is slow.

I posted up a question earlier about this and have yet to find a replacement. I have been pulling my old Slime model from bike to bike.

Like some other have said, I am not going with a battery powered unit. That is a recipe for roadside frustration times TWO. First your tire is flat and now your inflator is dead. NOPE, give me a corded one.

My local AutoZone has the Slime pump, but they are getting bigger and adding crap I do not need. Just give me a solid pump with a gauge. I can make the conversion.

My Slime pump "lives" in my garage and gets tossed in my luggage if I am going any distance from home (along with my sticky string patch kit and a few other tools). The lack of gauge on my Slime pump is a real irritant. I don't mind so much that it is fairly slow and noisy. It hasn't let me down in the garage or on the road topping off MC tires. It has been used for car tires a few times and although it brought them up, it wasn't fast. I used it on my son's car with three tires that were way below spec and I had to allow a cool-down partway through. I'm getting to the point where I am less trusting of the Slime and want to get one that I trust and meets my other criteria.

As I mentioned, the gauge has to be there and if not accurate, it has to be reproduceable. (I always verify with a separate, known gauge.) With respect to type of gauge, I prefer digital. A lot of the mechanical/analog dial gauges go off because the diaphragm/needle linkage gets beat to death by the vibration and air pressure pulsing. Digital might die as well but that would be obvious and less likely as a function of the pump environment.

[raYzerman]

I wouldn't use those little pumps on car tires..... they'll get far too hot and wear out the piston O-ring .... better you have a real compressor for that car stuff.

[Cav47]

My slime pump that I bought for the 04 finally gave up after purchasing in May of 2014. It owed me nothing. That's mostly the reason I want to go with another one.

[Hppants]

My old "gageless" slime purchased for the first FJR is sill kicking 12 years later. It rides with me anywhere. For the DR, I got the slime with the gage - bigger and bulkier, but hopefully the same reliability. Both run on SAE connector.

[FJRoss]

I wouldn't use those little pumps on car tires..... they'll get far too hot and wear out the piston O-ring .... better you have a real compressor for that car stuff.

Agreed, but it was what was available at the time. I just don't let them run long enough to get too hot. I keep telling myself that I need a proper compressor but just one of those things I haven't gotten around to buying. Home projects justify tool purchases because a single project more than pays for the tool. I need a project that requires a paint sprayer or air nailer...

[FJRoss]

My old "gageless" slime purchased for the first FJR is sill kicking 12 years later. It rides with me anywhere. For the DR, I got the slime with the gage - bigger and bulkier, but hopefully the same reliability. Both run on SAE connector.

I have had the gaugeless Slime pump for maybe five years and it hasn't given me any problem other than the chuck popping off occasionally if I don't get it fully seated. The rubber gripper isn't as tight as it once was.

[PhilJet09]

I prefer to maintain as few batteries as possible, so when the cheap Slime pump fails, I’ll probably replace it with one of these: https://www.aerostich.com/repair/tire-r ... essor.html

I do, however, recognize that light, portable battery technology has come a long way, especially in the last decade. I’m just not there yet.

[FJRoss]

I prefer to maintain as few batteries as possible, so when the cheap Slime pump fails, I’ll probably replace it with one of these: https://www.aerostich.com/repair/tire-r ... essor.html

I do, however, recognize that light, portable battery technology has come a long way, especially in the last decade. I’m just not there yet.

I love that one for the size and reputed reliability but I will never own another inflator without a built-in pressure gauge. (I think I have seen that Aerostich one sold under another brand name at a lower price - can't remember where) I know that the Antigravity miniature pump is sold under a number of brands. I am sort of with you on the battery thing...

[Cav47]

I am giving this one a try.

https://www.amazon.com/Slime-40060-Comp ... th=1&psc=1

[FJRoss]

I am giving this one a try.

https://www.amazon.com/Slime-40060-Comp ... th=1&psc=1

"Junior" or "Compact"? Compact has the quick-connect hose which isn't necessarily an advantage. Larger too (probably more robust). The only thing I would do with either of these is to cut off most of the (long) cord and solder an SAE connector in place of the lighter plug unless I wanted to use it in my car as well.

[Cav47]

I am giving this one a try.

https://www.amazon.com/Slime-40060-Comp ... th=1&psc=1

"Junior" or "Compact"? Compact has the quick-connect hose which isn't necessarily an advantage. Larger too (probably more robust). The only thing I would do with either of these is to cut off most of the (long) cord and solder an SAE connector in place of the lighter plug unless I wanted to use it in my car as well.

That is the plan. I went with the smaller one. I am going to see if I can fashion a quality air Chuck to the sketchy one that comes with the smaller unit.

The ES under seat storage is less than the regular suspended FJR so I went tiny.

We shall see.

[Cav47]

Amazon delivered this today. It is compact. I like the attachment on it. Just going to swap out the lighter plug for an SAE.

It is very compact. Fits under the seat even with the ES.

I hope I never have to use it.


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