Customer Reviews

Innovations Air Chuck Elite Inflator

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ignore the gentleman from Texas; he doesn't have a clue. The product is good for both valves and it's very easy to use.

For only having ridden 2,000 miles in the last two years, I've changed more than my fair share of tires on the trail. My wheel had a minor defect that made the tube pop after about 100 miles, every 100 miles. So I changed four tubes before I figured it out, and fixed the problem. After that I helped a couple of stranded riders, always using my gear. I had another brand of air valve, and it was a pain to use. I then got another brand. It broke. Then I stumbled into this air chuck, and I immediately knew I found something worth keeping. I've used it 4 times since I've purchased it, and I love it. I love it so much I purchased one to put in my wife's seat bag, just in case I'm not near her when she gets a flat. I also got my boss one for his bike. If you are looking for a tiny air valve that works great, this is the one for you.

Works like a champ. Very small and light. Easy to use, and you can control the rate of entry pretty well. Great design. Not sure what happened with the other reviewer who couldn't get it to work on both valves. No such problem here - kid bikes & wheelbarrow (schrader), check. Mountain and road bikes (presta), check.

I love this device! It's easy to operate, great-looking, light and, compared to the inflators that completely enclose the cartridge, extremely small. Place the cover on the cartridge, firmly screw on the inflator, place the inflator on the valve and press! No switches to operate, no twist-to-inflate. Just press to inflate.

In early 2012 I stopped to help a rider whose tire had flatted. She said she didn't need my inflator as she had one (also by Genuine Innovations). It was a type that had a valve switch on it. But before attaching the cartridge she had guessed wrong on the proper switch position and all of the CO2 gas vented into the atmosphere. I lent her my Air Chuck Elite to use on her second cartridge and after using it she was totally sold!

Some operating tips:
--For the rear tire on a road bike, keep it on the valve for a good 4-5 seconds to fully inflate the tire (130 psi with a 16g cartridge). Vent the tube a bit to reduce it to 120 if so desired. For a front tire, keep it on the valve for a shorter period of time depending upon the desired inflation pressure.
--When inflating, positively keep your hand off of the "black dot" at the back of the chuck head. If you apply any force to this dot then you'll be fighting yourself, simultaneously applying force to both the chuck head and the cartridge port (only the latter should be pushed). In other words, place your hand on the cartridge and the conical portion of the chuck head only.

I bought this inflator about a month ago and yesterday I got my first flat since deciding to carry this Elite Inflator instead of my hand pump. I've had to change/repair MANY flats in the last 3 months and trying to pump a 700c x 23 to 110-130 psi can be exhausting with a small hand pump. Anyway, I went on a short ride to the Metro rail and while riding the train, I noticed my front tire was flat (I checked the tire pressures before I left home @ 120psi). I recently purchased this vintage Nishiki Tri-A and the tires and tubes looked to be over 10 years old. When I dismounted the tire, the old rubber rim strip had split, which I was expecting as I had replaced the rear rim strip awhile back so I carried a new rim strip, new tube, tire levers and my CO2 Inflator w/2 16 gram cylinders. Was in a hurry, so I didn't want to bother with a patch as I didn't have any water nearby and didn't want to use the Inflator to test for the leak, so that is a con for the Inflator. Installed the new strip, installed the new tube and remounted the tire and hit it with the CO2 Inflator. Awesomeness! In 10 seconds, my tire was filled... I didn't use up quite all the gas, but I should have... When I got home, I checked the tire pressure and it was at 110psi, so if I had used every bit of the gas, maybe it would have hit 115psi, certainly within the pressure range of my tires.

With my old hand pump, to go from 100 psi to 110 psi takes about 100 pumps and I've often needed a few minutes of rest after pumping up a tire... This inflator works great, it is so much faster and is so convenient and easy to use. I bought a box of 25 cartridges for about $30 which is way less than the bike shops, so it costs me a bit over a buck to fill a new tube with this inflator. For the ease of use it is well worth it in my book! Of course they are so much smaller than a pump as well but I don't know about weight savings as I'm now going to start carrying 3 cylinders with me.

I used mine on a Presta valve, but looking at the mouth of the Elite Inflator, it should certainly work with Schrader valves as well. I always carry a daypack so I always bring my tool kit and tire kit, but my little behind the saddle bag can also hold my inflator, 2 cylinders, levers and spare tube.

Oh, use the included rubber sleeve as the cylinder gets freezing cold when used.

This company sucks! One of these left me stranded a couple of years ago and another of their similar products left me stranded today--8 miles from home. The problem, the same with both units--no needle to pierce the C02 cartridge!! Great quality control, NOT! I'm looking for a pump.

The first time I used it, the orange seal within the adapter shot out like a cannon. I re-inserted it and tried to use it 2 more times, but the seal flew out again on the second try (smacking me right in the face!). I used it without the seal on the third try and about 1/4 of the CO2 cartridge made it into the tire, while the rest of it spewed out into the air. I had to ride 10 miles home on a half inflated rear tire. Aside from that, it appears to be solid in construction. I have another one in my wife's bag, and a with as much as we ride another flat should be right around the corner. I am sure we will see relatively quickly if this was just "one of those things" or a true design flaw.

I have the Air Chuck SL and not the Elite but from what I have heard, they are same except that the Elite weighs less.

The Air Chuck is the best CO2 inflator on the market. It is metal and not plastic. It is small light weight and it is easy to regulate the flow by how hard you push on the inflator as you are pumping up youre tire.

Contrary what someone else said, this does work with Schrader valves. I have used mine to pump up a motorcycle tire and it worked fine.

The "Innovations Air Chuck Elite Inflator" system is attractive, well designed and very simple! Works like a charm and I ride further, on all of my bikes, with more confidence. Highly recommend!

When you're tired from biking it's great to know if you have a flat you can rely on this air chuck to fill your tire! This little gem is light and sooo easy to use.