Customer Reviews

Prestacycle Prestaflator Inflator Tool

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

 

 

The prestaflator does what it's suppose to but it's more trouble than it's worth. The end that connects to the presta valve on the tire is difficult to get on and off due to it's large size. All one really needs their air compressor for is to get the tire initially seated anyway. A regular floor pump can then be used to get the correct pressure on the tire afterwards without this expensive addon. A simple $1 presta to schrader converter that can be bought at any bike store and the schrader chuck that comes with most air compressors works just fine for doing that.

Purchase for reinflating my constantly leaking tubeless mountain bike tires. Using a 100 psi air source works fine. Too much trouble (for me) for a road tire, easier/quicker to use a floor pump. Also bought the schrader valve attachment.
Pros:
1) Easily controlled inflation rate
2) Clear and apparently accurate pressure gauge
3) A pressure relief valve which allows seating of presta valves and thereby insures no leakage when inflator head is pulled off
4) High flow rate easily seats tubeless tires.
Cons:
1) Worst issue - hose is very stiff (cheap?)plastic which has a permanent set shape that you have to fight when using inflator, should be a higher quality flexible rubber at this price.
2) Stiffness of the hose and the lack of a swivel fitting to inflator body caused it to loosen/unscrew from the body as the hose was manipulated to align it with tire valve.
3) Schrader valve attachment is OK for bicycles, but for automobiles requires too much clearance for anything but long valve stems, not compatible with typical modern cast auto rims.

The idea may be good but the presta adapter head does not go on and off the valve easily. Most latching heads used on hand pumps are much better. I found that to get the adapter off I had to disconnect it from the hose each time. Finally, I tried to use the old style adapter ($1 type) on the last tire, Actually that worked but when I attempted to remove the adapter from the hose, the treads froze to the adapter, It acted as if it was cross threaded but it went on so easily that I don't believe it was cross threaded.
I would say the Presta adapter is almost useless. The handle and gauge might be good if I can find a good hose and presta adapter for it.

I just purchased the Deluxe Prestaflator. It looks great (one star) but does not work as advertised. There was no variable rate on the trigger. Once cracked it goes to full pressure. It came with the "deluxe" Angel low profile disc head that leaked so bad that even if the trigger worked I would not have been able to check pressure. I managed to get air in my road bike but could not get it to work at all on my mountain bike with lower pressure. I would not recommend this product.

The lack of attention given to the presta adapter makes this inflator worthless. It is very difficult to remove from the presta valve after inflation. There should be release lever like there is on any $5 handheld inflator. I'm giving mine away to someone I dont like.

It works ok for airing up road tires and seating/sealing the beads, tube or tubless, on mountain bike tires.

1)It does not have a bleed off valve if the tire over inflates. You must then disconnect it, bleed off the excess pressure and reconnect it. It does have a pressure relief button that removes the air from the hose.
2)It reads the pressure only when you let up on the lever.
3)It is very hard to remove from the valve stem.

The gauge reads up to 140psi.
I wonder about the accuracy of a 140psi gauge when inflating a mountain bike tire to only 28psi. I have checked it against a hand pump and it seems to be close. I would prefer one for mtb, max 40psi and one for road, max of 115psi.

I have become accustumed to it's limitations. I prep more than one bike for rides. It does cut down on the time, alot.
My wife now prefers it to a hand pump for her road bike after she learned the technique of removing it from the valve stem.
To save your knuckles, especially if your a woman, place your palms on the tire and push the connector off with your thumbs.