My bike tires wont pump up. do i have a different valve or something?

Question

i have a folding universal bike, its probably about 15 years old. i tried to pump up the tyres with a normal bike pump, but no air went in. when i screwed the pump on, air came out so i guess the valve works, but i cant force any air in. i have tried different pumps but none work. any ideas?

Answer 1

There's a third valve but i cant remember the name of it - they're on ancient bikes. With the Schraeder try pressing the pin in a few times by hand. Same with the presta - unscrew the small valve nut and fiddle about with it. If there has been no air in either for ages, the rubber could have corroded and the entire valve could have come adrift. Take off the inner tube to check. In fact either tube is £1.50 at Asda/Walmart so just throw the towel in and buy new.

Answer 2

if the valve is big like a car tyre valve then you need a schrider pump(think thats how its spelt)or a very thin valve as in racing bikes,go to retailer and either show or tell him what size of valve hope this helps

Answer 3

You may be using a pesta pump on a shrader valve.  Check you pump.  Most pumps have a double head for either valve.



If your tires and tubes are 15 years old, you need new ones.  You may have something wrong with the tubes themselves.

JR

Answer 4

two types of valve you must be using the wrong one .

Answer 5

what doyou valves look like?

are the presta - they will have a little bit of metal sticking out of teh valve which you need to unscrew a bit to allow the air to go in?

are the schraeder - there will be a little pin in teh centre of teh valve which lets air in when pushed down - same as a car tyre?

you do need a diferent adaprtor for each type

additional info..........

if the valve releases air when you push the little pin in then oyur valve is ok.

Check your adaptor on the pump - does it work ok when not on the valve?

Does your pump work ok?

Does your adaptor have the little bit in it that mates with the pin in your valve and pushes is down so that air can get it?

If all the above is ok then i havent a clue and its a problem ive not come accross in my 15 - 20 years of serious riding so good luck sorting it - get it too the shop

Answer 6

Perhaps the third type of valve would be a Woods valve.