Getting Air Woes

I bought one not too long ago, its great being able to set the compressor going (as long as youve set it it correctly). It was a pain inflating my rears to 44psi with a footpump. My daughters likes it too as she helps by pressing the button to turn it on.
 
I once went to use a forecourt machine, and parked up waiting patiently for the man who had arrived to use it a couple of minutes before me. After a couple of minutes of me sitting there idling, quite clearly in the queue to use it, I got out and found that he was jacking his car up and taking the wheel off - in the one spot you can use to get access to the pump.

And more recently, while filling up in a petrol station in Wales, I decided to check tyre pressures before I got back on the road. Again, someone already using it - some big battered estate car full of the chaviest family you can imagine, seemingly on a camping trip of some sort. So I pulled up behind them, again, quite obvious that I was waiting patiently to use the pump. When the dad had finished pumping his own tyres, they all seem to get out and decide now was the time to rearrange the contents of the entire car, rather than move away from the pump first. I wonder what goes through (or fails to go through) people's minds sometimes.

Lashout_UK said:
The gauges on forecourt machines are notoriously inaccurate, too.
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I've heard this said many times, but I don't think I've ever once used a forecourt machine and found it to be inaccurate.
 
Armageus said:
So are the ones on cheap compressors. If you want accuracy you need a standalone calibrated gauge.
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Auto-express regularly review the mini compressors and the Ring and Michelin ones always score highly on accuracy..

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/access...air-compressors-for-car-tyres-2016-group-test

And having now bought quite a few for friends/family as presents, everyone has had good experiences with them. We used to have a calibrated air gauge at work (for off-highway vehicles like JCBs) and found they where all within 1psi back then, and from recent reviews that doesn't seem to have changed.
 
I gave up on free forecourt machines years ago, they are always in use with someone waiting or broken. The other issue with them for me is that there is a NSL stretch between me and any supermarket so the tyres are warm by the time I get there, not that I know how much of a difference that actually makes.

Oh, and I came into the thread expecting to see a post about getting a bit carried away with a hump back bridge!
 
Last time I attempted to use a garage one someone had tampered with it and it wouldn't pump air out, now I pop round to my local indie and use their machine, no queue and free to use.
 
What also drives me nuts on Forecourts is people who dont pay at the pump. Need some milk , some sweets, a pasty? Fine. But PATP if you just need fuel!
 
easyrider said:
What also drives me nuts on Forecourts is people who dont pay at the pump. Need some milk , some sweets, a pasty? Fine. But PATP if you just need fuel!
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Wish we had PATP here, all the petrol stations are old with needing to pay in the shop, causes a right backlog at rush hour!
 
Does anywhere do an attachment that screws into the end of these compressors turning it into the push on type that is used at a petrol station? Tried google but not 100% sure I'm searching for the right thing and have failed so far.
 
lordrobs said:
Oh, and I came into the thread expecting to see a post about getting a bit carried away with a hump back bridge!
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To be honest, that's the exact same reason I came into the thread, as this might be the exact thing that I might possibly have done a couple of years ago, maybe (officer) :D
 
Luke said:
Does anywhere do an attachment that screws into the end of these compressors turning it into the push on type that is used at a petrol station? Tried google but not 100% sure I'm searching for the right thing and have failed so far.
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You are thinking of this:
http://www.tyre-equipment.co.uk/aca...ip-on-Valve-Connector--C03A03-PCL_C03A03.html

with maybe one of these:
and a Shrader to 1/4 BSP adapter: http://www.tyre-equipment.co.uk/acatalog/Schrader-Tank-Valve-1-8--BSPM----14039.html

Not sure if that would work and to be honest, I much prefer screwing on the compressor, its flow rate is so small it takes minutes to inflate a few PSI.
 
I have had a ring one for 5 years now. Works absolutely faultless. Use this with a digital tyre guage. Also doubles as the perfect inflator for my childs inflatables at the beach.
 
Was using a foot pump for years before finding a cig lighter pump already in the car for topping up if the goo was needed. Prefer using the foot pump though, seems to do the job quicker.
 
I once pulled up to find a guy changing a wheel at the air pump... what a ****. Thankfully he was nearly finished but it still took some time. There was plenty of space to change it elsewhere.
 
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