Inflate A Bike Tyre With A Woods Valve Or A Dunlop Valve

The recommended tyre pressure for a woods valve or dunlop valve is usually embossed on the tyre's sidewall, often as minimum and maximum figures rather than an exact target. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding how hard your tyres need to be.

Pro Tip
A Woods valve opens and closes with a collar screwed on to the stem. This collar must be removed to put the valve through the hole in a rim. With the collar off, the valve core is free. Take care that it doesn’t fall out and get lost.

Step 1 - The Valve
Find the valve and remove any dust-cap.

Pro Tip
The hose or pump connection may screw on or press on. Some push fit connections lock with a cam lever. To check the correct operation of the connection look at the rubber washer and move the lever back and forth. The the ‘locked’ position squeezes the washer, the ‘on-off’ position lets the washer relax. The rubber washer in a pump connector wears out with use. It needs to be replaced when it stops gripping valves to give an air-tight seal.

Step 2 - Woods
A woods valve has the same fitting as a presta valve. The Woods valve is too short to readily accept a push-on connection, a screw-on hose or presta/schrader adapter works better.

Step 3 - Pumping
Fully open and fully close the pump with each stroke. It’s important to press the piston right to the end of it’s travel to force air into the tyre. If you stop too soon the air in the pump will tend to compress rather than flow into the tyre.

Step 4 - Floor or Track Pumps
Place both feet on the rests to stabilise the pump. Open the pump fully at the start of each stroke. As you get to the bottom of the stroke you can use your body weight – rather than your arms – to force the last bit of air out of the chamber by softening your knees.

Step 5 - Hand Pumps
It helps if you can brace the connection between the valve and the pump by hooking a finger or two around the tyre or spokes. Plant your feet and try to position yourself so you can get your shoulder behind the piston of the pump.

Pro Tip
If you’re not sure exactly how hard you want your tyres to be, inflate to the maximum recommended. If – when riding – you feel the road is shaking you about and bouncing you off the ground, it’s much easier to let a little air out than to pump more in.

Pro Tip
Many modern pumps can be converted between Presta and Schrader fitting, by dismantling the connection and reversing the direction of parts.

#BikeRepair #HowTo #BicycleMaintenance

[dummkompf]

good thing you put so much focus on the pumping part of it, rather than just explaining the differences between a woods valve and a regular one. That should help those of us who were born with severe mental disablities

[hardeeptalreja]

Very useful video as there are almost no videos made on youtube on this important topic.

[shannonmikus]

So how does one actually fill the dunlop valve? Is there a dunlop pump or are they designed to be filled only using an adapter?

[susanma]

This is just what I needed. I bought an older Japanese bicycle with this type of valve. I was afraid that I'd bought the wrong style of pump, but now see that the pump comes with the adapter you showed. Glad I don't have to return my pump or ask for help in Japanese. :) Incidentally, the label on the pump states that it's made for both "American" and "British" style valves. I reckon the Schrader valve is American and the Dunlop valve is British, according to the Japanese label.

[jeyeykei]

my miyata cruiser has woods valve and i accidentally released all the air in it's front tire, and i freaked out, because my pump is good only for schrader valve.
Thanks so much for this vid.

[rewolff]

The "place both feet on the pump" is bad advice. Due to involuntary movements, you will bend the pump at the base-cylinder joint. It will break there after a while. Place ONE foot on the base, this reduces the stress on the pump enormously. My pump is still going strong after 30 years.... I must have broken a pump within say 5 years before I figured this one out. (I'm not old enough to have been pumping bike tires much before that).

[SirRainor]

So what can i do if I don't have an adaptor? :/

[robertcook]

where do I find adapter to Schrader valve?

[jaman]

2 min vid wasted on screwing the adaptor on

[gcg]

Love where the world is headed, you need a two-minute instructional video and an adaptor to blow up a bicycle tire...

[richardworthington]

Here's an adapter for Dunlop valves