Great design that Portland Design put into this inflator. I am looking forward to some day in the future trying it out. But it brings confidence to me that I have it on me for when I need it.
Worked a couple times, but then o-ring/gasket failed making it unusable and leaving me stranded. Looking at reviews on various sites, it appears I'm not alone in this experience. When the CO2 is released, thermodynamics dictate a temperature drop resulting in the freezing cold cartridge you feel. When you remove the cartridge, the frozen o-ring comes along with it.
PDW implied it could be 'user error', but are well aware of this issue as witnessed by their sale of an o-ring repair kit. Why would an o-ring fail and need to be replaced after a couple uses!
Recommend carrying a mini-pump or purchase a more reliable CO2 inflator.
Also - good luck in trying to transfer leather sleeve to another cartridge.
The rubber gasket fails and flys out With a big bang. This is the gray gasket or grommet,
that seals the inflator when it is pressed up against the valve of the bike tire.
This happened to me two times. I am so glad that I practiced with it before I was out on the road and was trying to inflate my tire. The first time I tried to inflate my high pressure tires, the gasket Turned into a projectile , as it fired with explosive force out of the shiny object. Both times I had to reseat the gasket, it is very difficult to get back into place. If I was on the road I don't know if I could've done it. I might not even been able to find the grommet After it fired out of mini inflator. I said this item was unsafe because it fired the gasket out at such force if it hit me in the eye; it could've caused injury. It is not easy to use. I had to hold it very tight, pressing down against the valve trying to conserve the CO2. I have to replace this item now, I wouldn't even use it as a back up. It is too dangerous and wastes CO2.
Good product
Bought this because it is compact and generally has good reviews. Unfortunately it broke on the 3rd use (gasket in the inflator head popped out) and I had to limp home on an unseated tire with about 30psi.
Love the adjustability of regulating how much air goes in the tire.
Nice look to!
Many of the other inflators have let me down on the road, and isn't that when you really need it! The leather holder is functional and cool. The adjustment knob works really well. It allows you to control the flow.
I've had a chance to use this several times in the past month and it works great. Easy to operate and modulate the flow of air when inflating the tire. Takes less than 30 seconds to inflate your tire once you get a new tube in place. I carry two new tubes, several glueless patches and two air cartridges in my seat pack. Love it.
this product is extremly easy to use, and it is really nice to have the adjustable knob to control the flow.
Well constructed. I really like the compact size and the dial feature to control the flow of CO2. I usually only carry one or 2 cartridges on a ride, so blowing one on a misfire is a big problem. This is actually the second one of these I've bought. I've got one in a saddle bag on a cross bike, and now on in my road bike's bag as well.
