Petrol poured on bicycle pump

[RyanMaloney]

Hey guys,

We had some spare petrol lying around the house that nobody knew what to do with, so I decided to use it to degrease my chain and sprockets.

It was a bit of a bonehead thing to do I know, but considering how quickly petrol evaporates on its own, I thought nothing of a little bit getting poured over my lovely Presta bicycle pump that was attached to the bike.

When I went to use the pump, it was jammed completely. It seems that either the inlet valve/outlet valve/both were blocked, and letting no air through. I left it to dry for 24 hours, but now air is flowing freely through the pump without any valve closing, and it won't pump any air at all.

Before I make the problem worse by guessing how to fix it, can you guys offer some advice?

Ryan.

[FredS]

My guess is the petrol melted the soft rubber seals, probably will need to replace the whole pump

[nfmisso]

Ryan - you are going to have to get a new pump.

[RyanMaloney]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Just one of those mistakes you'll only make once I suppose,

Ryan.

[RyanMaloney]

Just for the benefit of anyone who finds this thread later, the pump wasn't ruined in the end. The petrol hadn't melted the rubber parts. I just needed to take the thing apart (remembering carefully the order in which everything went) and wipe it down and leave it dry out a bit. Now it's working fine again. Thanks again, Ryan.

[FredS]

That is good to hear Ryan