Modifying these Tire inflators and different air chucks to see what works best for me...

I've got a couple of 18v battery powered inflators by Ryobi. These are the latest models that allow you to preset the desired inflation pressure, turn it on, then when it reaches that pressure, it will turn itself off. It comes with a standard 1/4" air hose which is affixed to the inflator at one end and a standard flip-to-attach chuck at the other end.

It works pretty well as it comes out of the box, but since I've got two, and I can't leave well enough alone, I decided to modify one of them so I can easily change the air chuck depending on my needs, whims, and fancies (I want to experiment with different air chuck designs to see what might work best for me, particularly on the rear wheel).

So, I cut off the OEM chuck and replaced it with a barbed fitting / 1/4" npt adapter. To that, I can attach any chuck with the typical female npt fitting. Just for grins, I instead installed a compressed air quick connect fitting. Next, I'll try different chucks, including a Jaco Lightning chuck that's on order.

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EdMat said:

You're going to love the Lightning chuck. The 90 is perfect for the rear tire and the straight for everything else.

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I'm getting the swivel one to see if I like that.

2dogs said:

Pete, I couldn't copy and paste your last photo (above) but that air chuck was made for that troublesome valve stem on our beloved spyders. Yep, just the perfict angle to get in there and do the job. Combine it with a guage and you're golden. I carry one in my frunk with a couple of different air line conectors just incase, cause you never know when....................................

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Thanks. When you displayed that double-headed chuck on another thread, I realized I had one and wasn't using it because I forgot about it and didn't really understand it's purpose.

I didn't grow up around people who knew how to work on cars and motorcycles, so everything mechanical that most guys on this forum take for granted involves a learning curve for me. Even tire inflators!

@Peter Aawen likes to rib me about overthinking things, but I'm actually just trying to wrap my mind around tools and techniques.

Peter Aawen said:

No, not true - that's just me highlighting that by doing that bit, you're missing the whole point about zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance (and motorcycling in general)!! I'm just trying to convince you to...



Ride more, and Worry Less!

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Zen let's get on mit' it, ya?

2dogs said:

I could be mistaken but I believe that air chuck was designed many years ago to more easily air up tires on a dual wheeled truck assembly.

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Yes, but you saw how it could be used to advantage for the RT rear wheel inflation.