My pump inflates slow

[BillyGoatGruff]

simple!... any old vegetable oil, sunflower oil or a few drops of olive oil on the metal/plastic shaft..... and no they will not degrade any rubber gasket works very well.

[edt]

i would never use a wet lube on those pumps. A tiny bit of sand gets in, and the pump is instantly wrecked, dry lube or no lube is better. You can take it apart, and clean the dirt from inside the pump on the gaskets and the tube it will work better right away.

[cglazier]

The only safe lubricant to use with rubber o ring seals on pumps is silicon (as GregK posted above). People who try petroleum oil products, cooking oil, WD40, sunscreen etc. will get temporary lubrication but may degrade the rubber seals in the pump.

Silicon lubricant is widely available at any automotive or bicycle store.. often in a spray can. North actually supplies a tube of silicon lubricant with their pumps.

Be aware that pumps eventually wear out regardless. If the shaft of your pump has any sideways movement (sloppiness) it is time to retire it.

CG

[letsgoflyakite]

Hi, when i normally pump my 17m kite it takes me a while with the slingshot pump, but with the ozone pump way quicker, is there anything i can do to make the slingshot pump inflate faster? maybe oil?

Take the pressure gauge off, see if it makes a difference. Don't use oil, it will screw up rubber seals and attract dirt. Wipe all clean and a very light coat of silicone spray worked for me, and is kind to rubber.

[Bille]

...
Wipe all clean and a very light coat of silicone spray worked for me, and is kind to rubber.

YES ; won't attract dirt, and also works Well on zippers ...
BUT
DO NOT BREATH THAT STUFF ; it's Really REALLY ("BAD")
for/on your lungs !!!!!!!!!!!

Use that tube they supply that goes in the spray-nozzle, to keep it from
atomizing, AND hold your breath while spraying it.

Also, keep it away from any composite lamination you might be doing
because there isn't much you can do to get rid of the stuff in the way of
cleaners.

Bille

[letsgoflyakite]

...
Wipe all clean and a very light coat of silicone spray worked for me, and is kind to rubber.

YES ; won't attract dirt, and also works Well on zippers ...
BUT
DO NOT BREATH THAT STUFF ; it's Really REALLY ("BAD")
for/on your lungs !!!!!!!!!!!

Use that tube they supply that goes in the spray-nozzle, to keep it from
atomizing, AND hold your breath while spraying it.

Also, keep it away from any composite lamination you might be doing
because there isn't much you can do to get rid of the stuff in the way of
cleaners.

Bille

Thanks for the tip. Been spraying on zips for years, just normal precautions, prob not enough.

[Vin Stefanelli]

make sure the hose is just not leaky!

also and more
less obviously,...
steer clear of pumps with krappy
aluminum shafts.

if I've said once, I've said a million times.

metal shaft will heat up on a hot day and melt down
its seals especially iffyoube pumpin like you are in a big hurry

[AeolianKitesurfing]

Here's some basic pump maintenance tips with Aeolian's Eileen.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?NrlLix1vohY[/youtube]

http://youtu.be/NrlLix1vohY

[Vin Stefanelli]

YO Aeolian kiting!
I am descended from your region!
my grand-ma's family!

[AeolianKitesurfing]

YO Aeolian kiting!
I am descended from your region!
my grand-ma's family!

I bet she makes an awesome sauce!!!