Tire pump

[Will_Vanderburg]

Got an original Ford pump at Luray.

Replaced the leather and it blows air with the air hose off. Connect it to a bicycle tube, and it does nothing

There’s no ball bearing present in the hose fitting, either.

What obvious item am I overlooking?

[CudaMan]

I bought one of the inline check valves that the vendors offer:

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/prod ... &cat=41909

Modern tire pump hose ends have a piece of metal that bridges the outlet hole and keeps the tire valve depressed. I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard that if you break off that piece of metal, the tire valve itself will act as a check valve and keep the air in the tire on the pump upstroke.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG115.html

[Steve Jelf]

I now have a 12 volt battery in my 1915 for the tail/brake lights and turn signals. I was afraid a 12 volt tire pump might draw too much juice from a battery without a generator, but I tried it and it was fine. I still carry a Model T tire pump as a backup, and it still works as it did a hundred years ago. It will blow a tire up to 70 psi, but you will need a few rest breaks along the way. If I have to change a tire the electric pump is my first choice.

If you use a modern chuck on your Model T pump and remove the center post so it will work, do it with a drill, using a junk tire stem as a guide to protect the threads. Or you can buy a correct chuck with no post. There's no need to spend money on a separate check valve.