Bicycle pump in Hollins Mill Park is broken

[partytax]

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/37.42375/-79.15898

[partytax]

Reported to Citizens First Information Center by email and waiting for response:

The yellow bicycle pump mounted to the ground in Hollins Mill park around 37.42375,-79.15898 is not functional. The valve connector seems to be broken. Please report to Parks & Recreation or the relevant authority for repair, and provide me with a confirmation number if possible. Thank you!

Nathan

[partytax]

Received response from Citizens First Customer Service:

Good Morning,

I have reported this to Parks & Recreation.  Thank you for letting us know of the issue.

Thank you,

Chonna N. Kidd

Senior Customer Service Representative

From: Nathan Wyand <me@nathanwyand.com>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2023 6:30 PM
To: Citizens First <citizensfirst@lynchburgva.gov>
Subject: Bicycle pump in Hollins Mill park on trail is broken

CAUTION: External Sender

The yellow bicycle pump mounted to the ground in Hollins Mill park around 37.42375,-79.15898 is not functional. The valve connector seems to be broken. Please report to Parks & Recreation or the relevant authority for repair, and provide me with a confirmation number if possible. Thank you!

Nathan

[partytax]

Made personal task to check if still broken

[partytax]

Turns out the pump is very broken. The handle can be pulled all the way out. Made task to research what's available from Dero as far as replacement parts. Top of pump cylinder is secured with some security hex screws. Broken nozzle is very easy to remove and replace.

[partytax]

Pump probably needs these two products:

• https://www.dero.com/product/metal-head-service-kit/
• https://www.dero.com/product/plunger-and-gasket/

Sent a message to Dero customer service requesting clarity on what I should order:

Hello. I'm trying to repair an AirKit Prime plunger that pulls completely out of the pump shaft. On the lower end there is a smaller metal shaft protruding from the main shaft that has a place for a lock collar, but no plastic plunger or gasket like I see in the pictures. What do you advise that I order?

[partytax]

Received a response from Dero representative:

HI Nathan!  Could you send me photos please of the pump piston rod?  It is the part with the handle. 

I will then be able to send you a quote with the replacement parts needed.  Or you may go off of the below diagram and let me know.

Thank you!

[partytax]

Responded to Dero representative:

Attached picture of the piston rod. I'm also a little concerned that the piston is stuck down in the tube somewhere. Any tips for fishing that out?

[partytax]

Received email from representative on how to get plunger out:

Good Morning!  I am so sorry to hear that the piston is stuck at the bottom.  Are you able to try the below tip?

Let me know if this helps.

[partytax]

Responded to representative requesting quote in meantime:

Thanks for the tip. The pump is not near where I live, so I'll be able to try this in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, could you send me a quote for the parts I'll need to repair the piston/plunger assembly? Please also include a "metal head" repair kit, as that's broken too. Thanks!

[partytax]

Negotiating quote with Dero representative now

[partytax]

Quote's about $45. Made personal task to sign quote and pay for parts at beginning of next month when I've budgeted for it.

[partytax]

Friend donated some money and I ordered the parts today. Waiting for delivery.

[partytax]

Parts should be delivered very soon. Tracking info here: https://www.fedex.com/fedextrack/?trknbr=651210827561

[partytax]

Received pump parts in the mail. Made personal task to arrange a repair with a couple of LUN folks.

[partytax]

Info from Dero rep:

HI Nathan!  The metal pump head thread size is 9/16 – 18 UNC.

If you need anything else, please just let me know.

Thank you for choosing Dero! 

Nickki Fahey

Customer Service Rep

Dero

5522 Lakeland Ave North

Crystal, MN 55429

Office: 888.337.6729 ext 10325

nicole.fahey@dero.com

www.dero.com

TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT, PLEASE: Click Here To Pay.

From: Nathan Wyand <me@nathanwyand.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2024 2:28 PM
To: Fahey, Nicole <Nicole.Fahey@dero.com>
Subject: Re: DERO ORDER TRACKING

You don't often get email from me@nathanwyand.com. Learn why this is important

Attention! This email originates from outside the organization!

Do not open attachments or click any links unless you are sure the contents of this email are safe.

- Corporate IT

Thank you for your assistance on my last order. It turns out we need an entire new head for the pump, as the original metal head is unusable even with the repair kit. We are considering buying a new metal head, but would also like to know the threading size that the metal head uses in case we decide to go with another pump head vendor (will be back to Dero for other parts I'm sure). Thanks in advance for your help!

Nathan

On 1/12/24 09:24, Fahey, Nicole wrote:

    FEDEX GRD 651210827561

    Thank you for choosing Dero! 

    Nickki Fahey

    Customer Service Rep

    Dero

    5522 Lakeland Ave North

    Crystal, MN 55429

    Office: 888.337.6729 ext 10325

    nicole.fahey@dero.com

    www.dero.com

    TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT, PLEASE: Click Here To Pay.

[partytax]

According to rep, pump head threading is Unified Thread Standard UNC (Unified National Coarse, I believe) 9/16" 18 TPI.

This doesn't make sense, though, because 9/16" UNC is 12 TPI. However, 9/16" UNF (Unified National Fine) does have 18 TPI.

[partytax]

[partytax]

Pump head verdict

Probably UNF 9/16" 18 TPI

[partytax]

Saris pump head has 1/8" NPT threading according to Saris rep.

https://www.sarisinfrastructure.com/product/high-performance-pump-head

[partytax]

Here's a diagram of the Saris system from their rep:

[partytax]

Talked to folks at Ferebee Johnson and they don't sell anything with UNF (fine) threads. Sales rep said it would be very difficult to find an adapter between aforementioned thread sizes. He suggested we replace the whole tube rather than deal with those somewhat rare UNF threads.

[partytax]

Made personal task to remove the whole rubber hose from pump so we can check the threading on the pump end. Hope it's a more common thread!

[fionadunne]

Two more broken pumps of same type: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/37.4108/-79.13525 https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/37.4185288/-79.1876270

[partytax]

Added discrete issues for those:

157 #158

[partytax]

Removed pump hose the other day, and pump side male threading is definitely different from head side. Possibly something more standard! Measuring with a spanner the male threaded piece is about 1/2" in diameter. Tube is a hydraulic tube based on embossed text.

[partytax]

Vinyl tubing and limiter valves for vinyl tubing received

[partytax]

Ordered saris external tube and pump head that attaches to it. Will figure out what adapter I need to connect to dero female NPT threading when parts arrive.

Estimated lead time 5-6 weeks

[partytax]

Pump head and tube arrived early, and 1/4" NPT just fits the existing female connection to the vinyl hose!

[partytax]

Randy has made progress with connecting pump cylinder and hoses in a working system (in a wood jig). He says pumping up a tire feels "weird" vs. other bike pumps, but it works. Now need to re-install in yellow "case" and build a hook to hold the valve head when not in use.

[partytax]

Found something like the weird security nut used for yellow "case": https://jb-bolt.com/pentagonal-anti-theft-nut/

[partytax]

Received some nite ize ties that we should be able to bend a good hook out of to hold the valve head.

[partytax]

Randy is working on making tubing connections more robust before we install in yellow housing.

[partytax]

Have all the parts to reassemble. Made personal task to get folks together to reinstall.

[partytax]

Tried to fix pump today with Tim and Fiona. Got everything in and pump worked for two strokes, then sort of jammed. Air stopped coming out of tube and you could hear hissing inside of enclosure. We're fed up with trying to repair the thing and plan to buy a nice consumer pump to mount in same place.

[partytax]

Emailed Brian Glass at Parks & Rec:

Good morning,

In Hollins Mill Park there is a Dero bike pump that's not worked for some time. Is this something that your department would be able to repair?

Thank you for your time!

Nathan

[partytax]

Received response:

Yes sir. Just put in a work order to have it fixed or replaced. Thank you for letting us know!

Brian Glass Parks Maintenance Supervisor City of Lynchburg - Dept of Parks and Recreation 301 Grove Street Lynchburg, VA 24501 (434) 455-5861

[partytax]

Responded to Brian Glass:

Thank you! FYI, I believe the one in the awareness garden by Nomad Coffee and the one by the Riverwalk parking lot are also broken. Please submit issues for those pumps as well.

Nathan