The Bell Air Attack 650 bicycle pump is a great pump for both bicycles and cars because it pushes a lot of air on every pump. It also comes with a handy gauge so you don't need a separate air pressure gauge.
However, there is a common issue that can come up with this pump.
The handle can be impossible to push down because the valve on the pump can get stuck if it's exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time. In order to fix it, carefully pry the valve off the base, then clean it and put a little oil on it. The oil will prevent the valve from sticking to the base in the future.
This tutorial will show you exactly how to fix this problem.
A Common Problem with the Bell Air Attack 650
I grabbed this pump out of the trunk of my car one day because I wanted to top off the rear wheel on my motorcycle.
To my surprise, I could pull the handle of the pump up, but I could not push it down.
Weird.
After shaking the pump and hitting it in different areas, I put it to the side. I didn't have time to fix it, so I just went out and got a Bell BellAire electric compressor.
When I had a few minutes, I set my mind to fixing the Air Attack sitting in the corner.
As I did some searching, I discovered that the solution to the problem is not well documented. The other tutorials were hard to follow.
So I decided to create this tutorial and video. This will make it easy for you to fix the pump, so you don't have to buy another one.
The Solution
Fixing this problem actually turns out to be pretty simple.
First remove the 3 screws that are holding the tube and gauge cover to the base.
There's one on the top of the base, one on the back and one on the bottom.
Then remove the tube by putting your feet on the base and carefully pulling up on the metal tube.
Next, start to remove the gauge and cover from the baseplate by using a small flathead screwdriver to pry the gauge side of the cover loose.
After that side of the cover is loose, gently move the cover back and forth at the gauge side to free the bottom of the cover.
Be careful so you don't damage the gauge.
Now you have access to the hole where the valve sits.
It turns out that there is a little rubber valve that floats in the plastic base, between the rubber hose and the metal tube. Here's where it sits.
This valve goes up and down, depending on if the handle is being pushed down or pulled up.
The problem is that when the rubber valve gets hot, it can melt a little and get stuck to the plastic base. In order to free it from the base, use a small flathead screwdriver and pry it free from the base.
Here's what the valve looks like.
Once it's free from the base, use a clean cloth to clean it off. Then apply a very small amount of oil to the valve so it's less likely to stick to the base in the future.
Then reverse the steps above to reassemble the pump.
There are a couple of things to remember when putting it back together.
First, be sure that rubber washer/seal is on the screw that goes into the back of the pump. If there's no seal, air will leak out.
Second, when putting the metal tube back into the base, be sure to line up the smaller screw hole on the metal tube with the screw hole on the base. Then slowly push the tube straight down.
If the holes aren't lined up exactly, keep the screw in the hole and twist the metal tube slightly, until the screw is straight. Once the holes are lined up, then continue screwing it in.
Now your pump is working again.
That's it!
Other Solutions
In my research, this is the most common issue with these pumps. However, there can be other reasons why the handle on your pump does not go down.
There might be a kink or blockage in the rubber hose, which is preventing the air from leaving pump. Check for any blockages if the valve is not stuck.
Another potential reason could be that there is something that's blocking the hole that connects the metal tube to the plastic base and the rubber hose.
Check the inside of the metal tube to see if there's anything blocking the hole.
The grease from inside the tube or outside debris could be blocking the air from coming out of the metal tube.
Final Thoughts
So that's how to fix a stuck Bell Air Attack 650 bicycle pump.
This is a great pump to have because it doesn't require electricity.
On top of that, the high volume of the tube ensures that you won't have to pump forever to get to your target tire pressure. I've used it on both bikes and cars and it works great.
It's a great backup in case the power goes out, or you have to help another motorist and the cable on your compressor doesn't reach the other vehicle.
