Bravo air pumps?

[phoenixpete]

I know these pumps have been discussed at length but I just wondered if any one has had any problems with the Bravo BTP12 ? (the one with the analogue dial gauge )

I bought one back in July to pump up my Aerotec 380 which it does fine,and hasn't broken down yet, but when it switches over to high pressure for the air floor, when getting near to the 11lb mark it gets very noisy and really seems to struggle. I am just getting a bit worried that it is going to break at any minute.
As I have said it does do the job but is just very noisy and seems to get noisier the nearer to 11lb it gets.

I don't think it is any worse than when new, just wondered if any one has had their one break or if all the noise is normal?

Spares don't seem available or at least I can't find any repair kits or anything.

Any comments?


Pete.

[thomas]

I have the same pump, it does make a bit of a racket when it switches to what I guess is the compressor, couldn't tell you if it's better or worse than yours - been great buy though.

[kubcat]

Mine has been pretty noisy since new but works fine. Been a few years now. Not the same model as yours, no gauge on mine.

[phoenixpete]

Thanks for your replies.
I may just be a little paranoid as I am sure I read somewhere that people were having trouble with them breaking as the piston and surrounding parts are not very robust.
It seems fine up untill about 6 or 7 lbs on the gauge then it really starts to struggle for the last 4lbs, sounds like it is going to disintegrate at any second.

[Sunstreaker]

I believe previous thread suggested don't run for more than ten minutes at a time to reduce chances of damage to the pump.