Hand pump is sticking? why?

I have a purple/dark pink hand pump (I think they are popular) and it's sticking. Did I do something wrong, is it broken? I have to force it and I actually bruised my wrist on it today trying to get it to un-stick.
The little washer inside seems to be sticky... should it be? I'm so frustrated at it! I want to throw it out the window!
TIA for any information!

I say chuck it and get a red ketchup pump, haha I've only tested the pink/purple pump once or twice, and wasn't all that impressed...not sure why it's sticking - I've used the same red pumps for years and they don't stick at all. That said, I've used some that were sticky and it was a pain in the rear.

Those pumps are only a few bucks; I would just get a new one and save your wrist from bruising!

Mine sticks too every once in a while. Turn it like you are unscrewing the top and it should unstick it. I don't know why it does it, but it only seems to happen after I use it for a while.

I assign you to contact qualatex with this question and report back! Thanks!

I agree, I like the red ketchp pump a whole lot better. I have the purple on & it's harder to control the amount of air you want in the balloon. It's also harder to put the balloon over the tip. I want one of those light weight filbert pumps... *drools*

http://www.filbertpump.com/

I contemplated a Filbert - but the shipping from the States and what if it needed maintenance etc...I just bought a standing pump from my wholesaler instead, haha.




It was plain white, and I papered and glammed it up - I love it!

This only comes with me to events/balloon only parties. I already have way too much to take to birthdays without bringing this guy - even though it's super light. I still use the ketchup pump at parties.

OH! Now I'm Really Drooling! It's Got Bling!
Where'd you get it?

www.partyempire.com

Search "Pump O" - it's wholesale so you have to register your business (the business name, anyway - that's what I did) to have access and to see prices.

The bling I got at Michael's! Attached it with Velcro glue, haha. Do that outside - those fumes are something else...

I also prefer the red pump... I have a pink/purple one and I don't like it at all. I have a certain number of pumps that I put into my balloons for different designs and I cannot control it with the two way one.

Ok, this is something else that I need to save for! Darn you guys!! just kidding!
Kristal- that is bling-a-lisious! how pretty!
and that filibert would be nice to have too.... sigh!

linda- is there a place in Jax to buy the red pump?

wherever you get your balloons from should have the red pumps... http://www.larocks.com/balloon/balloons.htm
click on pumps on the left... you have the first one (I believe) the second one is what we're talking about.

Make Believe should have it. Most party shops should have it. The red one's pretty common.

I'm going to email Qualatex- will let you know what they say.

and Make Believe did have pumps, not the red ones but one that seems to be very nice- they also have 260s (just in case) which is nice to know.

I use a pump I got at party city and saw it on silly farm as well. Got it a year ago and it works great for a hand pump!

Make Believe is great if you need ballons in a pinch, but I get mine on line by the color. Much cheaper & you don't get stuck w/ the mystery balloons(the ones that look black but could be blue, green,purple...).

I must be weird I like the purple and pink pump. I dont use it very often. I wont live with out my filbert pump. It is sooo lite and I dont brake it and that is saying a lot! If the pump is sticking you can always unscrew it and you can put a lubricant on the plastic seal. Once a year I have to do that with my pumps and I have never head a problem with them.

MY NEW PurPle and Pink 2-WAY pump FILLS in one direction AND SUCKS THE AIR BACK OUT IN THE OTHER!! HELP!!!!!!

Try unscrewing the lid and see if anything is blocking the filter. If that isnt it I would talk to where you bought it.

THANKS that workedbut I dont know why!

You inspired me to buy some balloons and so far I made a bunch
of ok flowers, a swan a butterfly and a bee.

Fun!

Learn the basic shapes you twist & then watch some youtube tutorials. Start easy, cat, do, flower, etc.

I had the same problem with the pink/purple pump I bought. It actually got to the point where I couldn't pump it at all. I called the company that I ordered it from, and they sent me a free replacement, without shipping charges. My second one seems to work just fine. Of course I did just order a Filbert...

Have you tried a battery powered "Majiloon"? If this is your profession, it is well worth the investment. Customer service from DJ is excellent, should you ever need it. I am so happy with mine, I invested in a back-up, which my son has comandeered after trying it once...

Save yourself the wear and tear on your joints!

Okay... Here is the deal with the pump. There is a little ball inside the shaft that gets stuck. If you tell Qualatex they offer to send you a replacement pump... which they never send. Anyway, the fix (temporary) is to place your hand on the bottom to block the air... make sure it is "open" I guess... fully extended. And firmly pump once. It should jar the ball back into place.

The purple pump is made to inflate on both the push in and pull out as opposed to other pumps which are one way action pumps. If you try to make it work, expecting it to pump only when pushing in - yep then that puppy is going to frustrate you to no end! The reason the hand over the bottom works is your sorta making the pump cough (if the ball is stuck it will dislodge) and in a sense resetting it. Not the best why to explain it but - the pump is a dual action and the red pump is single action.

Sweet Loretta
Certified Balloon Artist

Open it up and clean out the talc deposits--then wipe the black ring with a thin coat of vaseline & you should be good for a long time.