Empowering The Bicycle Traveler

Zefal HPX Frame Pump

Set up in 1880, Les Etablissements AFA are specialized in the design of toe-clips, toe-straps, bicycle bells and racks. Later called POUTRAIT, the company works closely with famous riders to develop products. In partnership with Mr Lapize and Mr Christophe, both French famous cyclists, POUTRAIT created, at the beginning of the twentieth century, products under two new brands: LAPIZE and CHRISTOPHE.

A few years after the creation of AFA / POUTRAIT, another French industrialist, Mr. Sclaverand, invented and manufactured the first bicycle valve which took his name for decades before being called the French valve or Presta valve.

Photo of Zefal frame pump

Fast forward 100 years and the company is named Zefal, after their best selling product line. The Bike Hermit loves Zefal pumps. The Zefal Husky floor pump was the only one robust enough to hold up to the everyday requirements of a bike shop that fixed A LOT of flat tires. The Zefal HPX line is just as well built, and when you are in the middle of freakin’ Bolivia with a flat tire, you just want a pump that works.

Zefal says the pump is designed to fit vertically along the seat tube inside the frame and it is held in place by spring tension. One end of the pump is shaped to fit against the top tube snugly, without twisting, and the other end incorporates replaceable “wings” which get bracketed by the down tube and seat tube. That works fine except it eliminates the possibility of using a seat tube water bottle cage, which doesn’t make much sense, especially when many vintage bikes and many current touring bikes have a pump peg brazed onto the trailing side of the head tube. Zefal “declines all responsibility” whatever that means, for mounting the pump along the top tube.

However you want to mount it, here’s what you need to know:

There are four sizes; 1,2,3 and 4

-The number 4 pump measures roughly 58 cm (22 3/4″) in length when compressed to the point where the handle just contacts the barrel. Applying more force compresses the spring inside the handle which bottoms out when the overall length of the pump reaches about 52 cm. (20 1/2″). The relative numbers for the number 3 pump are 52cm to 46cm, and for the number 2, 47cm to 41cm. and for the number 1, 42cm to 37cm

You will need to determine the correct size pump based on the inside dimensions of your bike frame parallel to the tube where the pump will mount.
PLEASE WATCH THIS TOO:


frame pump installed along seat tube

This is the way Zefal recommends using the HPX Classic frame pump. Measure the inside dimension of your frame to get the right pump.


Horizontal mount of Zefal frame pump

Zefal does not recommend this mounting (lawyers) but the end of the handle accepts the frame pump peg provided on many touring bikes. Again, when selecting a frame pump size it is crucial to know the inside dimension of the tube where the pump will be mounted.


pump peg on frame

This is a pump peg


The long, slim barrel of these pumps puts a lot of air to the tires quickly and up to a claimed 160 PSI of pressure. The barrel, handle and the pump head are made of aluminum and the piston shaft is steel. The “wings” are made of hard plastic and one of those on my pump has broken, but I was pleased to discover that there are replacement parts for those. Replacements are also available for the metal cap and inner pieces of the head and for the rubber washer on the business end of the piston.

In addition, not that we recommend or endorse it, the Bike Hermit has found his pump to be an effective deterrent to persistent, chasing dogs. One well placed blow between the eyes usually makes them rethink their choices.

BACK TO THE STORE

22 comments… add one
  • Anthony Montoya February 20, 2012, 12:37 pm

    I have a Zefal frame pump that is about 20 years old and the rubber flap at the bottom end has worn out. I noticed a comment about replacement parts but could find no reference on this site. Can you help me locate a new flap.

    Thank You,

    Anthony

    Reply
  • Chris June 16, 2013, 4:54 pm

    I’m not surprised that this arrogant company disclaims responsibility for the product’s design. I recently bought the Zefal Airmax floor pump, relying on Zefal’s reputation as a leading pump manufacturer. I was impressed by the design, which enables the user to switch from presta to schrader by sliding the tube fitting between two positions. No more adapters or multiple pumps. Unfortunately the design is lacking, and it is so difficult to get a schrader on and off I had to pull so hard I cut my hand on a bike hub. Worst part? I sent the company a message and never even got a response. I will never buy anything from Zefal ever again.

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit June 21, 2013, 7:19 am

      Chris,
      Too bad about your experience. There is only one supplier for Zefal in the US and we have found them to be very responsive to our warranty requests. Where did you buy your pump? The selling retailer should be able to help you.

      Reply
  • Thomas Moher June 21, 2013, 2:28 pm

    I have been searching high and low for a Zefal mounting clip for a top tube mount and haven’t had any luck. I know there’s one out there somewhere.

    Reply
  • Arnold Ceasar June 30, 2013, 1:08 am

    I’m looking to purchase an HPX. can you mount this pump on the top tube without a pump peg? i’ve only ever used them on my downtube but now i want to run double bottle cages and would like to mount it up top.

    Reply
  • sue pq February 28, 2015, 4:55 pm

    This is a question, not a comment. I received a used Zefal HPX pump recently. My old pump didn’t have the choice between HP and X. What do those two settings at the top of the pump denote? Which should be used for old “ten-speed” 27.25″ tires with 100 PSI inflation? Thanks for your help, whoever can answer this. Yes, my bike (and I) are dinosaurs.

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit™ March 19, 2015, 10:19 am

      Sue, the HP setting locks out the spring on the handle of the pump and is the recommended setting for inflating to high pressures. The X setting allows the spring to compress so that the pump can be wedged in between the frame tubes and held in place by the spring tension.

      Reply
  • David Klein March 15, 2015, 3:12 pm

    Hi out there!!! Need a AFA air pump to fit an old school Brompton. Its about 11 inches long. If anyone has any idea where to locate one please let me know?? Thanks

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit™ March 19, 2015, 10:13 am

      David, I can’t find anything from my suppliers that would fit that bike. Many times the bike manufacturer will have an OEM product made for specific models. Does Brompton sell anything?

      Reply
  • Bob Giles April 23, 2015, 10:48 am

    I have an old blue Zefal HP frame pump, no X or HP setting, just one spring loaded setting. Works well. What maintenance does it need to keep working well (oil spring in the lockout head, grease the sliding tube, etc.)? Are there replacement rubber parts for presta and shraeder fittings? Thanks for the video!

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit™ April 24, 2015, 6:22 pm

      The maintenance you outline is right on. Head rebuild kits are available and we usually have them. There is even a washer for the plunger available as replacement.

      Reply
  • Nico February 7, 2016, 2:58 pm

    I want to buy two pumps, one of 46/51 cm and one of 51/57 cm. How can I do that?

    Reply
  • alison April 1, 2016, 11:37 am

    I can’t figure out if the length of the Zefal frame pump (a brand new HPX pump) can be adjusted before you spring-load it to your frame. The length advertised by Zepfal is 16.1-17.7″, so it should fit my frame based on those measurements, but it’s about an inch too short.

    I’m trying to mount it under my top tube.

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit® April 14, 2016, 10:27 am

      Alison,
      There is no length adjustment other than with the spring tension. The pump you have is a number 2 and those measurements are correct if I measure the number 2 pump I have here. Sounds like you need a #3

      Reply
  • Martin Pont October 14, 2016, 3:11 pm

    I’ve been cycling in rural Ireland, where everyone seems to own a (cyclist unfriendly) pooch. These mutts possess an unerring tendency to chase you & zero-in on your ankles. Unless you’re quick to first eyeball the critturs, they will try sneak in at the rear.. then – “snap”!

    Farm dogs are the worst; real nutters.

    Do not despair my friends, a top-tube mounted, full-sized Zefal pump – with its telescoping handle, can deliver cyclist protection/”precision bombing” that even Putin would envy. A quick shifty at the first cry of an eager “woof woof”, followed by a good hard ‘thwack’ over Rover’s bonce…and in the words of Corporal Jones, “No sir; they don’t like it up ’em, Mr Mainwaring..”

    (And you’ll be doing the rest of the cycling community a favour; for ‘Muttley’ won’t forget. After the first encounter, you only have to merely brandish the pump. he will remember the rest and slink off.)

    Reply
  • john October 26, 2016, 11:22 am

    [quote]I’m looking to purchase an HPX. can you mount this pump on the top tube without a pump peg?[/quote]

    Yes you can!

    I used a sturdy tiewrap just for this, leaving the bulge on the inside of the frame.
    Not the prettiest but it works fine.
    In addition I use two velcro binders (also from Zefal) to secure it.
    As an extra I put a tiewrap to prevent theft.

    grtz – john

    Reply
  • Jonas Grumby December 27, 2016, 7:50 pm

    About 48 seconds into your video, you can see a metal piece that goes inside the rubber piece when converting from Presta to Schraeder or vice versa. Can you tell me where to get that metal piece? I have the HPX-3 and that piece is missing. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Doug Woolley January 9, 2017, 5:20 pm

    I have a 40 year old Zefal HPX3 I bought with my Fuji America in ’77. The salesman said I needed a special adapter to make it work with the bike’s presta valves, so I got the adapter, but it never worked very well. Now, after seeing your YouTube tutorial and switching the pump to accomodate presta valves, and giving it a little lubing, it works like a charm! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Bike Hermit® January 9, 2017, 5:27 pm

      Doug,
      I’m glad it helped. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

      Reply

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