My airdriver 1100 pump will not lock on the valve when I try to attach it. The lever in the back doen not tighten the pump to the tire valve. How does it attach without poping off?

This pump is a bit strange to use. The valve in the filler head is odd in that it controls the flow of air in both direction...which is not a great design in my opinion...but it does allow for use in different filling applications. The trick is getting the pump into its different filling "modes"

For a Schrader bike valve:
1. Make sure the pump is in "tire mode" by blowing into the valve with your mouth. If you then pump the handle you should feel air filling your mouth.
2. Put the "locking lever" in the unlocked position, the unlocked position is when the silver metal lever is parallel to the air hose, or said another way it makes an "L" with the air outlet that goes on the tire air filling stem. To verify this is correct, look in the air outlet and move the lever from locked to un-locked, you will see slight change in the diameter of the outlet.
3. Push the air filler hole over the schrader valve really hard and make sure it is seated all the way down. Close the "locking lever" (silver metal lever should now be perpendicular to the air house and be in line with the air outlet... i.e. point straight out away from the tire filler stem.
4. Pump.

For a Presta bike valve:
1. Make sure the pump is in "tire mode" again.
2. Take off plastic caps off presta valves on bike tire.
3. Unscrew the little nut on the presta stem to allow the tire valve to open when pressure is applied (you can test this by pushing the stem in a little and air should escape, the nut holds the valve closed, so it needs to be loosened).
4. Take the adapter from the locking lever (silver metal lever) on the pump and screw it on the presta valve. The adapter is the brass looking thing. Screw the rubber gasketed side down on the presta valve.
5. Press the air pump tire filler outlet onto the adapter.
6. Close the locking lever to seal the filler head on the adapter.
7. Pump.
8. Unlock the locking lever and pull it off quickly.
9. Unscrew the presta adapter and screw down the presta valve nut but just finger tight.
10. Screw on the plastic cover cap for the presta valve.

To Fill a Ball:
1. Twist the ball pin filler out by rotating the gray plastic tab around until the ball pin filler is pointing straight out (in-line with the air hose).
2. Make sure the pump is in "Ball mode" by again blowing into the filler. Sometimes shaking the filler valve really hard is necessary.
3. Put the filler pin into a ball.
4. Pump.

Hope this helps.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4779541_inflate-bicycle-tire-presta-valve.html

1. Rotate the wheel so the valve is resting just above the floor. Remove the valve cap.
   

2. Unscrew the locking nut on the valve stem. Quickly press down the stem to loosen the seal. You should hear air escaping when the stem is pushed in--if you do not, loosen the nut and try again.
3. Press the pump head onto the valve and flip the locking lever to make a seal. You'll hear air escape, but it should stop after you've locked the lever. If air continues to leak out, remove the pump head and reattach it.
4. Make two pump strokes and listen for air moving into the tire. If the pump handle becomes hard to press down after only a few strokes, or if the pressure gauge elevates extremely quickly, remove the pump head and repeat Step 3.
5. Inflate the tire to its recommended pressure. Remove the head by unlocking its lever and quickly pulling it off the valve stem. Secure the valve's locking nut and cap.

Presta Compressor Toolwww.prestaflator.comInflate Road or Mountain Bike Tires Accurately in Seconds!


Read more: How to Inflate a Bicycle Tire With a Presta Valve ' eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4779541_inflate-bicycle-tire-presta-valve.html#ixzz1Brv5VfAX

Before putting the pump on the valve turn the attachment so you can observe inside it. Move the lever back and forth. Observe at what position the lever causes the fitting to constrict and hold on to the valve. That is the position it should be in when you attach to the valve. I'm not certain but I think you will find that the fitting is able to be used for both presta and schrader valves without adjustment. Just put it on and fasten with the lever. The seal is then established.

What's different?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehf6HL0aLTc

http://www.ehow.com/how_4779541_inflate-bicycle-tire-presta-valve.html

1. Rotate the wheel so the valve is resting just above the floor. Remove the valve cap.
   

2. Unscrew the locking nut on the valve stem. Quickly press down the stem to loosen the seal. You should hear air escaping when the stem is pushed in--if you do not, loosen the nut and try again.
3. Press the pump head onto the valve and flip the locking lever to make a seal. You'll hear air escape, but it should stop after you've locked the lever. If air continues to leak out, remove the pump head and reattach it.
4. Make two pump strokes and listen for air moving into the tire. If the pump handle becomes hard to press down after only a few strokes, or if the pressure gauge elevates extremely quickly, remove the pump head and repeat Step 3.
5. Inflate the tire to its recommended pressure. Remove the head by unlocking its lever and quickly pulling it off the valve stem. Secure the valve's locking nut and cap.

Read more: How to Inflate a Bicycle Tire With a Presta Valve ' eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4779541_inflate-bicycle-tire-presta-valve.html#ixzz1Brv5VfAX

Try their trouble shooting guide found here:

http://www.switchbladenozzles.com/trouble_shooting.htm

There are two styles of valves on bicycle inner tubes. The commonly used style is called Presta, and it is characterized by a thin, threaded brass stem with a head that has a threaded pin in it. This has a small nut pressed on that must be unscrewed to fill it with air. The other style (which resembles the valves on a car's tire) is called Schrader. Bicycle air pumps can handle both styles, but some require a reconfiguration of the pump's valve to make the change from one style to the other. This involves unscrewing the head and removing the parts inside. The details on these processes and the styles of valves on your bicycle will be found in the air pump manual.

Usually, the needle used to inflate balls is an attachment to the pump. Is there a lever near the fitting the needle comes out of? Moving the lever 90 degrees from its current position should allow you to pull the needle attachment out. The hole the needle came out of is where the valve stem from your tire goes to pump the tire up. Jam the stem in the hole, crank the lever back to lock it in and pump away. Unlock the lever to release the stem when the tire's inflated and you're golden.

you need to be a littil more in depth

Could this help?

1. Have the lever on the pump head pushed down, flat against the pump head.
   
2. Push the pump head FIRMLY onto the tire valve.
3. While still pushing firmly, flip the pump head lever up to lock the pump head onto the tire valve.
4. Inflate to desired pressure.
   
5. When finished, push the pump head lever back down and pull the pump head off the tire valve.

(Once you hook the pump up to your tire and start pumping, the back pressure will switch the flow to the bike valve output.)

Dear Doug, to lock a hand pump onto the valve stem: 1.depending on valve type-loosen the valve lock for presta, twist off valve cap for schrader. 2.unlock the pumping handle from the pump so that you can actually "pump" the pump... 3. put the pump head on the valve of the tire, then pull up on the thumb tightening lever. This should squeeze toghether the internal rubber gasket of the pump, and lock on to your valve. 4. Begin pumping. 5. when desired pressure has been reached, push down on the thumb lever to unlock the pump. Remove it. Good Luck Fellow bicyclist!