I acquired an old Silca Impero frame pump with a bronze/copper color closely matching that of my 74 International. The problem is, even when fully compressed, it's a smidge too big to get under a clamp-on umbrella hood or peg on the seat tube. If it were 1/2" to 3/8" shorter, I'd be in good shape. My question is this: Has anybody attempted (either with or without success) to shorten such a pump? I took it into a local motorcycle shop in the hope that I could trim a bit off of the handle end and re-tap the threads to screw the plunger-guide back in at the end...no such luck locating a tap the right size. The other end has a black plastic piece with the threaded attachment for the pump head...but it seems glued in place. Might I be able to remove this end, make my cut and re-epoxy the black piece back into place? Or is this just an up hill battle that is better left unfought?
Matthew Bowne
Brooklyn, New York