Tricks for inflating an old football?
FirstBeard
Posts: 472 ✭✭✭
I was lucky enough to inherit an official Rams team-signed ball. I think it is from the 1985 season (still researching the rosters). It has been stored "flat" in a box for 30+ years and is in great shape. Only problem - I cant get it to hold air. Once pumped, it leaks right out of the valve. Anyone know of a trick to fix this? It doesn't need to be anything elegant - I just want to be able to display it. Thanks in advance!
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Wilson Sporting Goods repairs footballs for $20. Alternatively, you can order a new bladder repair kit from them, through Amazon, for $5. The kit includes a new bladder and new laces. The $20 service requires you to send the football to them, and they put in a new bladder and laces; this takes about 2-4 weeks. The $5 service is just for the new bladder and laces....you get to do the work yourself. According to the video I watched, putting in the new bladder and laces is actually rather easy.
If you go the $5 do it yourself way, you'll also want to buy a football/glove lacing kit, that includes the lacing "tool". It's available through Amazon also, from Rawlings Sporting Goods.
I found out about this just last month at the Houston GTSM show, as the football i was getting signed by LaDainian Tomlinson was flat, and when I tried to inflate it at the show, the bladder popped (the football is a Pro Football HOF white panel football, that's over 20 years old). The dealer who was helping me said he's used Wilson's service several times, always with good results.
Steve
Everything Steve said.
Seriously though, Good Luck!
Kingnascar's PSA Sets
Kingnascar's PSADNA Sets
Try putting some vaseline on needle then inserting for air....might seal
Link???
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
This is amazing - thank you so much for the detailed information! Going to give the vaseline idea a try, then I will look into this. Much appreciated!
Let us know if that works because I have a '79 Rams team signed white panel ball that won't hold air.
Not sure that the Pats handle inflating though. Now, if you need the ball deflated...
If the football is signed, Wilson will not replace the bladder.
Ok - I have an update. In searching for the contact info for Wilson, I came across links for valve replacements. I wound up buying them on Amazon. They are made by "Pumpuptheball" and come with a little tool to extract the old valve (basically a knitting needle with a little hook on the end). I figured it was worth taking a chance since the total cost was less that $10. Long story short, after a few drinks to get the nerve up, carefully yanked the old valve out. It took considerable force. I then popped the new valve in. I used an empty screwdriver. I know that probably makes little sense - it is the kind of screwdriver where you can pop in different "bits." The replacement valve fit nicely in the empty bit chamber. I was able to get the new valve in and it seemed to fit perfectly. They come coated with an oil that is supposed to help make it air-tight. I pumped the ball up, and after 2 full days, it seems to be holding air. I got lucky in that the bladder was undamaged. So, it may be worth checking out a replacement valve first. As a disclaimer, if this was a higher value ball, I don't know that I would have had the huevos to rip out the old valve. In retrospect, I also should have practiced on a generic ball first.
Thanks again for all of the advice!
Nice that it worked.
Got pictures ?
I only have a picture of the flat ball on my phone. Hopefully it worked in the above post. I will try to take some pictures of the final product tonight.