Locking pump dual nozzle on presta valve doesn't work

This really depends on the specific model and design of your dual head (i.e. two valve holes, one for presta and one for schrader).

I've seen at least three variations of dual pump head mechanisms:

1. The locking lever controls which valve is active by the direction it's turned to.

2. When you insert the presta or schrader valve in the right hole, the valve body itself hits a small lever on the side that closes or opens the appropriate pump head valve. Sometimes this is actuated by the closing of the locking lever.

3. Inserting the head of the tire valve trips a lever deep inside at the bottom of the valve hole.

4. Some valves in dual head designs react to pressure, i.e. when plugging one of the valves into a tire with air the pressure closes the other valve. When filling empty tires and the air keeps coming out from the wrong valve, pressing the outer tube against the inner tube valve while simultaneously pumping air creates pressure that opens the correct pump head valve.

So for troubleshooting, I'd first see if your lever can flip the other way. Then, I'd ensure the tire valve is fully seated (pushed in all the way and maybe give it a wriggle as you push it in). Then I'd try putting the other type of valve (presta or schrader) in to see if the switching mechanism can't reset. Finally, I'd gently prove with the blunt end of a disposable chopsticks inside the sides and end of the valve body to see if you can't locate and unstick the switching mechanism.

This all assumes you can't find the manual which would tell you specifically what to do. I find the cheaper dual head designs to be failure prone, I prefer pumps with single "universal" heads such as this Lezyne.

p.s. I'm noting that the black cheapo dual-pump head whose image above I shamelessly stole off e-bay only goes for 1-3 eurodollars, shipped from China. You could just get another one at that price. I'd personally recommend: 1) continuing to use the one you have using a schrader-presta adapter; 2) get a dedicated single-head; or, 3) get a well-machined universal head.

I had been upset with this same style pump for months till I read this. I couldn't get my Presta side to work/inflate air into the tire, only air would come out the Schrader side. Yes, RoboKaren's answer was correct with mine in that when using the Presta valve, it has to be inserted a certain distance into the pump head for it to actuate the valve inside it to switch which direction the air travels on the dual Schrader/Presta nozzle fill head. My Bell pump seems to always stay on the Schrader unless you press it far enough on the Presta stem which moves the valve to allow air not to flow out the Presta side. When head is removed from filling the Presta side, it automatically springs back into position for filling the Schrader side.

I had the same problem with my Beto dual-head standing pump. Schrader always worked fine, had to inflate Presta last week and there was no way to get air come out of the Presta nozzle.

I assumed the internal ball got for stuck for some reason on the Schrader position, so before attempting to dismount the pump head, I detached the head from the pump-tube and used the tube to inject high-pressure air inside the Presta nozzle.. it did work!!

As I was hoping the internal ball got moving again and now it works as expected, so it may be worth a try before attempting more complicated solutions.

Good luck!