Hey, so I have a presta type bike tire and the schwinn switchblade pump won't attach to the nozzle. Any obvious first-time user mistakes?

There are only two types - presta and schrader. If the instructions named them you could just Google them for descriptions and all kinds of other answers. The schrader is what we think of as the automotive style.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presta_valve

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve

Back to the search engines, "how to..." usually finds answers, such as "how to inflate a presta valve tube".

http://www.terratrike.com/media/documents/PrestaValve.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wreZho5I2E4

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bicycles/Maintenance_and_Repair/Wheels_and_Tires/Inflating_Tires

What kind of valve do you have on your bicycle tires - standard (like a car) or Presta (narrow with manual screw down valve)? If you unscrew the head of the pump you should be able to reverse the rubber gasket to fit each type - wide for standard and narrow for Presta.

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.

you may have a presta valve which is a different compare it to the one on your car lets say if they are the same you imple place the pump nozzle on the tube and open the lever to lock in place is indeed it is presta the have a much smaller size simple open the nozzle and flip the to pieces inside to allow the pump to be presta capable ok also you will need to screw open the presta valve before trying to pump ok if its still alittle frusterating simply bring in the pump to your local bike shop and they will be more than happy to give you the low down on the pump functions ok :) happy riding ok :)

The needle part for blowing up basketballs and the like simply unscrews from the bike tire part. Depending on the type of tire you have, you might have to get an adapter. If it looks like your car tire stem, it's called a Schraeder valve, and you should be all set. If it is thinner and has a tip that you unscrew, it is called a Presta valve, and you may or may not need an adapter depending on your pump.

Hope this helps.

Do you have a presta or schrader valve on you bike tube? A schrader is a standard valve, presta has a little nut that has to be loosened to add air. Your pump has both heads or adaptors (I don't know which model you have). You should have instructions with your pump to explain how to use it, if not go to www.ehow.com and you can read all of the instructions, no use me repeating what you can read on your own.

There are two types of valve stems, schrader ( like the valve stems on your car ) and presta. See images on this page http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html Since you are asking I assume you have presta valves. You can get an adapter to convert the presta valves for use with a schrader pump. Unscrew the small knurled nut on top of the presta valve to open it, press down and release the small top to ensure the valve is free to move. Snug up the top when it is full.

I had the same problem, Blackburn knows about the defect. All you have to do is call their 800 number and if everything goes as it did for me, just tell them your name/address and they say they'll send a replacement head. We'll see if it gets here in the next 7-12 business days.
btw, the new replacement head isn't the same dual one that you and I have, it is a new one with only one insert that can apparently fit both dunlop (car tire) and presta (skinny bike tire).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presta_valve

"The air pressure in an inflated tire holds the inner valve body shut. A small screw and captive nut on the top of the valve body permits the valve to be screwed shut and ensure that it remains tightly closed. The nut must be unscrewed to permit airflow in either direction (this must be done before attaching a pump). The screw remains captive on the valve body even when unscrewed fully; it is tightened again after the tire is inflated and the pump removed."

Go to your local bike shop they will sell replacements