Cheap compression tester?

[Jacobson]

Can you suggest a cheap compression tester?

Seems like a huge price range.
Can I get away with this for $23?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVU89I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Jason280]

I think you will be OK. I have Snap On and HF compression testers, and both have read almost identically the couple of times I've compared them...

 

[bigjeff94]

I have the u.s general one from harbor freight. I've been happy with it. I can't attest to how accurate it is but it works for what I need it for.

 

[redmondjp]

Can you suggest a cheap compression tester?

Seems like a huge price range.
Can I get away with this for $23?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVU89I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yes, that will be just fine. You're not looking for high accuracy when you are doing a compression test - it's the differences between cylinders that is more important.

I still have the very first K-D Tools super-basic compression tester (doesn't even have a quick disconnect on it) that I bought back in the early 1980s, and it still works for me. If something goes wrong with it, it's usually a chunk of carbon that gets stuck in the valve seat of the schrader check valve inside it, which is easily fixed.

 

[1949 caddyman]

I have compared HF to Snap On & they are very close.

 

[Jacobson]

With the HF tester, do you not actually screw the hose into the spark plug hole?
You just hold that rubber nozzle against the hole?
http://www.harborfreight.com/compression-test-kit-8-pc-69885.html

 

[four.cycle]

yeah... that's your basic "push it in the hole" compression tester.
looks like you can get it for $14 (incl. shipping) if you want to go that route.
might have to wait a while for it to arrive from Guangzhou:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cylinder-Co...:g:kjsAAOSwZ1lWcFRo&item=252214144022&vxp=mtr

this one is exactly the same as my old #T-52 Niehoff (Chicago, USA)
$19 incl. shipping
- that is WAY cheap. I paid $50 for mine in the mid-1970s. excellent unit. buy it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300-PSI-Eng...:g:La4AAOSwTapV33VU&item=321931785319&vxp=mtr

 

[Bagherra]

HF unit I have has adapters that screw in the holes

 

[bigjeff94]

With the HF tester, do you not actually screw the hose into the spark plug hole?
You just hold that rubber nozzle against the hole?
http://www.harborfreight.com/compression-test-kit-8-pc-69885.html

My harbor freight one screws in. It comes with a few hoses for different plugs.

 

[dodge610]

I have the HF unit and an older craftsman or penske whatever name sears put on them back when sears sold all that auto tools. Both still read good and work correctly and do the job at hand.

 

[bcschief]

Autozone has a loan a tool program where you pay for the tool use it and then return it for a full refund end cost is 0 as cheap as it comes.

Brian

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have one that looks very similar. I got mine at Advance Auto. I don't recall the brand. Maybe OTC? Not sure but it was the same price range and works fine. I was having issues with leakage with my very old Snap On set at the time and needed something right away.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Can you suggest a cheap compression tester?

Seems like a huge price range.
Can I get away with this for $23?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVU89I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Starr Hoffman's (part of Kastar/A&E/Lang) units. USA made, everyone else reboxes theirs or copies it.