Cylinder Leak Down Tester

[goodfellow]

I'm in need of a new cylinder leak down tester. My 25 year MAC old model is totally falling apart. I've been looking on e-bay and the same Chinese set keeps popping up with a price range from $40-$100. On a whim I checked Harbor Freight and they have what looks like the same set for $28.00 on sale at the local store

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94190

with a 15% coupon it's pretty attractive


I'm not a pro, and have use for one about once in a blue moon. Are these things any good? Anyone use one of these testers on a regular basis?

 

[Danglerb]

Whats to fail really?

I'd test it immediately to make sure it works, and maybe not toss it around much, but its a tire gauge and hose with some fittings. The gauge doesn't even need to be accurate, just repeatable.

OTOH guy I know failed to follow my advice and buy the Kastar and bought the Blue Point instead and its messed up just a few months later. Leaky hose I think.

 

[kf4zht]

I have the HF one, only needed it once and it worked fine. Only problems I could see happening (which haven't happened to me) are the gauges not being accurate, which wouldn't matter that much as long as they are relative; their being leaks, which can be fixed.

Half the use of the tester is just listening to where air is coming from, the gauges are only there to tell you if you have a problem, everything else is done by ear.