need a new mityvac,alternatives?

[toplessHO]

Ive had it with breaking the plastic ones,had an old old one that was made of metal,but it disappeared. I see they make a diecast one for about 2x the price of the guaranteed to break plastic one.
Are there other alternatives? maybe use my Phoenix system brake bleeder and a vacuum gauge in line with it?
Im gonna tell Santa I need a better one.

 

[tutti57]

What are you using it for? I have an EWK fluid extractor that I use for that task and brake flush/bleeds. Has some optional accessories, pump or shop air operated. Love it.

Nissan Technician

 

[Tinner]

The Silverline (metal) is still available.

https://www.skf.com/mityvac/products/hand-vacuum-pressure-pumps-kits-accessories/hand-pump-kits/mv8500/index.html

That's the kit or you can buy the pump alone.

 

[toplessHO]

I use it mainly for vacuum source testing
any other options?

 

[M6erfan]

I'm interested as well, I use a vacuum tester pretty often.

I had a Mityvac for years but it finally broke so I replaced it earlier this year with their all metal top of the line one (Silverline). The handle pivot pin flew out and disappeared in my shop, on its third use. I emailed Mityvac and they sent me a new rebuild kit that included a new upgraded pin, but I was bummed that the unit failed so quickly. We'll see how this one holds up...

 

[Fedwrench]

Here are some alternate options:

https://www.mobiledistributorsupply...ing-pump-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-test-kit-oem

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...p-brake-bleed-kit-p-140265.html?tsqtid=816532

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...irable-vacuum-pump-p-67294.html?tsqtid=816532

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...rake-bleeding-kit-p-120445.html?tsqtid=816532

The silverline is probably the industry standard:
https://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv8500.aspx

 

[M6erfan]

Here are some alternate options:

https://www.mobiledistributorsupply...ing-pump-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-test-kit-oem

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...p-brake-bleed-kit-p-140265.html?tsqtid=816532

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...irable-vacuum-pump-p-67294.html?tsqtid=816532

https://www.toolsource.com/vacuum-p...rake-bleeding-kit-p-120445.html?tsqtid=816532

The silverline is probably the industry standard:
https://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv8500.aspx

The 3rd one down looks interesting. All the ones with the red handle look like the rebadged china ones that get pretty poor reviews on AMZN (when I was looking for a replacement). That MV Silverline is the one that failed on me during its third use.

 

[Fedwrench]

The 3rd one down looks interesting. All the ones with the red handle look like the rebadged china ones that get pretty poor reviews on AMZN (when I was looking for a replacement). That MV Silverline is the one that failed on me during its third use.

The third one down is the Lisle version. I'm not sure how much longer these will be available because, when you visit the Lisle website, the larger kit with accessories is coded "Obsolete at factory".

I didn't realize there were so many Actron hand pump clones available on Amazon until I looked. The original Actron unit, also sold as Craftsman was a pretty good unit back in the day but, I couldn't swear to its quality now.

My mityvac silverline is probably 15-20 years old. It's ugly but, works fine. I've heard that current Mityvac items aren't as good as they were. That's too bad.

With most things on a car being electronically controlled instead of vacuum operated, the demand for hand held vacuum pumps has probably declined. Still, i hate to see a once industry leader fail to maintain its quality.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have the mityvac silver line, metal (zinc?) Body. Does vacuum and pressure. I just rebuilt it after a few years of regular use. Rebuild was 25 bucks or so. I mainly use it for EVAP work.

 

[toplessHO]

that third one is sold under the Lisle brand
could be a rebox for them tho

 

[M6erfan]

The third one down is the Lisle version. I'm not sure how much longer these will be available because, when you visit the Lisle website, the larger kit with accessories is coded "Obsolete at factory".

I didn't realize there were so many Actron hand pump clones available on Amazon until I looked. The original Actron unit, also sold as Craftsman was a pretty good unit back in the day but, I couldn't swear to its quality now.

My mityvac silverline is probably 15-20 years old. It's ugly but, works fine. I've heard that current Mityvac items aren't as good as they were. That's too bad.

With most things on a car being electronically controlled instead of vacuum operated, the demand for hand held vacuum pumps has probably declined. Still, i hate to see a once industry leader fail to maintain its quality.

Yeah, it's disappointing to see quality go backwards. And the Silverlines aren't exactly cheap, I expected more from the 'top of the line' Mityvac vacuum pump, especially since my old one lasted so long.

Thanks for the info on that Lisle. I did a little research and the photo from the link you provided shows "Made In USA", but apparently they are made in Brazil now.

 

[toplessHO]

wonder if the Lisle became "unavailable " with transition from made in USA
on the hunt for a NOS one made in USA

 

[454ragtop]

Have a mint Snap On metal bodied one I'm going to list in the classifieds...

 

[bwringer]

I agree the plastic Mityvacs are fragile garbage.

Hate to be "that guy", but the brass pumps from Harbor Freight are cheap and fantastic. As with all these damn things, the gauge is extraordinarily delicate, so the first thing I do is wrap the gauge in clear tape.

The second thing I do is add a short piece of tubing with a clear fuel filter (a sort of big one, like for a lawn tractor). This helps keep contamination out of the pump and gives you a few added seconds to respond if you accidentally start to slurp brake fluid into the pump. It's also nice to have a vacuum reservoir.

Or buy a Snap-On or whatever if you're in the mood to drop that much change.


All that said, the handhelds are a pain in the ***. An electric vacuum pump is the absolute deluxe premium luxury way to bleed brakes.

 

[bdk1976]

I agree the plastic Mityvacs are fragile garbage.

Hate to be "that guy", but the brass pumps from Harbor Freight are cheap and fantastic. As with all these damn things, the gauge is extraordinarily delicate, so the first thing I do is wrap the gauge in clear tape.

.

Agree 100%. The HF version that I bought to replace my overpriced plastic POS mityvac that broke in the middle of a job has been great.

 

[richfinn]

I've tried the cheaper generic vacuum pumps before, trouble is you can't get replacement parts so they end up as a disposable consumable

I now have the Mityvac Silverline dual pressure/vacuum kit and I like it apart from the quick release connector on the front for the brake bleed bottle/vacuum chamber

 

[454ragtop]

Few pics of the Snap On as requested.

 

[M6erfan]

The advantage of the Mityvac is that is does both pressure and vacuum. For me that means no tool changeover when testing leakage in 2 stroke engines.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

My plastic mityvac broke and I replaced it with the brass HF vac pump. I am MUCH happier with the HF pump.

HF has the plastic mityvac pump on the shelf, too.