Recommendation for a decent vacuum pump

[aka Larry]

The reviews I've read of the Mityvac hand model are less than stellar. Any opinions from you guys or is there a better choice? I just need it for testing and bleeding clutch systems.

 

[signcrafter]

I think there is two "lines" of the mityvac and one is a cheap one and the silverline is the better of the two. Made from metal and rebuildable. I thought the silverline was decent from what I've read.

There was a discussion the other day about bleeding a clutch using a phoenix bleeder I think. Try searching for phoenix bleeder and see if you can find it.

 

[Danglerb]

My mityvac melted, my $17 on sale metal version at HF is fine.

 

[brtsvg]

I have the MityVac silverline (metal) version, works fine for me. I'd get the metal version over the cheaper plastic version, much more durable and well made. Got mine new on Ebay for around $ 40 or so several years ago, much less than the $ 60-75 retail now.

 

[skruft]

I have not had the best luck with Mityvacs either. They work but fail more than they should. At one time (maybe still) Stant made a vacuum pump that looks a little like their radiator pressure testers.

 

[bonneyman]

I've got an older JB 3.5 CFM pump that I've used for over 20 years. Never had a problem.
Although, when just out of high school I worked at a shop that had a pair of these silver vacuum pumps that looked like two pie pans welded front-to-front. A carry handle, a screw port to hook to your hose, and a 115v plug. No on/off switch, no disassemble to change oil. Those things ran forever. All beat up and dented, but, you plug it in, and they'd go. Old timers then. Wonder if they're still available anywhere?

 

[HMCFab9]

Mityvac works fine for brake bleeding. The problem is that most people either lay it down with a full reservoir, or allow too much fluid to accumulate in it & the fluid gets into the pump, which wrecks it.