Save the Tire Gauges!

[Bolster]

Screw the whales. Save the gauges.

Today I mislaid my regular tire gauge so started to eyeball a hand-me-down from my grandfather, this venerable gauge of cast aluminum and brass. It's a "Tru-Flate Tire Gauge 711," marked reverse "Druge Bros. Mfg. Co. Okland CAL, USA." Filthy (but cleaned up with Barkeeper's Friend) and the pressure gauge has been broken for decades. I pulled it apart, figured it out, spend fair time tapping a new gasket setup and adjusting the spring pressure, and it's now reading within a couple of pounds of my tire gauge (which I found before the project was finished!).

Question: The glass lens is on the filthy side. It's held in with something like a C clip, except it appears to be just a solid bit of round spring steel in the shape of a C. No way to grab it. Haven't been successful getting a pick on the far edge of the spring to pull it in. Ideas?

 

[Zeke]

I would think a small, thin blade flat screwdriver (or similar for the purists) would move the long side in enough for it to pop out.

If it was me doing it, it would pop out to never be found.

 

[ghnl]

When you had it apart would it have been possible to reach in to clean the inside surface of the 'lens' with a Q-tip? Might it be worth taking it apart again to do it that way instead of risking breaking/losing the clip &/or lens?

 

[WWIIjeep]

I would think a small, thin blade flat screwdriver (or similar for the purists) would move the long side in enough for it to pop out.

+1

I mean, you need two small thin blade flat screwdrivers. One to pry the ring out slightly, and one to pry up on it to get the ring out of the groove. Otherwise, if you try to pry out and up with the one, the ring either slips off the screwdriver, or the screwdriver slips off the ring.

If it was me doing it, it would pop out to never be found.

That's a given. In fact, it's required. Hold or hang a rag or two in front of the ring like a curtain to slow the ring down it when it pops out.

Milton makes it easier than Tru-Flate. Milton rings are not only brass instead of steel, they're also bent out slightly at one end so you can get behind them:

 

[Scout Driver]

Cool tire gauge!

Nice to see you, Bolster!

Scott

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Daggum Bolster, just wirewheel that thing and it will come clean.

 

[Steevo]

I love that tire gauge!

Very cool.

 

[Bolster]

Daggum Bolster, just wirewheel that thing and it will come clean.

Still cruel, after all these years!

@ Scout, thanks sir, and likewise.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Still cruel, after all these years!

@ Scout, thanks sir, and likewise.

Welcome back oldtimer....

 

[Bull]

Hey, I thought you had left us for a flashlight forum or something! Good to see you. Nice work so far on gramps' gauge.

 

[Jagmandave]

I found this in the bottom of a tool box I rarely use anymore, I have no idea where I got it or how long I've had it - in fact I don't remember using it before now. It has a brass body with a thick rubber sleeve to protect it from being dropped. I checked it against a cheapy digital and an old high end Porsche gauge and it seems to be spot on! The valve stem end swivels to make it easy to get it on the stem and the large face makes it easy to read....it's now my go-to gauge for tire pressure even tho it's kinda big and heavy. I like the feel of it....

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I'm not sure what brand it is, maybe Marquette? It says "Accu Gauge" over the M on the face, but there are no other markings that I can find. There may be something stamped on the body that's covered by the rubber sleeve, but I don't want to damage that rubber trying to stretch it to get it off so I'm not going to look any further. Maybe I can find something about it online or thru the guys here on Garage Journal, you guys know about old tools!

Anyway, I just think it's cool.....

 

[mayday0017]

On topic of air gauges, you would be shocked at how far off most tire gauges really are. Racing sportbikes we watch our air pressure with in 1/2lb and pay attention to temp as well. Air pressure changes temp, which changes traction. Cheap stick gauges are commonly off by 4-5lbs in either direction.... If you are compairing your new gauge against one of them it might be spot on and your other gauge is off

 

[Jagmandave]

No, I believe I wrote that I checked it against a modern digital gauge and a high end dial gauge from a Porsche, all three gave exactly the same reading. I think I'm good to go.....

Edit: sorry, it appears you were replying to the OP......my bad.

To the OP, I'd use a fine pic to get in behind one end of the c-ring, then use another (or a very small flat blade screwdriver) to pop it out of the groove.

Do you have any of these? If not Harbor Freight is your friend...

Then maybe before you reinstall it, bend the end like on the Milton gauge?

 

[Terry454]

Jagman the maker of that gauge is G H Meiser & Co in Posen Illinois. See: http://www.ghmeiser.com/dial.htm

They can be purchased from

http://www.getagauge.com/index.cfm

Those folks have been making fine gauges for Snap on and others for many years. One of the best of the gauges on the market. Since they are nearby I bring my gauges back for recalibration every couple of years.

Terry

 

[OldnSlo]

Use a plastic bag when pulling things apart that go sprrooooing! Makes for safer eye protection and I find I drink fewer frosty beverages recovering from disassemblers disease after searching endlessly on the floor for parts.

Your gauge was made by: http://www.ghmeiser.com/

Edit: whooops....a few minutes too late on the mfgr.

 

[neonnblack]

damn, i think i thrwew one of these away at work, maybe i threw it under a table.. Ill know tomorrow.

 

[Dale B]

Good to see you posting again .....

 

[mayday0017]

We always called those Oh **** Clips.... Cause as it flys across the shop you always say ****!

 

[Zeke]

I found this in the bottom of a tool box I rarely use anymore, I have no idea where I got it or how long I've had it - in fact I don't remember using it before now. It has a brass body with a thick rubber sleeve to protect it from being dropped. I checked it against a cheapy digital and an old high end Porsche gauge and it seems to be spot on! The valve stem end swivels to make it easy to get it on the stem and the large face makes it easy to read....it's now my go-to gauge for tire pressure even tho it's kinda big and heavy. I like the feel of it....

I'm not sure what brand it is, maybe Marquette? It says "Accu Gauge" over the M on the face, but there are no other markings that I can find. There may be something stamped on the body that's covered by the rubber sleeve, but I don't want to damage that rubber trying to stretch it to get it off so I'm not going to look any further. Maybe I can find something about it online or thru the guys here on Garage Journal, you guys know about old tools!

Anyway, I just think it's cool.....

Jagman the maker of that gauge is G H Meiser & Co in Posen Illinois. See: http://www.ghmeiser.com/dial.htm

They can be purchased from

http://www.getagauge.com/index.cfm

Those folks have been making fine gauges for Snap on and others for many years. One of the best of the gauges on the market. Since they are nearby I bring my gauges back for recalibration every couple of years.

Terry

I have one of those. Thanks to both of you for posting about it. I didn't know if it was a Walmart special or what.