Spring/Strut compressor

[GDA]

Hello, been a lurker for several months and learned alot from this forum. I'm looking to get a good spring compressor for working on my old BMWs. I was thinking of one of these two since I'm sure it will get used more than once.

Facom U.89 system - variable from 3.9 to 10in

OTC tamer 2.5 to 10in

Anyone had direct experience with one of these? Comments/suggestions are appreciated.

Greg

 

[bmwpower]

Subscribed.

Don't have any experience with these. I have the MacPherson model offered by Snap-On. It's a clamp/hook style that can be used on the car. Not sure if the first one can be used on the car.

Do you have any prices?

 

[tweety652]

it looks like the first one can be used on cans. the second one looks like removal is the only option

 

[GDA]

Facom can be used on the car as its mechanical and quite small. I got some feelers out to see who can source it for me without having to buy from UK distributor. No price yet.

OTC is off the car. Here is a video and I found a source for $419. I would probably build a hanger so I could wall mount it when I went to use it.

http://www.otctools.com/prodvideos/struttamer.php

 

[ImportTuner]

First time I've ever seen the Facom compressor ... Let us know where you can buy one at here in the states ... and how much ...

 

[TNToy]

Never used the first one.

Done at least a dozen struts or springs each with the two suicide sticks, clamshell-type, wall-mount type... I've used almost everything out there.

I bought one of these:
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?...paign=Froogle&utm_term=OTC6494&utm_medium=CMP

I love using them, they're very safe and they're FASTER than anyhting else. I can do two sets of struts in the time it takes to do one on the wall-mount style. It also usually works while the strut is on the car.

Plus, it's got an OTC warranty. I run it on/off with my impact, and broke the big screw running through the center. OTC sent a new one to me no questions asked.

 

[GDA]

Never used the first one.

Done at least a dozen struts or springs each with the two suicide sticks, clamshell-type, wall-mount type... I've used almost everything out there.

I bought one of these:
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?...paign=Froogle&utm_term=OTC6494&utm_medium=CMP

I love using them, they're very safe and they're FASTER than anyhting else. I can do two sets of struts in the time it takes to do one on the wall-mount style. It also usually works while the strut is on the car.

Plus, it's got an OTC warranty. I run it on/off with my impact, and broke the big screw running through the center. OTC sent a new one to me no questions asked.

TNToy

Thanks for the great advice as I looked into the first one and it hideously expensive. So onto a search for the clamshell type and picked this Snap On up for $50 used last week. Pretty psyched to have this in the garage.

 

[Abe]

You might think of installing some sort of safety device on that snap on.

 

[TNToy]

The most important thing you can do with a clamshell-style strut tool to enhance safety, is install it correctly.

Because the jaws move in an arc, it WILL cause the coil to bow as it's tightened. It is very important to have a little more than half the coil inside the compressor - don't install it so that all 4 feet are centered on the coils of the spring. Slide it inward toward the center of the car another half-inch, so the centerline of the coil is going to be inside the jaws, not out past the end of the feet. This will cause the spring to bow in toward the center of the tool. If you don't have enough of the coil in the tool, it will bow OUTWARD away from the tool, and that is how you end up with things flying across the shop, or into your body.

Make sense?