Ulu Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 (edited) I am 99% certain you can buy the same piece of junk at Walmart under the Campbell Hasfeld name and it is probably no better. Anyhow I am sure that a lot of you own one of these tire inflators like the one that blew up in my face today. Fortunately it wasn’t pointing at me which is why I’m posting this. I want to remind you not to look down the muzzle! There are a lot of threads on the cylinder for this little gauge. Unfortunately the plastic sleeve over it was considerably longer than it should’ve been. It appears that when you assemble it four threads are exposed, but two of those threads are so loose they do absolutely nothing. This means that I probably had about two threads engaged when it decided to shoot apart at 65psi. I ground down the long sleeve and reassembled this with plenty of Loctite. I’ll see how it works after it’s all dry. Anyhow, remember that these little gauges can blow up with some force, so best to treat this like a pistol when it’s pressurized. Edited July 12, 2021 by Ulu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TodFitch Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 I am going to have to closely examine mine for that defect. The hose between the handle and the tire chuck failed on mine and I replaced it with some 600 psi rated tubing from the local hardware store. At least on mine, the readings while putting air in are different than those from a static source (i.e. the tires) with the static value being closer to what my “gold standard” (1970s vintage US made) pressure gauge show. So I do a fill then check cycle when using that tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooljunkie Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 I always figured there was some level of inaccuracy with these things. Never wanted one, a milton pressure gauge is all i use. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 my Milton of some 35 years went tits up not long back....they no longer have this model available as the newer ones are cheaply made as is the trend of today's products....but in saying that, compared to competitors...yeah maybe still the better deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eneto-55 Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 I have a couple of those old "pencil type" pressure gauges that I keep in the glove boxes, but usually use a dial type made by Case IH. (I thought at first that it was the nozzle inflater that had exploded for you.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulu Posted July 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 This item is not very old and it has not many hours on it. I bought it recently because the hoses on the old one rotted away after 30 years. I have a good pencil type gauge I use for checking tires but I remember buying it cheap one at a truckstop that blew up on me the first time I put it on a tire. The body on it was steel but the head was just chrome plated plastic and it split apart from my hand pressure pushing it against a valve stem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 I do not know why so many things that require a bit of beefing up is made of plastic...not even the satisfaction of a single successful use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgeb4ya Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 Chinese crap.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 23 minutes ago, Dodgeb4ya said: Chinese crap.... but sadly lot of it carries the tried and true American name stamped on it.....'share the pain' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kencombs Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 5 hours ago, Plymouthy Adams said: but sadly lot of it carries the tried and true American name stamped on it.....'share the pain' Yep, another example of American crap, made in China. Because an American company chose to sully their good name in the chase for a higher profit margin. Yes, I do understand the business side of it to a point. But, when the purchaser discovers that one can no longer rely on a company's reputation in making purchase decisions, any profit margin gained will result in lost future sales. More money today results in lower sales tomorrow. Seems like the business schools should be teaching that instead of focusing on stock prices and bonuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 new consumers are born daily, new ones graduate into the purchasing arena daily as they leave the nest....companies could care less your (my) opinion....there are new fish to fillet and fry daily....they do not even care to reply to communications where you were given by them an avenue to contact them for 'so called' purpose of better business and service. Service is only a word found in the dictionary these day. We have already LIVED the good ole days my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T120 Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 Years ago,(now many years ago, in my youth) I was complaining about the quality of something I had bought - the fellow who was listening to my complaint simply said,"when you buy junk, make sure you pay junk prices." I've remembered his words to this day. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ194950 Posted July 12, 2021 Report Share Posted July 12, 2021 Real problem is- where can you get some Real guarantee that what you paid more ( if you could locate some) for is good functioning quality product wherever it is made? Very few seem to be actually available nowadays. Almost all use some (used to be Good brand names) and cheaply made overseas-mostly China! Most here would choose to pay more but with no assurances??? I believe this would be true with real life use experiences. Nos for some products new or old rebuilt products made is the US is no longer any guarantee of long lasting parts. Old rebuilds with old rubber is a good example. DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 I have said in the past and will say again the when you buy the cheapest thing you can find don’t be surprised when you get it home and it still is the cheapest thing you could find. And regarding companies worried about repeat customers I think some of them have a philosophy of milking the customer one time real good and not to worry whether he comes back or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 Milton still makes them in the USA. https://www.miltonindustries.com/straight-head-air-chuck-inflator-gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulu Posted July 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 Here’s the thing, I bought the previous one from Harbor freight, and I’ve had it for 30 years and it worked fine. Until the hose went bad. 30 year old hose… This new one appears to be an improved model with better hose & a pressure release button on the side. I think it will actually be fine now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 I had an old mentor tell me to have a tool box full of cheap tools "to loan to your friends...." ....that way, you keep'em away from the good stuff, and still be friends. I'm sure Dodgeb4ya has a wall of "special tools" in case I come around askin'.....you know, to keep me away from the good wall. lol 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 13, 2021 Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 I've seen pictures of his wall.....impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulu Posted July 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 Well, it's not fine. ? The gauge doesn't work right. I kept the old one, because I knew I might be swapping hoses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 14, 2021 Report Share Posted July 14, 2021 I thought that when you screwed it back a bit more you would have messed with the calibration or at least what may have passed for calibration....you probably could alter the spring a bit and get your accuracy back or ball park for the average 34 lb tire service...to expect accuracy over the full spectrum...hardly likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulu Posted July 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2021 I think one of the little parts shot out of it and I didn’t get it back together correctly. Anyhow a Milton is not that expensive and I will probably just order one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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