What compression tester are you guys using?

[redtractor]

My OTC has an adapter for the tiny spark plugs, like in some newer trimmers, but it doesn't have a valve in it. So I figured I'd tap it & put a valve in. That little beast is very specialized and a tap cost 50-60 Bucks!

No, I didn't get one.

 

[Deets066]

I use the snap on gauge as well. Don't buy much from snap on, here and there. I usually buy Wright tools, best ones I've used.

 

[one.man.band]

Nope, most all their wrenches, ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers are for sure made in house.

Not sure if they make their torque wrenches, but they were garbage when I was in the toolroom. I remember one order, we got 5 3/8" drive, I forget the torque range. 4 were junk out of the box, couldn't hold +- 5% and couldn't be adjusted enough.
They blamed in shipping damage, but in the end we went through a dozen of them before we had 5 that our lab could certify as good.

We had to recal them generally once every 6 or 12 months and it was a crap shoot if it was going to be usuable, that was even the spare ones that hadn't been used!

Some of them were $2000+ each too. Went to 1800 ft/lbs)

we never calibrated the tq wrench for the really big stuff. used a skidmore to test the wrench, before every use, had to. the skidmore was lab certified yearly..........whatever the wrench happened to read at the equated skidmore test correct known ft-lbs.......is what we used.
only 450 to 550 ft-lbs.though.

 

[Termite]

I prefer a liquid filled gauge. Glycerin is what they use. In industry they outlast all others.
I get them from this outfit. They have pretty good prices.
http://www.surpluscenter.com/

 

[one.man.band]

I prefer a liquid filled gauge. Glycerin is what they use. In industry they outlast all others.
I get them from this outfit. They have pretty good prices.
http://www.surpluscenter.com/

.....are you just switching out the stock guage with a good liquid filled?

 

[Rockjock]

I use a MAC one I got for cheap not too long ago but I have used and compared it to this one I got from Princess auto. ( harbor freight tim hortons style. ) and it works very well. when on sale for 9.99 I get a spare

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I'm not sure what a skidmore is, but we had to have everything calibrated, from tiny in lb screwdriver torque wrenches to the big berthas since they were used for torquing parts on bombs... and even tire pressure guages. Figure the anal retentiveness of the aviation world plus add in explosives. No such thing as "good n tight" or "calibrated elbow". Heck even WITH all the torque wrenches we still managed to get folks to sometimes to full stupid and break off bolts or strip something.

The 1800lb rated ones were used for nose cone rings on the GBU series bombs if your curious.

we never calibrated the tq wrench for the really big stuff. used a skidmore to test the wrench, before every use, had to. the skidmore was lab certified yearly..........whatever the wrench happened to read at the equated skidmore test correct known ft-lbs.......is what we used.
only 450 to 550 ft-lbs.though.

 

[one.man.band]

I'm not sure what a skidmore is, but we had to have everything calibrated, from tiny in lb screwdriver torque wrenches to the big berthas since they were used for torquing parts on bombs. Figure the anal retentiveness of the aviation world plus add in explosives. No such thing as "good n tight" or "calibrated elbow". Heck even WITH all the torque wrenches we still managed to get folks to sometimes to full stupid and break off bolts or strip something.

The 1800lb rated ones were used for nose cone rings on the GBU series bombs if your curious.

.......bridge girder splice bolts here. skidmore tests to get proper tension on the bolt/nut combo, what the wrench says to get that tension is immaterial. if the bolt is flash rusted, over oiled......etc. torque reading needed to get proper tension changes.

.another reason i won't fly it seems.. lol.

http://www.skidmore-wilhelm.com/

 

[mels]

Just posted an ad in the trading post for a quality compression tester. What testers are you guys using? I've had a couple auto parts store testers and was not impressed. Last one I used, I borrowed from a friend. It was a snap on mt 308 and seemed like a very nice unit. Thanks.

I've had this Matco CT60K self-contained kit for a couple few years. Has every adapter I think I'll ever need, small bag of spare o-rings, schraeder cores etc. all safeguarded in a pretty darn sturdy molded case with real decent latches. Don't know if it's still available new or not, but I'm kindof a COB (cheap old basdart) so while I do tend to spend good money on quality tools, I don't remember this kit being too bad.

Good luck with your search, sounds like there's plenty to choose from. Let us know what you find, and how it ended up working for ya.

 

[Termite]

.....are you just switching out the stock guage with a good liquid filled?

Yep.

 

[Big_Wood]

Snap On all day, everyday.

Expensive, but well worth the money.

LOL did you read the thread? if you mean you are running snap on then that's ok but man. get it in your head that you are just running an OTC compression tester marked up 400%!!! LMAO! your snap on is no better then my $55 OTC. in fact, they are the exact same thing for the record, my last gauge was a snap on but i got it used for $50. great compression tester. just as good as the OTC actually . it walked away somehow though. i thank @Wagnerwerks for leading me to the source as i did not know it was OTC that made them before he told me.

 

[shawn022]

Ok. Thanks for all the replies. I've been looking hard but also looking for a good deal. The Matco CK60K IS THE SAME as the OTC 5606. Just compare pictures, even the instructions are the same. So at $55 shipped that seems very good.
As far as the OTC being the same as Snap-On, I'm not buying it. I don't know if the current Snap-On models are made "in house" or by someone else but I haven't come across anything else yet that looks like the Snap-On. Snap-On claims country of origin for the current models as USA so that should knock out a lot of other companies that would make it for them. The OTC is made in China so obviously I would assume the Matco is too. I'm not knocking made in China tools, so lets not go there. I own Mac, Matco, Snap0-On, Craftsman and plenty of made in China stuff as well.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

That's actually an OTC tester. The Craftsman one I have is the exact same other than in a grey case.

I've had this Matco CT60K self-contained kit for a couple few years. Has every adapter I think I'll ever need, small bag of spare o-rings, schraeder cores etc. all safeguarded in a pretty darn sturdy molded case with real decent latches. Don't know if it's still available new or not, but I'm kindof a COB (cheap old basdart) so while I do tend to spend good money on quality tools, I don't remember this kit being too bad.

Good luck with your search, sounds like there's plenty to choose from. Let us know what you find, and how it ended up working for ya.

View attachment 447060

 

[mels]

Right on, it's a pretty convenient, substantial kit eh?

 

[AKDoug]

I've had zero issues with my Lisle compression tester.

 

[shawn022]

Decided on the Proto tester. It's the same as the Matco and OTC. Under $50 shipped. Nice kit. Had to remove the gauge and re tape the threads because of a leak but it's good to go now.

 

[dsell]

OTC 5606 from Sears

 

[olyman]

It's important to realize that snap on don't make tools. They buy tools from another manufacturers (usually Mac or all trade) and charge insane prices just because of their name.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
mmmm, no...check it out further,, before you make a statement like that...mac DONT make their own tools.................dont believe me???

 

[olyman]

I use a Milton compression tester. Had it for years and very happy with it. They still sell that model.

Most tool companies make much of their own product lines. With Snap-On, their Blue Point line is product that they buy from others and relabel. Craftsman is about the only tool company that doesn't make anything of their own and never did. They still put out some good stuff though. Lots of is from China now.

Milton makes some quality stuff. or I know they did years ago.......

 

[Cope1024]

It's important to realize that snap on don't make tools. They buy tools from another manufacturers (usually Mac or all trade) and charge insane prices just because of their name.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mmmm, no...check it out further,, before you make a statement like that...mac DONT make their own tools.................dont believe me???[/QUOTE]

Snap-on, Mac, Matco and Cornwell buy testers, etc. from other manufacturers. Snap-on manufactures their hand tools and tool boxes in their own factories. Matco makes their tool boxes and nothing else. Mac and Cornwell made their own boxes and hand tools. Since Mac was bought by Stanley I'm not sure who makes what.