Compression tester

[SteveinUT]

Any recommendations on a good gauge? I have a HF that must have gone TU, because it won't read higher than 30 pounds on two running saws that have solid compression. So, I need to replace it, and I'd rather buy a decent one that will last. Unfortunately, I HAD a nice Matco set that I made the mistake of letting a guy borrow and never got it back. But, I don't know if I want to drop that kind of coin again on a gauge that will mostly be used for saws.

 

[Guido Salvage]

I have a $30 Actron and a Snap-On I found in a pawn shop for $35. I have heard good things about the OTC ones.

 

[Miller Mod Saws]

Well I hate to say this but I've had several of the cheap ones and they all went to heck in a hurry. I know have a snap on one and it works great!

 

[drf256]

OTC is the best of three so far for me.

Apparently they make the gauge for Snap On, but I can't confirm that.

 

[Gunn]

How do you know what works great and which doesn't? Is there a gauge to calibrate them?

 

[ft. churchill]

I had problems with a HF one, removed all off the bleed off and quick disconnect garbage and plumbed the hose directly to the gauge. Works great now.

 

[angelo c]

Make sure you replace the schrader valve before you pronounce your comp tester dead. Replace its the white tipped schraders. Even the snap on ones need replacing from time to time. There's a lot of crud coming from compression chambers that can foul up a little valve.

 

[ny15]

I have a Snap On that I just replaced the valve on and a new OTC. You can buy the OTC for $60 on eBay, I think I paid $200 for the snap on a few years ago

 

[Mag Craft]

Buy a good one, the information that you get doing a compression test is important so I would go for accuracy. I use a Snap on and I have a Matco and both are good and read close to one another. I bought the Matco off of ebay.

 

[Pioneer Perry]

I got a Mac seems to work good and consistently accurate.

 

[radio]

Sears sells the Mityvac compression tester kit under the Craftsman logo. It is currently on sale on their website for $55 with free shipping:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-comp...p-00947089000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

It comes with multiple adapters, hoses and spare o-rings and schrader valves.

 

[radio]

Also, when I signed up for the Shop Your Way program I got a surprise $10 discount when I went to checkout.

 

[jmssaws]

I've used the same cheap one for 10 years, never replaced the Schrader valve either.

I've had several but they all read 5 lbs of each other so I sold all but one.

Compression reading is alot how you do it,check a saw three times in a row and it will change. You can get hung up on tester which is why I rarely check a saw anymore.

Get one around 220 or more they get hard to test accurately.

 

[Genius]

I have a Lisle and it's done me well. If I were to buy a new one to replace this it'd be a OTC.

I had a cheap one that failed on my before, along with one lisle that they replaced. A OTC can be had for close to the same money as a lisle

I'm with JMS, I don't get to hung up on compression readings. I mainly use mine when looking at a saw and if the seller doesn't want me to pull the muffler for some reason.

 

[hseII]

My Snap On is leaking after less than a year. [emoji35][emoji35]

 

[angelo c]

My Snap On is leaking after less than a year. [emoji35][emoji35]

Replace the schrader valve....be right as rain.

 

[Mag Craft]

My Snap On is leaking after less than a year. [emoji35][emoji35]

When I bought mine it came with extra Schrader valves.

 

[SteveSS]

Unfortunately, I HAD a nice Matco set that I made the mistake of letting a guy borrow and never got it back.

Why not just go whoop that dude's ass and get your tester back? It'll save you some money.

 

[Jughead]

I have a mityvac which seems to read a little high,bought a actron from autozone that reads way low and invested in the craftsman like the one in the link above and still reads low.for the actron its due to the adapters and for the craftsman its due to the hose extentions.
I like the mityvac one but the needle on the gauge is off a little from the factory.i believe i'll switch the gauge from the actron to the mityvac hose to see if the readings are any different.

 

[Red97]

Just picked up the otc 5606 kit. Really like it, nice large gauge, lots of different adaptors plus a spar parts kit for 59$. The hose is really long, but much easier to get in a comfortable position while cranking a saw.
With the long hose it was 20-25 pulls to get a full reading