Other Harbor Freight Compression Tester ( Crap ) ?

[spookyjjj]

Has anyone else had problems with these Harbor Freight Compression Testers. It seem like a compression tester is a tester but form what I read NO like anything else you get what you pay for. But whats the best bang for the buck on something you only use a dozen or so times a season, I'm not a mechanic and don't need a snap-on or something with that price tag.... Thoughts please

 

[stagesrt4]

yea they are garbage from what ive seen

autozone/carquest/etc offer a ok substitute for around $30-45

 

[Captain PegLeg]

Go to advance and get their middle grade tester... 29 bucks I think. Works awesome, and im going on my third season with it.

 

[Freakrider]

I bought a Craftsman for around $60 several years ago and feel they are a good value...

 

[naticen]

I bought one at auto zone for $45. Lost it for a while and bought another to replace it. Now I found my old one and they read identical and where they should be. The first one is about 5 years old or so and we'll used.

 

[stagesrt4]

I bought a Craftsman for around $60 several years ago and feel they are a good value...

solid brand


Snap-On is by far my favorite but price reflects

 

[speedysprocket]

I've been using the Actron from Autozone for four years now and have been happy with it.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...on-tester/_/N-25j0?itemIdentifier=347021_0_0_

 

[Midlake Crisis]

I had a Harbor Freight gauge that worked fine until I over-pressurized it and blew the gauge off the end of the hose and sprayed fuel in my face.

 

[spookyjjj]

Will a half charged battery give a diffrent reading that a fully charged while performing the test?

 

[naticen]

Mine was the Actron as well

 

[speedysprocket]

Cranking speed will affect reading… Some swear the the lithium batteries crank harder and thus give higher compression readings too...

 

[OCD Solutions]

I started with the $30 one from Autozone but it always read 25-30 psi low. I snagged a snap-on setup off ebay for around $75 and haven't looked back.

They come up on ebay all the time for under $100.

In fact, here's the same one I have for $89 OBO with free shipping;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Com..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item3f2ca6ee51&vxp=mtr

 

[spookyjjj]

Yeah I just put on a New ADA with 35cc domes and my Harbor Freight only read 140 in each jug I'm at 3200 elevation in the mountains, I think I'll try a autozone to see if that changes. Made for a tossing and turning sleepless night wondering wtf lol

 

[High Speed Industries]

I had pretty good luck with my HF gauge until it died on Tuesday. It was pretty accurate, at least I think it was. I used it for 2 years and it because of something I did. I was buying a ski on Tuesday and I usually crank the motor over with the plugs out before I put my tester on it. That way I can see if there is any oil or water in the motor. I skipped that step and the oil in the motor killed my gauge. I believe the HF has a lifetime warranty so I'll go back and get a new one, but who knows how long the new one will last. I just need to make sure I get a Tuesday ,Wednesday, or Thursday gauge. Stuff that's made on Mondays and Fridays always breaks. lol

 

[Scraggly]

I HAVE USED THIS ONE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS. I THINK IT WAS AROUND 50 NEW FROM A PARTS STORE. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK A TESTER WITH COMPRESSED AIR SOME CAN EVEN BE CALIBRATED IF FOUND OFF.

 

[tomski]

Yeah I just put on a New ADA with 35cc domes and my Harbor Freight only read 140 in each jug I'm at 3200 elevation in the mountains, I think I'll try a autozone to see if that changes. Made for a tossing and turning sleepless night wondering wtf lol

You need smaller domes for that elevation. The seller or dealer for your new head should have discussed that with you.

I have a compression tester that I purchased from Sears 15 years ago. It matches every high dollar gauge I have tested it against.

 

[tor*p*do]

My HF compression tester is GTG.
I brought it to work and had the cal-lab check it and it was spot on

 

[SmittySX]

Harbor freight tester was junk..
My buddy bought one new from snap on and it also didn't work...
I got one from autozone and it's been fine and accurate.

 

[MattyIce26]

I love Harbor Freight, but I tend to stay away from anything really valuable, (drills, saws, anything with power really) I was thinking about picking up one of these but now I'm not so sure

 

[CRJ]

simple rule. if it says harbor freight, or its from china, its .

its black and white, with no grey area. yes... there are the few exceptions that will last for a little while.

spend the money, but tools that last.