Harbor Freight Tools?

[p5200]

Anyone used their compression testers with good results? I realize, they are not high quality tools just don't want to invest a lot into tools that won't be used a lot. Thanks!

[bco20]

never had a problem with any tool from harbor freight  as you stated if its not a tool you will be using everyday to make a living they are great   great prices bulky sometimes but decent quality and most hand tools are lifetime warentied

[Gwbarm]

Iv never had a problem with their tool either, not great, but they always work, I have never broken one, I never liked their Drillmaster series of drills, but they always worked, they have a new line now that seems better made,  not very cheap. I do really like their jacks probably the best iv ever used. Us General, tool carts, I have also been very impressed with. I have several of their torque wrenches very good, the only problem hard to read the little numbers, I have one of the old style with the pointer that I use when I can't find my glasses.

[kp3004x4]

Yes their tools are some quality just enough to get you by or you could get a better quality one at estate sales garage sales. Or ebay , Amazon,most likely about the same price or cheaper than . I have a lot of tools Wich I have acquired threw such channels as these. 

[Oldguy]

I have one of their compression testers and it would not go over 150 psi. I replaced the gauge with a Snap-On gauge head and now it works fine. Note that most Honda small bore engines should have 180 psi normal compression with a service limit of 150 psi. The fittings and hoses are excellent, but mine didn't have threads at the end of the different hoses for a Shrader valve, so I tapped the hose end and fitted them. 

[Gwbarm]

I had one of their testers go bad also, never was very good I don't think it was very accurate, but what happened to it was after a while it wouldn't hold pressure.

[Oldguy]

Over the years I have found that most compression gauges are of poor quality. I don't mean the Snap-On or Mac gauges, but the ones you buy from the auto parts store or HF. In my case I spent more on a good gauge head from Snap-On then I did for the complete tester set from HF, but as I said in my earlier post, IT WOULD NOT READ OVER 150 PSI

[Gwbarm]

 I replaces my harbour freight one with one I got off amazon, not even sure which Chinese brand it was.How much discrepancy was there between the Snap on and the harbor freight one.

[Oldguy]

I tested the original HF compression gauge on a GL1800 and got 150 psi. That bike is rated at 200 psi. So, it was 50 psi lower then actual compression. That's more then I want to see.

[Mech]

Accuracy isn't so important. We can tell a lot about the condition of the motor by how fast the pressure comes up as we wind it over, and whether it improves with a bit of oil down the bore.

Another tool that's just as useful is a good vacuum gauge. My gauge is big and old and made of brass.. It came form a dairy/milking shed... If you're looking for a vacuum gauge.. dairy shed supply places would be the place to look.

[Gwbarm]

I replaced mine because it wouldn't hold pressure anymore, as soon as I finished rolling the engine over it went back to zero, I could have repaired it, but wasn't really that interested and had had it a long time. I haven't used a vacuum gauge much what do you hook it up to.

[Mech]

The leak down of the compression tester might just be the shraeder(sp) valve.. 

You connect a vacuum gauge to the inlet manifold. It tells you pretty much as much as a compression test, and a bit more. We check the idle vacuum, the light throttle vacuum, take note if it's steady or fluctuating, One a multi cylinder it is a bit more accurate and simple to read, but on a single cylinder we clamp or restrict the hose so it doesn't fluctuate all the time because of the single pulsing vacuum.. Good compression has about sixteen inches of vacuum minimum, less and there's an inlet leak or low compression, but when we give it a bit of throttle the leak becomes insignificant and so the vacuum should come up to a normal revving engine vacuum of about nineteen inches of vacuum, if it's still low at a few revs then it's compression. If it's got a tight inlet valve then they get real fluctuaty.. fit to break your gauge..haha..

[joelhofer]

What’s the minimum compression you would pass on a bike going through your repair shop if everything else is in good shape? I’m talking older engines here

[Gwbarm]

2 stroke or 4 stroke.

[jb68]

Ive had a HF one for a couple years and its worked great.