Compression Tester at Harbor Freight (HF)
 

HF has an engine compression tester on special until 10 JUL 06 for $17.99.

It has adapters that go in the injector hole for older MB engines and in the GP hole for newer MB engines. It also has adapters for many different make Diesel engines.

The whole kit comes in a durable plastic case. Made in China of course.

Here's your chance to get a compression tester at a reasonable price.

P E H

Quality?!
 

Right, but is it an accurate tool?! Generally don't like things made in China - poor quality being only one of the things I dislike about them... Would be interested in results from some who used it... Also, what's the price for the closest non-Chinese competion?!

Just picked one up this afternoon and it's actually a pretty nice setup. Believe me, I don't typically pick up the cheap overseas junk and my roll cabs are all stocked Snap-On and Craftsman. But for something to just use myself it'll give good comparative information for determining general engine health or diagnosis.

You can't touch it for less than $20! :D

Plus they've got 100-count nitrile gloves for $7.99 in sized (M, L, XL) boxes too.

It's a lot better than nothing. At this stage I am not wild about chinese quality in general either. I suspect it is simular to japanese quality when they first entered world markets. A few years from now chinese quality might be good. Then you will really pay. But for occasional use what the heck it's a throwaway price. A member grabbed one for me some time ago as I could not resolve shipping to canada in a satisfactory fashion with them. That gesture was appreciated. I also believe the catalogue price is a few dollars cheaper. If you want to check the archives. Hudson's sells or was selling the same thing for 9.95 I believe. This compression checker is probably just fine for light duty use.:) Diesel compression checkers have not been historically really cheap mind the adapters this one has. Even the box is pretty decent everything considered.

I have had mixed results from Harbor Freight...

but I thought I would share a good report.... I had already seen this site ...

http://www.drusshop.com/shop/bandsaw.php

When HF put that same four speed bandsaw on sale.. usual $325 for $260...
I jumped on it... it was a pain to put together because I can't get my hands into small spaces... but once I got it bolted together I put the blade on it... and it tracked straight out of the box... all I had to do was tighten... which really surprised me... it runs like a charm ...and the cost was WAY under anything else that size...14 inch...
I did take the guy's advice and put the linkbelt on. I used to think linkbelts were for people who did not know how to measure the length belt they needed... but this thing does take out all vibration from the pulley area...

The two stone grinder , one a right angle water wheel was underpowered and had no grease in the right angle mechanism.... had to take it apart to find that after substituting the logical item when it would not start..only buzzed..the electrolytic capacitor.. which of course did no help...

Not too bad....
 

Bought one of these a month or two ago. It's o.k. On the third use, the gauge died. They gave me a new kit, and the little adaptor that threads into the adaptor that threads into the head had a bad check-valve. I give it a five.

Jay.

While we don't know it's absolute accuracy.. lets keep in mind that the Relative compression between the cylinders is a more important figure....as long as the car starts...

MercFan,

I agre with Leather that relative compression between cylinders is more important that absolute redings.

For something that I will use only a few times, the HL compression will do fine as long as it works OK.

P E H

I too suspected the gauge might be the weak point. But fluid filled gauges are quite inexpensive now. So if it even required a new gauge it would still all in all be pretty inexpensive. Thats if the company did not give you a replacement. Again it was purchased for occasional use by me. Another source is perhaps ebay for a name item either used or new. At times quite reasonable but luck of the draw kind of thing. Also with ebay it should almost always be buyer beware to some extent. Today I realise how lucky I was in my deals there in the past. I do not push my luck anymore.

Good...
 

I see - good to know. Is there a link on how to perform the compression test procedure?