Pros and Cons Harbor Freight Vacuum pump - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

leathermang · #1 08-22-2009, 01:23 PM

All comments appreciated... I am not in the business... I just have two or three cars to do....

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66466

Thanks,
Greg

whunter · #2 08-22-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

All comments appreciated... I am not in the business... I just have two or three cars to do....

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66466

Thanks,
Greg

It is OK for the price.
My experience with these cheap units = The durability (working life) is generally between 1000 and 3000 hours, then scrap it.
For the average DIY person, it should last ten plus years.
A professional mechanic in Florida will be replacing it in six months or less.

Matt L · #3 08-22-2009, 02:44 PM

The biggest con is the small oil sump. That means that you need to change the oil much more often. My little MC 1/3HP 2-stage 5CMF pump holds about 8oz of oil, and that is good for an hour or two of operation only. The last time I used it, I changed the oil in the middle of the job (shutting down the pump during the operation) because it was getting contaminated.

leathermang · #4 08-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Ok, thanks guys..... that is sorta funny that you consider 1000 plus hours as ' cheap'...LOL
it will last me 5 decades if it will do that...

I will be changing the oil for each event.. ( we are only talking a couple of cars )... and would have no problem changing the oil four times in one vacuum procedure if needed... otherwise I will just sit around and admire it... i will put it next to my Nitrogen tank...LOL

Have wanted one a long time... just did not have a really pressing need for it... now that the 95 Lincoln is spewing its guts out the front of the compressor I have an excuse to get one... LOL

What I noticed yall did not complain about was its ability to pull a vacuum... which is for me the only real important criteria... since I have all the time in the world to deal with these cars here on the farm... and have backup vehicles too....

Thanks for your input... I just got back from getting it.... so I will report if it does not seem to be worth the $150 ( I got it for less because they were out and it was the floor model ...but their phone was out when I tried to reach them before starting that way...I also got the 1000 lb scissor hydraulic cart... $50 off now... which really helps get stuff off the back of the pickup truck safely... later, Greg

Scott98 · #5 08-22-2009, 05:27 PM

Greg,

Just curious but you can get a quality Mastercool pump for $134.95 - less than the HF pump. I actually have this one. Its perfect for DIY. Why go with HF?

https://www.ackits.com/pc/90059/Vacuumpump/90059+-+Mastercool+Economy+1.5+CFM+Single+Stage+Vacuum+Pump

Scott

pawoSD · #6 08-22-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott98

Greg,

Just curious but you can get a quality Mastercool pump for $134.95 - less than the HF pump. I actually have this one. Its perfect for DIY. Why go with HF?

https://www.ackits.com/pc/90059/Vacuumpump/90059+-+Mastercool+Economy+1.5+CFM+Single+Stage+Vacuum+Pump

Scott

The HF one has like over twice the specs of that one....and holds more oil....

leathermang · #7 08-22-2009, 05:42 PM

Scott... That one is a single stage.... this one two...and if they are not lying about the capacity it will go to a lower micron number....
But I do appreciate the reference...
I do prefer Matercool.... but I have not seem a comparable one close to this price...

whunter · #8 08-24-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Ok, thanks guys..... that is sorta funny that you consider 1000 plus hours as ' cheap'...LOL
it will last me 5 decades if it will do that...

I will be changing the oil for each event.. ( we are only talking a couple of cars )... and would have no problem changing the oil four times in one vacuum procedure if needed... otherwise I will just sit around and admire it... i will put it next to my Nitrogen tank...LOL

Have wanted one a long time... just did not have a really pressing need for it... now that the 95 Lincoln is spewing its guts out the front of the compressor I have an excuse to get one... LOL

What I noticed yall did not complain about was its ability to pull a vacuum... which is for me the only real important criteria... since I have all the time in the world to deal with these cars here on the farm... and have backup vehicles too....

Thanks for your input... I just got back from getting it.... so I will report if it does not seem to be worth the $150 ( I got it for less because they were out and it was the floor model ...but their phone was out when I tried to reach them before starting that way...I also got the 1000 lb scissor hydraulic cart... $50 off now... which really helps get stuff off the back of the pickup truck safely... later, Greg

I run up 500 hours per year on a 4 or 6 CFM automotive A/C vacuum pump here in Michigan.

A commercial/residential HVAC technician generally needs five vacuum pumps on his truck, and can easily run up 2000 hours on each pump per year.

With proper maintenance, a good commercial vacuum pump should last twenty years of 6000 hours per year = 120,000 hour durability life..

But, you pay for that quality, a nice 10 CFM unit is $1043.00 USD..

Here is a good quality unit at a nice price, and you can get repair parts from Robinair.

Robinair 15500 5 CFM Vacumaster Vacuum Pump HVAC NEW $172.50

http://cgi.ebay.com/Robinair-15500-5-CFM-Vacumaster-Vacuum-Pump-HVAC-NEW_W0QQitemZ380148547286QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090813?IMSfp=TL090813163003r19795
retail is around $400.00 USD..

Vacuum Pump Robinair 15600 6 CFM 2 stages $179.99

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vacuum-Pump-Robinair-15600-6-CFM-2-stages_W0QQitemZ140340428153QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20acf0fd79&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
retail is around $400.00 USD..

vacuum pump

http://business.shop.ebay.com/HVAC-/42909/i.html?_nkw=vacuum+pump

compu_85 · #9 08-24-2009, 12:55 PM

How do you know when its time to change the oil in a vac pump? Dump some out and see how nasty it looks?

-J

280EZRider · #10 08-24-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

It is OK for the price.
My experience with these cheap units = The durability (working life) is generally between 1000 and 3000 hours, then scrap it.
For the average DIY person, it should last ten plus years.
A professional mechanic in Florida will be replacing it in six months or less.

I'd like to know if your opinion is the same for their dial indicators - same DIY situation.

#11 08-24-2009, 02:38 PM

A dial indicator would be a different animal than a vacuum pump. A mechanical item such as a vacuum pump can have a MUCH shorter life if made of inferior materials with inferior machining processes.

With something like a dial indicator, if it is accurate from the get go, and only used for DIY work and handled with due care, it would probably be okay. That said, you have no way of testing its accuracy until AFTER you buy it.

For me, most of my mic's, dial indicators, snap gauges and such are either decent quality stuff that I bought new or at pawn shops, garage sales, etc. where I could check before buying.

For example I have an ANCIENT Starrett inside mic set in it's original wooden case that I bought at an Estate Sale for $15. They are accurate and GOLDEN. I can't imagine getting anything of this quality from somewhere like HF for ANY price.

barry123400 · #12 08-24-2009, 03:31 PM

Also have a quick look at ebay for vacuum pumps. Might be a vendor close to you. Those robinairs are a pump that is used for a lot of car air conditioning work. Plenty of them usually for sale. Should outlast the average car owner. Can be low in cost...Or if your use is really very seldom an old refrigerator compressor should meet your needs. They can be had free usually as well .

For my average need for a dial gauge the harbour freight type and magnetic stand also works well enough. In heavy use you will not have the hardened feeler ends or durability of far more expensive ones of course. I just have never found anything to complain about with it over the years at my occasional use level. A lot better than nothing at all as well.

leathermang · #13 08-24-2009, 06:14 PM

I have an Enco dial indicator and one from HF.... for $6 the HF one is big and nice to hold and easy to read........and I checked it when I got home with feeler gauges .. and could not tell any difference... I think the ends are hardened... but if you wanted 'harder' ones then I suspect that they will thread right onto the HF one...
What would be nice is to find a dial indicator which has the ' max ' travel indicator on it.. cheap.... one you could put in the right place on your suspension move it however you need to... then go look at what distance it traveled... ( remember I said cheap ).

#14 08-24-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

Also have a quick look at ebay for vacuum pumps. Might be a vendor close to you. Those robinairs are a pump that is used for a lot of car air conditioning work. Plenty of them usually for sale. Should outlast the average car owner. Can be low in cost...Or if your use is really very seldom an old refrigerator compressor should meet your needs. They can be had free usually as well .

For my average need for a dial gauge the harbour freight type and magnetic stand also works well enough. In heavy use you will not have the hardened feeler ends or durability of far more expensive ones of course. I just have never found anything to complain about with it over the years at my occasional use level. A lot better than nothing at all as well.

The only vacuum pump I had for a number of years was an old refrigerator compressor. It worked great. I got fancy with mine and brazed together a little frame with a handle at a point where it balanced well and was easy to care. I also brazed a 1/4" inverted flare on the suction side. What I didn't do was do something to seal the outlet when it wasn't in use and dirt dabber or some other critter ruined it. Had I put a 1/4" inverted flare on the outlet as well or some other fitting so that I could seal it, I would probably still be using it or have given it to someone who could have made use of it after I got my recycle machines.