tyre guage/deflators

[GQ Bear]

ok, what's your favourite tyre deflator/ gauge combination? I hate the staun deflators and am going to buy something better.

I've seen the ARB deflator in use and it seems pretty good. Any comments, feedback from users?

Hokey's mate, Neil had a good one on the weekend. Got it from Kmart he said. It's got a little bit that clips onto valve which is open so as soon as you clip it on it deflates. Then periodically snap the digital gauge to it and it gives an accurate digital reading (checked it against my vdo guage and it was accurate at 16psi). Anyone know what this is called, i haven't checked out Kmart yet.

Dr.Air setup? Seems similar to above but not as simple.

Any others?

I liked the Kmart jobbie because i've got mechanical beadlocks and it's sometimes a pITA to find a valve let alone screw a device on such as stauns and ARB deflator.

Thanks guys

[Gwagensteve]

ARB -

I have 2 sets of stauns,
I've run 2 valve stems with a big racecar gauge and a deflator
I've used VDO gauges....

I'd never use any of it again. the ARB deflator is the ticket. It's faster and less hassle than anything I've seen/used, including stauns. (oh, except Hummer CTIS )

I know some guys have found the gauges to be inaccurate. Maybe a confirmation check with a known good gauge is an idea.

Steve.

[Dee]

I've recently installed a compressor, and want an in-line guage in my inflation hose type setup, so i dont have to stop inflating, remove, check with seperate push-on guage, re-connect, keep inflating, etc etc...

Would be good if ARB had built something like this into the deflators...

[MightyMouse]

Dee, if your want to measure the actual tyre pressure whilst your actually inflating then your going to find it quite difficult. There's going to be a lower pressure on the tyre side of the connection due to restrictions in the valve etc.

In practice you do develop a certain feel for it - 3 on the gauge is about 30 in the tyre for example.

Deflating is the same story. The Paris Dakar works cars use a small computer controlled deflator thats based on time...

It checks initial prressure, reads desired pressure, calculates how long its going to take to make the change ( it is programmed with tyre data ) and then opens a solenoid. When its near it performs the final tuning..

Cool Huh ?

[T_Diesel]

Would be good if ARB had built something like this into the deflators...

There is an inline guage in the ARB deflator.

ARB one is the ducks nuts. Drops the pressures quickly and efficiently. From memory it's only about $50 or $60 aswell.

Problem I found with stauns was you never knew what pressure they were set to and they had a habbit of changing quite easily.

[Emo]

The trick I found with Stauns is that once you have set them, paint a bit of nail varnish or something similar on them that will stop them moving. I've had no problems with mine since I did that.

[Dee]

Would be good if ARB had built something like this into the deflators...

There is an inline guage in the ARB deflator.

sold!

i asked the sales douche, he said there wasnt...

mightymouse, didnt mean so much as WHILE inflating, more as a way to check pressures by just stopping the inflation process... rather than swapping hoses to guages etc...

[T_Diesel]

Would be good if ARB had built something like this into the deflators...

There is an inline guage in the ARB deflator.

sold!

i asked the sales douche, he said there wasnt...

Great to see another ARB salesman with fantastic product knowledge!!

[Dee]

Would be good if ARB had built something like this into the deflators...

There is an inline guage in the ARB deflator.

sold!

i asked the sales douche, he said there wasnt...

Great to see another ARB salesman with fantastic product knowledge!!

just to check, but you mean you can hook up the inflation kit hose to the deflator & use it as an inline guage when INflating, without disconnecting?

[Gwagensteve]

No, the deflator is for deflating.

There's two ways to do what you want. Use an inflator with a trigger, gauge and clip on chuck.

Hold the trigger down to inflate.

Release trigger to show pressure in tyre.

OR

Run two valvestems on your rims, and use a clip on chuck on the tyre gauge.

I run 2 stems on my Gwagen rims, but with the ARB deflator and a trigger inflator, there's really no need.

Steve.

[T_Diesel]

This is the same as the ARB one.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic150716.php

[bogged]

Im happily using the TJM/ARB Twig off the ground, available free almost anywhere

or each valve cp I have is a valve core remover, I usually remove the core, and let air otu for 20secs, then check and do manully

[80's_delirious]

I'll vote for the ARB Ez deflator. about $50

Its easy to use and quick, with a bit of use you get a feel for how long it takes to drop pressures and its instantaneous when you want to stop and check pressures as you air down.

[80's_delirious]

Im happily using the TJM/ARB Twig off the ground, available free almost anywhere

the ARB twig model not quite as quick as there Ez deflator model, and its a biatch when it gets jammed in the valve

[Gwagensteve]

Im happily using the TJM/ARB Twig off the ground, available free almost anywhere

the ARB twig model not quite as quick as there Ez deflator model, and its a biatch when it gets jammed in the valve

Yep, I've had lots of problems with crap getting in the valves from doing this.

Steve.

[bogged]

Im happily using the TJM/ARB Twig off the ground, available free almost anywhere

the ARB twig model not quite as quick as there Ez deflator model, and its a biatch when it gets jammed in the valve

Yep, I've had lots of problems with crap getting in the valves from doing this.

Steve.

Thats where the valve core removing cap comes in to its own

[A.J.]

I still use the valve remover and count down the seconds..... BUT one night on a night run I dropped the valve in the dirt and couldnt find it..... So I had to hold the stem shut with my thumb whilst my mate was frantically searching the dirt for my valve haha

BTW I just wanted to buy that deflator in the for sale section, allready sold

[-Scott-]

I use Stauns, and find their deflation pressure is a bit hit and miss. I might try the nail varnish trick, although I've been thinking about a strip & clean - anybody tried this? Also agree that they're a little slow, but I don't always wait to air down to 18psi, and stop them around 24 instead.

OT: For inflation, I took advantage of some friendly sales reps and built an electronic controlled inflation system around my ARB compressor.

Uses an electronic pressure switch from SMC and a solenoid valve. Dial up the desired pressure and wait for the compressor to cut out. In practice, I have to set two pressures about 2psi apart - one, the desire pressure, and the other the "cut-out" pressure. When it's inflating the pressure at the sensor is several psi above tyre pressure, so the system cuts off the flow and waits for the pressure to stabilise - if it drops below target pressure, it opens up again.

Because I have the tank on the ARB the compressor keeps running while the flow stops, so the compressor isn't switching on and off. In practice, the solenoid switches a lot, but the compressor doesn't.

I'm quite happy with the result, although I'm thinking about upgrading to the new ARB compressor. The current (old) compressor was OK for 31" tyres, but a little slow for 33s.

[TheOtherLeft]

OT: For inflation, I took advantage of some friendly sales reps and built an electronic controlled inflation system around my ARB compressor.

Uses an electronic pressure switch from SMC and a solenoid valve. Dial up the desired pressure and wait for the compressor to cut out. In practice, I have to set two pressures about 2psi apart - one, the desire pressure, and the other the "cut-out" pressure. When it's inflating the pressure at the sensor is several psi above tyre pressure, so the system cuts off the flow and waits for the pressure to stabilise - if it drops below target pressure, it opens up again.

Because I have the tank on the ARB the compressor keeps running while the flow stops, so the compressor isn't switching on and off. In practice, the solenoid switches a lot, but the compressor doesn't.

I'm quite happy with the result, although I'm thinking about upgrading to the new ARB compressor. The current (old) compressor was OK for 31" tyres, but a little slow for 33s.

Scott, that's a fantastic concept you've got there. I was thinking about doing the same thing a long time ago but threw it into the too hard basket and moved onto something else. I have the older style ARB compressor also.

Do you have pics of the setup? Do you have part numbers also.

[bogged]

I still use the valve remover and count down the seconds..... BUT one night on a night run I dropped the valve in the dirt and couldnt find it..... So I had to hold the stem shut with my thumb whilst my mate was frantically searching the dirt for my valve haha

BTW I just wanted to buy that deflator in the for sale section, allready sold

yea havent had that happen - YET.. but I have 4 spare valve cores in the tool box anyway

[Thylacine]

Uses an electronic pressure switch from SMC and a solenoid valve. Dial up the desired pressure and wait for the compressor to cut out. In practice, I have to set two pressures about 2psi apart - one, the desire pressure, and the other the "cut-out" pressure. When it's inflating the pressure at the sensor is several psi above tyre pressure, so the system cuts off the flow and waits for the pressure to stabilise - if it drops below target pressure, it opens up again.

Because I have the tank on the ARB the compressor keeps running while the flow stops, so the compressor isn't switching on and off. In practice, the solenoid switches a lot, but the compressor doesn't.

I'm quite happy with the result, although I'm thinking about upgrading to the new ARB compressor. The current (old) compressor was OK for 31" tyres, but a little slow for 33s.

Simpler/cheaper way (although not as flash as having digital settings) would be to install a small adjustable regulator with guage.


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