Valve spring testers

[benno318]

I had a little mishap the other day, was testing some springs and was distracted by someone at the wrong time and put a bit much pressure on the tester, the spring coil bound and i wasnt paying attention due to being talked to, the gauge maxed out and the gauge didnt return to zero.

my tester would be a fair bit older than i am, it is an old repco-warren and brown (australian made) and when i took my shop over it was not working so i put in a new o-ring, new hydraulic oil and bled it, reset zero and its been within 10# or so for the past 7-odd years i have had my shop. now it seems the gauge does not read correctly even if i reset the zero.

never been happy with the height gauge, its a rolling readout like an old 20's vintage car speedo, so if you move your head slightly or stand at a slightly different height to the last test the reading varies a LOT. i always used digital verniers with it.

so i am here asking for recommendations as to what people here are happy with - tempted to go digital pressure and height readout (assuming these are all battery powered??) but also tempted to stick with old school rimac style simplicity, too. those things seem very scarce and sought after, and hence still command good $$...

would gladly be open to any good second hand units. being in australia i do need to figure shipping into the picture also.

thanks in advance,
ben

[blykins]

Intercomp.....

[user-17438]

Intercomp.....

X2

[engineguyBill]

Good old-fashion Rimac is what I use, with dial indicator set-up for height measurement. Simple and they never let me down ( I have two of them, 500# and 1000# models). Check with Ferris Shop Equipment, as they often have used unit that they have checked out and verify their accuracy.

[Charliesauto]

Buxton Engineering valve spring testers are in lots of NASCAR shops, cost about $1600. Nicest thing I have seen yet.

[Flinch]

Bourdon tubes, once sprung past full scale, are not to be trusted ever again. Replace the gauge, keep the tester.