cooling system testers

[funkyfullwidth]

I've needed a cooling system tester for a while and I plan on buying one off the truck. I've been looking at the SVTS262 and the SVTS263A which are the standard and air powered cooling system testers. I like the idea of being able to aply shop air at a certain psi so you can walk around the vehicle without having to walk back and pump a few times. However, sometimes you find a need for a hand pump in other applications as well.

Does anybody have any experience with the air operated one ( the SVTS263A)? How well does it work? How is the regulator on it? I think i'm going to end up getting the air one, and then ordering the hand pump seperate at a later date.

[JoshuaG]

I have the air one. It is damn pricey. The regulator is sensitive, so you really need to have it backed all the way out to make sure you aren't gonna overpressurize and insta-pop something in the cooling system when you hook the air line up to it. It really comes in handy when you need to have a constant pressure on the cooling system to find a leak. I like it.

The regular hand pump one is handy when you're not near an air line, though.

[funkyfullwidth]

Ya I bit the bullet on the air one. It sure is sweet. I've used it a few times this week already. Out of the box It fit a 1992 cab over Mack truck and a 2006 chevy duramax. I liked the idea of constant adjustable pressure. And it has the shut off on it which is a very handy feature. Easy to read gauge. for the price difference it was well worth it. The manual version was 195 compared to 214 for the air. The pump by itself is 150 smackers... ouch.