Need hydraulic gauges.... which ones?

[Richard]

I need a 400, 2,000 and 3,000 PSI hydraulic test gauge.

Want fluid filled. I have read they use water, glycerine and one or two other fluids. I've read that the thicker the fluid, the longer it will take to reach its reading but, it will be more stable. (???)

I know NOTHING about these... can I go to Harbor Freight and buy some and call it done?

Do I need to spend some more? (I'm willing)

Are these like everything these days, made in China?? can I get some domestic gauges?

How's about a kit with all three??

So many questions, so little knowledge of these.

I need the 400 PSI gauge to mate to a 3/8 x 24 thread O-ring, not pipe thread fitting. I also need THAT fitting!! (fits into my PTO to test the pressure in the PTO test port)

Where to go...

 

[Agvg]

There are kits to buy, is the equipment you want to test fitted with std test nipple's?

 

[RickB]

Most gauges you will find readily available will have 1/4” npt male fittings. Have hoses made to reach away from the test ports to a place where the gauge can be easily read, and adapt to the port size and thread required.

 

[CADplans]

You will not be able to tell the difference between the 3000 and a 4000 gauge,,
get a 5000 and use that one gauge for all tests,,

if you need more accuracy, get a different gauge later,,
I have never seen a need for + or - 20 psi accuracy,,,

 

[RickB]

You will not be able to tell the difference between the 3000 and a 4000 gauge,,
get a 5000 and use that one gauge for all tests,,

if you need more accuracy, get a different gauge later,,
I have never seen a need for + or - 20 psi accuracy,,,

He needs two gauges, a 5000 psi and a 400-600 psi gauge. Using a 5000 psi gauge to troubleshoot a 400psi circuit won’t provide sufficient accuracy.

 

[Richard]

Evidently, the high side (of my PTO) might hit 350, so it was suggested a 400 would suffice and give the accuracy to dial it into its range of 235 PSI

(International 1066 preparing to have its PTO pulled and rebuilt)

 

[Richard]

What I was told was I need:

400 PSI for PTO
2,000 PSI for steering
3,000 PSI for rear hydraulics

 

[RickB]

We covered all this a month or two ago. Nothing has changed except using hoses to adapt the connections and get the gauges up to the operator’s position so you can see what the readings are in various operating modes.

 

[Richard]

What has changed is I've found gauges for $19.00 and the "same" gauge for over $400...

I know some folks might mark their products up.....and I know there are qualitative differences.... If you're offering to ante up for the more expensive gauge.... I'll sing Merry Christmas for you.... but since I don't know anything about them, I'm trying to get some education to avoid either blowing $400 or, buying a piece of trash for $19.00

If you know of a 'decent quality' gauge that would work.... wouldn't it be much easier to simply say "try gauges by Jones and/or Johnson??" and be done with it? After all, that is all I'm trying to extract.... some brands that are ok and not trash.

 

[Richard]

As a side note, since it's hard to get some names, I threw a dart and picked one (400 PSI) so unless it blows up on me, that part is covered.