portable air ... revisited

[jeffryscott]

The trusty (for some) Masterflow 1050 died on me after extremely limited use (like filling up 10 tires, maybe 15). It now lets air out, not sure why.

Anyway, looking to maybe take a bit of a step up in perceived quality/reliability, but funds are limited. I could get another Masterflow for $50 at Costco, or am thinking of trying this Viair (looks nearly identical, so don't know about quality) ... http://www.viaircorp.com/90p.html

Does anybody know about the aforementioned Viair, or what are the other options people are using?

(One thing I'm curious about are these, or something similar: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...yZ33585QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIteml these aren't necessarily portable, but I want built in and can plumb a line to a convenient location.)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Tucson T4R]

Now you tell me! I just bought one of those Master Flow 1052s at Costco today. I says it has 3 year warranty so you should be able to take it back. I'm hoping mine lasts longer than your experience.

I thought about upgrading to the $300 compressors or maybe a CO2 set up but i just couldn't justify the expense for my use.

 

[jeffryscott]

Now you tell me! I just bought one of those Master Flow 1052s at Costco today. I says it has 3 year warranty so you should be able to take it back. I'm hoping mine lasts longer than your experience.

I thought about upgrading to the $300 compressors or maybe a CO2 set up but i just couldn't justify the expense for my use.

Aah, with a 3-year warranty from Costco, that may change my mind. I got mine from Pep-Boys and there is no way I have the receipt. Maybe I'll just get the Costco version and have spare parts with mine. Thanks.

 

[flyingwil]

I had issues with my MF compressor too, but I did get two years worth of use out of it. I have since switched to an Extremeaire and will never look back. After trying both Viair, and Quickair's the Extremeaire wins hands down IMO..

Parks has a good review on the compressors here: http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/inflatortest/inflatormain.htm

 

[sidewys xj]

I have had my MF for about two years and have aired up about 400 tires and still going strong. just this last weekend my buddys york quit him and I had to air three other rigs all with 35s and 33s its not the fastist thing in the world but it finely shut down on me when I only had had two tires left. At first I thought for shue I burnt it up but then I rememberd the 30 min run time just when we got ready to go she fired back up to finish the job it gets my vote I could buy 10 master flow compressers to one Extreme Air thats just my thought

Luke

 

[RunninRubicon]

I had issues with my MF compressor too, but I did get two years worth of use out of it. I have since switched to an Extremeaire and will never look back. After trying both Viair, and Quickair's the Extremeaire wins hands down IMO..

Parks has a good review on the compressors here: http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/inflatortest/inflatormain.htm

Great website! Neat to see the data outcomes, for sure.
It's just a suggestion but this is what I did. I purchased a 20# aluminum CO2 tank from a web-site that specializes in balloons for $118.85. bought a regulator from WalMart $30. and the air hoses and nozzles/chucks for $20.
I got my CO2 from a local beverage company till they got tired of filling "little bottles" and now get it from a fire-extinguisher company. One 20# tank fills 40-50 tires. (33x12.50x15 tires).
I love the fact that the longer you fill tires the colder the air-hose gets! Adds bubbles to my grape-juice to make champaine

 

[Willman]

I had issues with my MF compressor too, but I did get two years worth of use out of it. I have since switched to an Extremeaire and will never look back. After trying both Viair, and Quickair's the Extremeaire wins hands down IMO..

Parks has a good review on the compressors here: http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/inflatortest/inflatormain.htm

Ditto on the MF!!!! mine too has died as well! I too have gone to the ExtremeAire as well and tied it to my 4 gallon bumper tank.......boy does that baby fly!

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

Now you tell me! I just bought one of those Master Flow 1052s at Costco today. I says it has 3 year warranty so you should be able to take it back. I'm hoping mine lasts longer than your experience.

I thought about upgrading to the $300 compressors or maybe a CO2 set up but i just couldn't justify the expense for my use.

I have used mine for more then 8 times, 32 tires 33", and no problems yet!:wings:

I would not worry about the short life, you could upgrade later on if you feel the need!:chowtime:

 

[jeffryscott]

Ditto on the MF!!!! mine too has died as well! I too have gone to the ExtremeAire as well and tied it to my 4 gallon bumper tank.......boy does that baby fly!

So what would a useable size airtank be? I've seen them as small as .5 gallons, but don't really know how to figure out how much air a tire would take (33-inch, from about 20 psi to 36).

 

[Desertdude]

So what would a useable size airtank be? I've seen them as small as .5 gallons, but don't really know how to figure out how much air a tire would take (33-inch, from about 20 psi to 36).

you can use the Extremeaire without a tank with a blow by tire filler sold on the site (I still do right now) it will take a bit longer to fill at 4 cfm - I plan to install a 2-3 gal tank at some point to hold a reserve.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

A motorcycle friend of mine owns a fire extinguisher company. I'm thinking about talking with him about possibly selling cheaper alternative C02 tank setups. I'm going in the next month or so to see about said setup.

 

[Desertdude]

fyi; The fire extinguisher place about 45 mins from where I live charges 28.00 for 20 lbs - after a few trips there and back, it adds up to a compressor real fast

 

[CodyLX450]

You sure you didnt just mess up the setting on the end of the hose that connects to the valve stem?

If you turn the black plastic piece a certain direction it will be set to deflate, rather than inflate the tire.

Its pretty easy to move that piece up or down, and turn right or left which changes how it functions.

 

[crawler#976]

I've been very pleased with my Viair 400P. It's fast, portable, and flows 2.56 CFM at no load, and still puts out 2.0 CFM at 30 PSI. Thats double what the small ExtremeAir Jr. does at a similar price. Obviously it can't compete with the larger ExtremAir products, but for it's price it's a very effective compressor.

Mark

 

[jeffryscott]

You sure you didnt just mess up the setting on the end of the hose that connects to the valve stem?

If you turn the black plastic piece a certain direction it will be set to deflate, rather than inflate the tire.

Its pretty easy to move that piece up or down, and turn right or left which changes how it functions.

Thanks, I've thought about that, then forgot. I'll check it this a.m.