Check / Fix your BRP Pressure Gauge

[finless]

Hey folks, so I tried to use my supplied pressure gauge (comes in the tool bag under the seat) and found it to act weird and not reliable. Here were the symptoms I had.

1) If I held the gauge onto the valve stem the pressure reading would just keep climbing! e.g. when reading the front tire I would get 17.5 initial reading but as I held the gauge on the steam longer, it would keep climbing to like 37 PSI.

2) Comparing what it reads initially and comparing it to the very common "pen" style pressure gauge, it consistently read about 2-3 PSI less than the pen style gauge.

So something was up and I could not trust the gauge! I decided to take it apart and see what's up.

See the attached pictures.

I found the metal strap held on by 2 screws was not tight! This strap holds the pressure sensor inside the chamber and against the O-ring.
Additionally I found the rubber O-ring was displaced and not in the grove but instead tipped inside the pressure chamber.

Bottom line the pressure chamber was leaking air and thus causing the reading to be inaccurate and flakey operation.





Hope this helps someone,
Bob

[Chupaca]

haven't used the gauge as yet but will check it out...thanks for the post and solution..!!

[ARtraveler]

Very good information. Thank you. And this is supposed to keep our multi $K machine running safely?

[Bob Denman]

Bob
YOu are one FEARLESS uhhh...guy!
Now that you've got it back together;s it giving you accurate and repeatable reading?

[finless]

Yes it is working and matches my other pen style gauge. I would not have posted the fix unless it worked.

Bob

[Bob Denman]

You just knew that I had to ask...

[boborgera]

The Spyder was the only Trike/Bike I bought that came with a air gauge, First time I used it I realized it wasn't very accurate, So it stayed where it belonged in the back of my tool cabinet where the sun never reaches... I have 3 other gauges, And they all read different, So I throw out the low and high reading and use the middle one....

[finless]

Confucius says:
"Man with too many pressure gauges, never knows the tire pressure".




Bob

[Bob Denman]

I only use the BuRP gauge...
I've got two others, and since they never agree; I just pick and use one consistently for a vehicle. (As long as the tires don't seem to mind the choice!)

[jthornton]

Are any of the gauges you guys use repeatable enough to get the tire pressure difference between the front tires within 0.5 psig as stated in the manual?

I gave up trying to find a gauge with a hysteresis below 0.5 psig to balance the tire pressure and just fill them both at the same time now. Even if I'm off by 2 lbs at least the Spyder goes straight down the highway when both front tires are at the same pressure.

JT

[finless]

No.... I have 3 pen style gauges and as you state they are off by about .5 PSI. But at least I got my Spyder gauge to be in the same range as those! It was way off before I took it apart.

I think the tell tale sign if the gauge is not working right is if you hold it on the stem it keeps climbing up way past the correct pressure! This is due to the chamber leaking air around the rubber o-ring seal.

I think I am going to go pick up a quality expanded scale dial pressure gauge and just stick with that.

Bob

[Bob Denman]

John,
Tell us all a little bit more about your solution...

[jerpinoy]

This is one of the reason why I like this Forum and members like you.

[jthornton]

John,
Tell us all a little bit more about your solution...

Bob, after some research I found some quick disconnects that work on the Spyder valve stems. Actually that was the last thing I found... anyhow I got a cross and a schrader valve and a couple of hoses and a gauge. At first I had clip on air chucks but they would hang up on removal which means you lost whatever you gained by filling both tires at the same time. Then finally I found some air chucks that did not hang up when you removed them. On my rig I used a 0-30 psig gauge with a 4" dial (so I could see it without my glasses) for easy reading. This meant that I could not use 100 psig shop air to inflate the front tires with but that is no problem, I just use my bicycle tire pump. It only takes a few seconds to plug the rig in and a couple of pumps on the bicycle pump and I'm 18 psig on both tires. I made one for Cruzr Joe without the gauge so he could use shop air and a regular air gauge. On the one with the gauge you can see the clip on air chucks that I replaced with the quick connect chucks.

Dual Fill I 01.jpgDual Fill 05.jpg

JT

[jthornton]

No.... I have 3 pen style gauges and as you state they are off by about .5 PSI. But at least I got my Spyder gauge to be in the same range as those! It was way off before I took it apart.

I think the tell tale sign if the gauge is not working right is if you hold it on the stem it keeps climbing up way past the correct pressure! This is due to the chamber leaking air around the rubber o-ring seal.

I think I am going to go pick up a quality expanded scale dial pressure gauge and just stick with that.

Bob

I'll have to take another look at my Spyder gauge and see if I can fix it just for backup on the road. Mine was DOA.

JT

[Bob Denman]

Are you going to produce these for sale???
(I like the big gauge; for the same reason as you do! )

[dshogman]

Me too......... I would buy one just to get rid of the PITA factor of checking the tires.

[Bob Denman]

ohhh... you've still got to check them!

[jthornton]

Are you going to produce these for sale???
(I like the big gauge; for the same reason as you do! )

I have considered that Bob, if I get a hose crimping machine. Otherwise all the parts are off the shelf items and anyone with an adjustable wrench could build one.

JT

[finless]

anyone with an adjustable wrench could build one.

JT

You sure about that


I think some folks may not want to hassle with DIY and just buy the thing!

Bob

[stallion143]

Mine did not work when it was new...I guess I should take it to the dealer for a replacement...especially since it's only 3 months old!

[jthornton]

You sure about that


I think some folks may not want to hassle with DIY and just buy the thing!

Bob

I think your right actually, I just get caught up in my little bubble where I do/fix/make everything.

That explains why I made one for Cruzr Joe...

JT

[Bob Denman]

You sure about that


I think some folks may not want to hassle with DIY and just buy the thing!

Bob

You read my mind... which is about like reading a comic book!

John,
You let me know when the time is right...

[jthornton]

You read my mind... which is about like reading a comic book!

John,
You let me know when the time is right...

Ok, will do.

JT

[Bob Denman]

Thanks!
But does this count as a farkle, or a tool?