Truck Driving Jobs

allan5oh · #1 01-11-2009, 06:38 PM

I have a 1/8 line in my dash that is capped off, for suspension air pressure. In order to add the gauge, I'd have to buy a whole cluster. Not only that, the gauge is very small and hard to, excuse the pun, "gauge".

I was thinking instead of using a tire schrader valve some how, and using the ole trusty tire gauge. This will be far more accurate then ANY gauge.

Any ideas how to mate the two together?

Kranky · #2 01-11-2009, 08:41 PM

Just go to an auto parts store, have them look up "mechanical pressure gauges", order one with at least a 150PSI range, and connect it to that line using the appropriate fittings.

You can either use a single gauge mounting bracket to mount the gauge on or under your dashboard, or get a 2" hole saw and pop a hole in the instrument panel and install the gauge there.

If you would rather put the Schrader valve on there, just get the necessary fittings to connect it to the air line, and maybe an extra length of line and a compression coupling so you can extend it to a convenient location.

allan5oh · #3 01-11-2009, 09:11 PM

There's no room for a gauge, that's why I want a valve. Hide it underneath. There is more then enough slack, probably an extra 2 feet of it.

Shnerdly · #4 01-12-2009, 02:26 AM

I would find somewhere to install a regular guage myself but if the schrader valve is the way you want to go, most any hardware store would have a schrader with an 1/8 inch pipe thread on the other end. This could be coupled to the plastic line with a pipe nipple and a compression fitting. I think you'll find the line to the suspension is 1/4 inch though or at least it has been on all of the trucks I've worked on.

Larry227 · #5 01-12-2009, 08:26 AM

I wouldn't consider a trusty old tire gauge accurate unless it was regularly checked against a calibrated master gauge. I've seen brand new ones off by 10lbs or more. The older they get and the more they get knocked around the less accurate they can become. Not implying that yours is off, just stating what I've noticed after working for years in a shop where we had to test our tire gauges every week.
We maintain several trucks that have their gauge mounted behind the cab. All you really need to do is tee into the line going to one of the air bags. That may not be an option for you but just something to consider.

allan5oh · #6 01-13-2009, 12:38 AM

Larry I do not care about accuracy, just repeatability. I don't think they change much. I could be wrong, have been before!

The other poster is correct, it was 1/4" line. I grabbed both fittings just in case. Thanks for the help. I'll update in a few weeks.

What would be a nice, is a digital gauge down to the tenth of a psi....

bob h · #7 01-14-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan5oh

There's no room for a gauge, that's why I want a valve. Hide it underneath. There is more then enough slack, probably an extra 2 feet of it.

Just connect it to your secondary RES pressure gauge ; )

...i'm gonna just install a "parts shelf" air pressure needle-type gauge if it were me.......... there's always room for a gauge; but, maybe not where you would prefer to have it. I'd dump the tire pressure gauge idea... sorry.

allan5oh · #8 01-15-2009, 01:59 AM

Bob it worked out better then I expected. There's NO room for a gauge, but locally they have em for sale for $20. The same ones you see on the back of trailers. You can tell within .5 psi.

But anyways, it does work quite well. I have it hidden in the dash, but there's a door behind the gauge cluster that I open and it's right there.