Roger Davis

1) Do you know the weight or pressure to fill these to (either / both sizes) ?
2) Do you know a place that will fill them?
Thanks!

jtsk

iTrader: (3)

Subscribing because I need this information as well.

88I-ROC

I'm on the same boat, you guys figured it out??

Roger Davis

I guess this boat is adrift...

red rock

iTrader: (2)

I have one too, It's never been used, and quite frankly I'm not sure it will even work anymore. I'm thinking on getting a donut spare for less weight and convenience.

Roger Davis

I can verify that they will work even after 25 years of free rides in the spare tire compartment.

What is a Donut spare? How is it stowed? Does it match the diameter of the regular tires?

red rock

iTrader: (2)

You know, them little skinny spares they put in cars now days. Probably will be a Little smaller in diameter, but it will be lighter.

88I-ROC

I can vouch that its work even after 20 something years, in fact, it might be still usable for another use, but I don't want to take the risk and get stuck without something to inflate the tire with. I checked with the dealer, they know nothing about it. I checked few other places that have some sort of refill equipment but no luck.

Roger Davis

For those that have noting to inflate a tire, you can get one of those little pumps that plug into the lighter plug. Slow, but it does work...

88I-ROC

yea, thought about that, but I heard its reaaaaally slow. Too bad we can't find a place to refill the canister, it inflate the spare tire within seconds. I heard they discontinued it because people didn't know how to use it and blew the spare tire.

Roger Davis

Here's my understanding of how to do it:
1) Find commercial gas shops
2) Call them to make sure they do CO2
3) Find the correct weight and/or to have the canister when full (this is the hard part).
4) Take it to the shops until you find one that can fit it with their adapters
5) Fill it to the proper pressure or weight.

I have seen / heard the correct weight, but wasn't smart enough to write it in the manual - I just figured it would always be available...

There was a tool to weigh it, but I can't find anyone with the weight info.

Anyone...???

midnightfirews6

iTrader: (1)

I'd just grab a cheap electric pump for the time being and snag an unused on up from ebay or a part out on craigslist.
Someone needs to stockpile these from all the stripped out race cars and scrapyards and sell them. You could probably fund a few mods that way

Ron U.S.M.C.

Sorry OP,I don't have a answer to your question. It can serve the purpose it was intended for in a extremely dangerous situation,but as already mentioned, the "small" plug in compressor that I keep in the tire compartment is slower it has always been a nice feature.I aired up a donut spare in about 2 minutes.
By the way not to get to much farther off the subject, I have read somewhere on this site that if you have a posi./LSD like my Eaton posi. than that small diameter wheel could damage it because of the difference in rotation. Until I here otherwise I will have to resort to other means.Canister or not.(tire plugs,roadside assistance,etc.)

red rock

iTrader: (2)

What you said is true about the posi, but driving it a short distance to get a new tire or a tire repaired won't hurt it.

Roger Davis

Here's one way to solve the "how full is full" question.

If we can get a few people to weigh their unused cannisters, and post the weights, we can average them out and get an accurate weight for them. I think there are two different sizes, so please show the length of the MAIN part of the cannister, not valves, etc. This weight should be as accurate as possible, like to an ounce or two, or a tenth of a pound...

Like this :

X", X.x lbs.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Another point to ponder...
I ordered a 1LE aluminum spare for my Firebird...
I went to inflate it & the tire did not pop up round, it shot to one side and sorta made a bowl... & from what I hear, you can't get spare - spare tires.... So be sure your spare is worthy...

Rafael

Roger Davis

If I remember right, a thorough Google search will show some of these available - at least a year or two ago. I don't remember if they were new or used or both.

Try this search string : SPACE SAVER TIRE INFLATOR REFILL KIT to start...

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

You didnt have it full.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

Those canisters can be filled by your local Fire Extinguisher service Co.

Roger Davis

But when, at what weight, or at what pressure, do they STOP filling it?

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Just saw an ebay auction that listed it as 9oz, makes sense looks about the same size as a paintball CO2 tank.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Just found one with good pics, 9oz is stamped into it.

So fill until it weighs 9oz more than empty.

Roger Davis

It's good to know that info may be on the label. I'll check mine.

BUT there is more than one size - at least two sizes, maybe more. Do you have any idea how long the cylinder is? Diameter?

Thanks!

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

The one I just saw it on its not on the label, its stamped directly into the metal, have you inspected your canister ?

Mine are about a 45 min drive away or i'd check right now.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

I used mine in 2007 after a highway blowout. It took the entire canister to fill up the spare tire. It was sized perfect. It did fill it up rather quickly. The tire looks strange as it fills up. Like it's going to pop right off the wheel. But near the end, it sucks itself back down and looks like a traditional spare.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to get the canister filled since. GM dealership hadn't had a machine to refill it in 15 years. Discount Tire had never even seen a tire inflation system like our cars. I stopped by a paint ball gun place and they did do CO2, but their inflators had a different size hook up than what our cars have.

I don't think a donut spare will fit in our trunks. That's the reason for the de-flated spare in the first place. And those barely fit as is.

I keep a power pack in the trunk. They're slow as molasses for filling up tires. But they will do the job. Also doubles as battery boost and flashlight.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Ok so did you inspect it to find where the capacity is stamped into it ? I'm pretty sure its there if you look.

As far as the filling adaptor issue, if you really cant find someone with the correct hookup to fill it, go to someone with a machine shop setup, have them make you an adapter to something common enough to use, make it for a schrader valve, then use a bilstein shock fill adapter to take with you to whomever fills CO2 in your area.


Yes a donut will fit, most thirdgens got them, a lot also got the inflatable to keep the posi unit from unneeded wear/damage.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

You could also get one of the bicycle CO2 inflators, yes it would take a couple cartridges, but it'd do the job the same.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Nevermind that last idea, apparently it would take 10-11 25G cartridges to match the capacity, $60-70 to fill the spare, YIKES !

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Even better, http://www.lowes.com/pd_166441-61735...site=shopLocal

One of those, a paintball tank or two, voila, no trouble refills and the ability to have more Co2 on hand for the heck of it.

Roger Davis

OK, mine has the weight info on the label. 7.5 US ounces. It also has grams so I'm sure it's by weight. It's 9.75" long x 3" diameter (metal main body only). The below diagram gives the idea of measurement points, but I'm not sure of how well it will appear in the final message, and will probably be totally screwed if you look at this on a cell phone.

OK, had to put in ...'s instead of spaces. Pretend the ...'s aren't there.

...__________________________________________... __
...|..................................................................|
__|..................................................................|
|__ .................................................................| 3.0
...|..................................................................|
...|_________________________________________| __

...|........................... 9.75 ...............................|

I also have a larger one (I'm pretty sure it's about an inch or so longer, same diameter), but it would take too much work to get to it right now.

Maybe everyone who has one of these can:
1) Measure it as shown above
2) Check label (if present) or stamping (if no label)
3) Optional - if you want to peel the sleeve / label and compare the label and stamping to make sure they are the same, or not.

Ron U.S.M.C.

About to start a second page over a can of air. Just goes to show that there's no telling what threads will take off while others die.
Interesting info though.

Roger Davis

At least it's not just hot air. As it comes out of these things, it's COLD!

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

You must like waiting on the side of the road, or damaging a differential.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Here is my "filled" (actually over filled, 55 instead of 50 as stated on tire...

Notice how the rim sticks out past the rubber... I don't think that is correct...


Both in / outside of tire and rim...





I did get this info off of it... I'll do some research...

Goodyear P195 75 14
TPC SPEX.303 MDKACUO 456

Rafael

Jbuchanan

Here's a pic of mine, never knew of them until I looked at mine.