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Feb 2001

Before I was converted to diesel, I used to use an engine pump (one cylinder of you engine is the air compressor, you remove one spark plug and screw the hose/air inlet valve fitting into the spark plug hole - I haven't seen one of those for years).   The air pressure and volume was unbeatable but, of course, no good with a diesel engine.

Since then, I had been relying on a dodgy little 12V pump that I just knew was going to pack it in next time I used it.
 
So at a recent caravan and 4x4 show I came across a pump selling for between $199 and $299, depending on vendor.   The pump, called a Hurricane 3, is shown on the right.   Country of manufacture - unknown.

It looked the part, has a 2 year warranty, is sold by well known reputable suppliers, so after a short haggle I took a chance and parted with $175.

A quick peek inside revealed a die cast alloy piston / conrod assembly running on a sealed ball bearing coupled directly to the motor shaft and with a Teflon piston ring on the "wobble" piston running in a hard anodised extruded aluminium bore which is surrounded by a separate finned alloy casing.

The incoming air passes through a small foam filter which is not as easy to clean as it could be but that shouldn't be a problem if it is used as a portable unit and permanently mounted in a tool/fishing box (rather than as a permanent fixture in a dusty engine bay).

Aesthetically a couple of  corners have been cut compared with pumps selling at double the price, but nothing that would affect its operation or durability.    It appears to be quite solid and well constructed and considerably better than the purchase price would would suggest which would explain why some vendors as asking for and getting up to $300.

The motor draws exactly what is claimed, a maximum of 15A @ 12V, and has a self resetting over temperature cutout.

Performance data from the suppliers giving air volume Vs pressure shows this pump actually out performs a well known USA made pump selling here for around $400 and not too far behind another selling over $500.

It also marginally out performs the highly regarded and more expensive ABR pump (on extrapolated data supplied by both suppliers - 0.91 CFM @ 29 PSI Vs 0.84 CFM @ 29 PSI).

To get yourself out of trouble, a $25 tubeless tyre repair kit is a good investment and if you want to cover all possibilities, a good easy to use tyre bead breaker (such as the Aust made R&R Bead Breaker) should be high on your shopping list.

I have just come across a comparison test of 12V air compressors in a national 4x4 magazine.   Besides giving the advertised data, they actually put them to the test by inflating a 245/70/16 tyre from 20psi for one minute and measuring the pressure increase. 

The result for the Hurricane 3 is the figure I measured since their test did not include this brand.     I believe this is a good real world test.

If you want to read the complete article, it appeared in Overland 4WD Aug 2000 Pg 62-68.

March 07 

This info is completely outdated now but I will still include it since it still gets plenty of readers.  There is plenty to choose from now ranging from $80 from auto accessory stores like Repco, Super Cheap Auto etc and very similar in quality and construction to the Hurricane.

Pumps similar in appearance and performance to those you used to pay $500-600 five or six years ago are now available for $110, if you are concerned with durability, buy two, you will still be miles in front.  I recently saw a large double piston one for $139 that looked almost identical to one selling for $1300 a few years ago.

Feb 09

I recently bought a higher volume 12V/30A pump, 72 Lit (2.5 cu ft) / min for $122, on sale at Repco (was $199).  I am pleased with construction and performance (motor and big end all sealed ball bearing type).  

Identical pump is sold in at least three other auto shops, all with different names and all $189-$199.  It's more than double the size, weight and air output of my Hurricane (see updated tables above).

The motor/compressor itself also appears to be absolutely identical (in appearance and specifications) to a well known brand selling for almost $500 although for the extra $350+ you do get a trigger operated inflation control. 

See pix on my Tyre Pressure page.

The Hurricane still works perfectly and is a good backup - just in case.