We've all sat under our rigs with either a squirt bottle or a cheap vatozone hand pump filling the tcase or diffs. You'll all agree it's not fun. Here's my solution to the problem.
My new Motive power bleeder gave me the idea. Motive actually offers a version of their system for gear oil, but at a cost $90 and a long lead time I decided I could build something just as effective.
Here's what you'll need to build your own Trail Toys Power Fill.
Here's what you'll do once you have all your parts in hand.
One thing to note; If you fill the tank nearly full you will not have a large volume of compressed air in the tank. That will result in the pressure bleeding off before you've filled your diff. I suggest to fill the tank about half full only.
Here are a few pictures of the Trail Toys Power Fill in action.
If you have any questions please let me know.
Nathan
My new Motive power bleeder gave me the idea. Motive actually offers a version of their system for gear oil, but at a cost $90 and a long lead time I decided I could build something just as effective.
Here's what you'll need to build your own Trail Toys Power Fill.
- Some sort of pump up sprayer. I chose the smallest volume sprayer I could find, which turned out to be one gallon. You can pick one up at your local hardware store, or buy straight from Amazon for a mere $13.00. (This is the pump I bought from Amazon)
- 1/4" Ball valve. You have to have a valve inline to be able to store the pressure you're putting into the tank. (Ball valve on Amazon-$5.00)
- 1/4" Barbed fittings. Be sure to buy the correct fittings. If you have a female/female valve like I used you'll need male fittings. (Barbed fittings on amazon)
- 1/4" ID clear tubing. To complete the kit you'll need a length of 1/4" ID clear tubing on the end of the ball valve. I chose to make mine about two feet long. That allows the ball valve to sit on the ground and not pull the tube out of the diff. The final length will vary based on your needs.
- Thread sealer - Teflon tape or liquid sealant, your choice.
Here's what you'll do once you have all your parts in hand.
- Assemble your ball valve. Apply thread sealant to the the male threads on both of the barbed fittings. Screw them into the ball valve till snug.
- Assemble your new pump up sprayer per the included instructions.
- Remove the intake screen on the dip tube as it could restrict the flow of the thicker gear oil. The filter was a slotted tube on my model pump up sprayer.
- Attach the sprayer tube to the fitting on the tank.
- You will be cutting the end of the sprayer tube just before the fitting that attaches to the sprayer wand. You will not need the wand, so it can be tossed.
- You're now ready to attach your ball valve. Press one end of the valves barbed fitting into the hose leading from the tank. Then attach your clear tubing to the other end of the valve. I chose to put a hose clamp on each barbed fitting to prevent the tubes from blowing off under pressure.
- That's it! You've successfully built your very own Trail Toys Power Fill!
One thing to note; If you fill the tank nearly full you will not have a large volume of compressed air in the tank. That will result in the pressure bleeding off before you've filled your diff. I suggest to fill the tank about half full only.
Here are a few pictures of the Trail Toys Power Fill in action.
If you have any questions please let me know.
Nathan
