I have been searching for an accurate low pressure tire gauge for use on my YTM225, as I get tired of fetching the factory gauge from my YFM350, and believe I have finally stumbled on one, at a reasonable price.
(I recently bought one on line that, while it is accurate, it is a tiny pencil type that does NOT hold its reading, disappointing.) What I found is a Tool Shop brand, ATV UTV Low Pressure Digital Tire Gauge, Model 8326, carded number seems to be 207-3407, Sold by Menards Department store, Menards SKU 2073407. It sells on line for $7.99, + $2.80 processing, + $2.60 standard shipping. I bought two of these, seem to be fashioned into a carabiner, with compass and light! The on-line text lists the range as 0 to 5.8 psi, but if you look close at the packaging picture, it seems to list the range as 0.5 to 8.0 psi ... either of which is fitting and proper. Now, I get to wait perhaps a week for it to arrive, and when I have tried it out, I shall amend this message with the results. Says on the package "guaranteed forever", by the way.
I suspect there are a bunch of you old timers that are already aware of this item, and may have used it for a decade, but I never found a thread mentioning it. I am quite new to this site, so fumble around a lot trying to find things!
Till Later,
John in Texas
I received the gauges, and checked seven tires (ranging from 1.5 psi to 3.8 psi), with both gauges reading exactly the same on every one. I then inflated several to 7.5 and 8 psi, using my 1999 Yamaha gauge furnished with my 350 Big Bear, and all were right on! I then pulled the valve core, deflating one mounted tire, reinstalled the core and both gauges read "less than 0.5", the lower end of the range. I chose not to stress them by trying a tire with 15 or 20 or 30 psi, as in my past experience, this can permanently render them useless, and/or undependable. The construction is robust, however the tiny 3/8" dia. compass is totally useless, one was dysfunctional on receipt, the other reversed, i.e. 180 degrees off polarity! I carry a 200 lumen LED light 24/7 so the light feature was of no interest, but might be handy checking tires in the dark. Curiously, the instructions for rearranging the included 3 button cells to initiate use was not applicable, as mine were already in proper orientation. One had a less-than-solid positive connection, so I used a sharp scribe to bend the contact, resulting in positive operation. All-in-all, I will appreciate the primary function of these, and recommend them to all, especially considering the very low cost. I have numerous digital auto tire gauges, each advertised with a range of 0 to 90 psi, and only one of them will respond to 3PSI, and then not every the time!
John in Texas
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