Air and/or Water Pump Set-Up: $64.17

I never changed the tube that came with the pump. I bought a properly sized mare connector from Mc Master and Carr for under $2. I am now going on eight years without an issue.

What are you guys using to cover the base of the cylinder for water pumping?
Doesn’t it have to be able to produce a water tight seal?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

I use a cheap water trap to prevent fluids from getting inside the hand pump. I ruined a Mityvac hand pump by getting water inside it. Mityvac also makes a water trap. It’s under $15.

https://www.ama … /dp/B002YKBAXK/

I’ve been using this setup for about a month now and it’s been great! LeLuv has good quality products from my experience. I’m currently using the 12” x 2” cylinder offered by them, the only complaint I could have is the measurement on the cylinders are stickers that have seemed to start to peel up. Though this doesn’t effect the quality of the cylinder itself. Using this system for water pumping is decent, though the reservoir ends up filling with water and once it’s full starts to flow up the line to the pump, perhaps someone knows a workaround to this?

I’ve gotta resurrect this thread to tell you all some great news! LeLuv is now selling a 2 1/8” cylinder!! I’m too big at the bottom 3” for a 2” but the 2.250 sucks my sac in and no matter how long I stage it STILL happens! This is a dream come true!!!

I’m coming from a “newbie” point of view here. Just bought that exact setup for air pumping and was happy to stumble upon this thread, since water pumping interests me also.

I was wondering how do you go about actually using the overflow cup that’s provided with the harbor freight pump kit in order to water pump?

I don’t fully understand how water pumping works, but I’m guessing the excess water gets sucked into the overflow cup so that no water goes into the actual pump.

But what happens if the overflow cup gets too full? How do you empty it without messing up the vacuum in the cylinder?

Hopefully that makes sense.

Thanks!

Hi Pump Rogue. I believe this will totally work. You shouldn’t lose vacuum in the cylinder because it has a valve where the hose is connected. I’m going to give it a try at some point. I’ll have to wait until the family is out of the house, so this might take a few days to report back. Air pumping is way easier because a bathtub is not required.

I just checked on the original links and all of these pumps, tubes and hoses are still available. The pump looks exactly like the LA Pump unit I recently bought. I’m going to stop by Northern Tool and pick up one of these for a back up!

I’m sure LeLuv does not make the cylinders just like a lot of others. The stick on tape ruler does peal off. To stop it what I have done is to apply 2” clear shipping tape over it. It stops the stick on ruler from pealing off. Another thing is whoever applies the ruler they don’t allow for the flange. So the ruler is about 1/4” off.

The Harbor Freight pump and the MityVac pumps were all originally designed for pumping brake fluid. Since automobile brakes work the same way all over the globe, you should be able to find a hand pump for bleeding brakes just about anywhere that sells parts and tools for car repair. I’m sure that there are European stores and websites that have them. They’re a lot cheaper when you buy them from a auto repair place than from any adult site.

By the way, I’ve had several MityVac pumps, both plastic and metal, and all of them have broken in the same place: the handle has cracked. The metal one from Harbor Freight may look cheap but it’s been incredibly durable. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Hey sta-kool,

Thanks for submitting this useful and affordable set-up!
I was wondering if the brake bleeder set that you linked includes a quick-release valve? LeLuv states that the feature is required on the pump, and it seems like that would be quite important for safety, wouldn’t want to not be able to get rid of the vacuum when discomfort happens.

Yes the harbor freight brake bleeder pumps have a pressure release valve; actually it’s small plunger which you depress to actuate. It is located on the underside of the pump barrel near the hose connection.

If you are asking if it comes with a male quick release coupler which attaches to the hose which in turn attaches to the female coupler on the Leluv cylinder, then no it does not.

I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this, but the harbor freight hand pumps will rust and jam up if water gets inside them in my experience.

If it gets wet just run a little oil in it.

Has anyone tried using the company Size Matters cylinder instead of the LeLuv cylinder. They are currently out of my size and I don’t want to risk the buying the .25 increase difference for fear of it not working or being optimal enough. Veterans please let me know if I’m wrong on that. Also with the Size Matters cylinder, if anyone has used it with the Harbor Freight pump, what hose did you use? I will greatly appreciate the help.