Hydragas Pump

Hi, I would be grateful for any feedback,  regarding the suitability of use, for using the budget 'Katsu Hydragas Pump' on a mgf, to pump up the suspension.  The item retails for aprox £70, which seems great value ... if it works.

Thank you un advance. 


 

I purchased this one  Hydragas Suspension Pump Kit with fluid & schrader valve for MGF  a few years back and during the various sub frame removals its worked really well. 

It looks similar / identical....but you pay your money you take your choice ...

 

Thank you very much for your advice. 
It does look similar, although it appears that your purchase included a valve, to stop fluid loss and the fluid itself  (which wasn't included in the item I saw on ebay). 
I am gonna take a punt and hope that its just low pressure and not the Hydragas units themselves that  are faulty. 
(The MGF has been sitting idle outside for 13 years, since the kids came along, this is a start of the restoration )😱

Thanks again. 

 

I bought  one of these  pumps from amazon

then discovered I needed  one of these adapters

and then the  all important connector

The adapter took a bit of finding due to the mix of NPT & BSPT.
 

There is a lot written about this so it's worth half an hour to look in the How To section plus use the Search to find references in the normal forum threads.

I certainly used a Katsu pump when I had a Mk1 MGF to refil the spheres on that after I'd had them all nitrogen recharged (reference Kevin the Hydragas man if you need to have that done).

Theres no real difference in Filling using a basic but effective Katsu suspension pump and the high end expensive ones. Note my use of the word 'filling' there.
Because the difference is that the high end pumps have a different type of valve that allows you to extract the fluid out rather than just pump it in. Frankly Ive never found that an issue at all. When Ive needed to release any fluid I use the time honoured method of just pushing on the valve with a small screwdriver. Received wisdom says get any soft plastic bottle such as a 2 pint milk container. About 3/4 of the way up the bottle make 2 holes opposite each other, push one over the valve and then carefully push the screwdriver into the opposite hole. The fluid then discharges nicely into the bottle rather than pissing all over the under bonnet area.

You can add a proper lossless valve adaptor to the Katsu pump that will make it have the same function as the top end pumps but I never got organised on that and milk containers are free.

I really appreciate your advice, thank you very much.

I will look conduct a search. Really appreciate your assistance.

One possible additional to Chris's resume is the quality of the Schrader 556 connector. The proper job is rated up to 3000psi, the cheap ones I tested pissed fluid out at 30. The thread form wasn’t great either.
These pump units are for occasional use, which is great for f owners but to have a unit with repeatable performance when required is important, obviously; a decent connector ensures this.
M

I agree, the one i used (link above) is rated to 3000 psi, however it is currently unabvailable.

Wise words as always from the senior guys (experience, not age) here,

Please be carefully, i was silly enough to get a face full of pressured fluid having not fully de pressured a pipe, only did it once.

Maybe wear safety glasses on your first time.

Very good safety advice. I dont think it's particularly harmful, it doesnt burn the skin etc but I wouldnt like a bath in it thats for sure.

Whereabouts in the country are you Wild Rover ? 

I have a Katsu, works fine for me.