The Ford Barn

Dave Young · 11-10-2017, 05:23 PM

Another dumb newbie question ... sorry guys, but cut an old man a little slack.

All four of my tires can use some air. Tomorrow, I’m planning to buy a (probably a Ryobi) compressor. Like everything else I’m trying to learn about my new model A, I check things out on YouTube. A couple of folks have stated that when using one of these ‘home use’ compressors, it’s necessary to jack up the car so that the wheel being inflated is off the ground and not taking the weight of the car.

Makes sense, but is it a fact ? ... I wouldn’t even know how to jack up the car!

Please straighten me out before I buy a small compressor that’s a waste of time and money. What they’re saying is, a small home use compressor doesn’t have
the power to lift a car. I’ll appreciate some opinions.

Dave

marty in Ohio · 11-10-2017, 05:36 PM

Dave,
I've never heard this one. I have a small compressor in my garage that seems to handle the job with the car on the ground. Think about the tiny units that they sell that plug into the cigarette lighter so you can inflate a tire on the road. They seem to work without jacking up the car. They take a while but I guess they work. Just sayin'.
Marty

WHN · 11-10-2017, 05:40 PM

Jack up a Model A by the axels.

Small compressors? Thay may not be able to handle the weight. You are not just pumping air.

35 psi needed. Look at compressor rating. Enjoy.

1931 flamingo · 11-10-2017, 05:46 PM

If a manual tire pump can put air in a tire a small compressor can also......................

Paul in CT

old31 · 11-10-2017, 05:57 PM

You most certainly do not have to lift the car before filling with air. I think the person that told you that is full of hot air!

slammin · 11-10-2017, 06:05 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

You can inflate a tire with one of those small portable air tanks. Sounds like those folks were blowing a little smoke! They didn't try to convince you the earth was flat too did they?

Synchro909 · 11-10-2017, 06:11 PM

When on long distance tours, I carry a 12 volt compressor that runs from a cigarette lighter socket. I have a couple of those for accessories like refrigerator, pump etc. If one of those Chinese 12 v compressors can inflate a tyre from dead flat, I'm sure your Ryobi one will be just fine. BTW, it it were necessary to jack up the car to inflate the tyres, how do they get away with those air hoses at service stations?

duke36 · 11-10-2017, 06:13 PM

As stated no need to raise the car to inflate tires, to 35 psi. The important aspects are to fill the tires when they are cold, not after a drive . Hot tires can add 3-5 psi after driving.
We make our own gauges from a stock air pressure gauge that reads 0 to 60 # with a rt. angle fitting on it and some brass connectors to allow easy access to the stem. Most store bought pencil and other gauges are not found to be too accurate.

1930-Pickup · 11-10-2017, 06:55 PM

Lift in the air?? LOL!
I agree with the others. No need to lift the wheels.
I've used a 12v hand held pump, and a 20 HP compressor. No worries.

aermotor · 11-10-2017, 07:24 PM

You can put 35 psi in a tire under a train engine if you want. It will still be flat but have 35 psi.

John

J Franklin · 11-10-2017, 08:15 PM

Maybe putting it in the air just makes tire rotation easier!?

Tom Wesenberg · 11-10-2017, 08:34 PM

Don't buy a direct drive oiless compressor. They have a short lifespan, and are a waste of money.
I buy the small lighter socket compressors for $5 at garage sales and secondhand stores. I buy belt driven smaller one or two cylinder oil filled compressors for $25 to $50 at garage sales or on Craigslist.

History · 11-11-2017, 01:25 AM

I have a craftsman battery powered compressor that will do it easily and fairly fast. I've had to jack a few things up that were tubeless just so the tire bead would contact the rim but other than that it will pump it to the correct psi.

burner31 · 11-11-2017, 01:47 AM

If I may suggest:
Before you take your car out again, practice changing a tire.
Better to learn in your garage then on the side of a road.
And get yourself a compressor, to keep your tires pressured up...no jacking required.

3.6rs · 11-11-2017, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Young

Another dumb newbie question ... sorry guys, but cut an old man a little slack.

All four of my tires can use some air. Tomorrow, I’m planning to buy a (probably a Ryobi) compressor. Like everything else I’m trying to learn about my new model A, I check things out on YouTube. A couple of folks have stated that when using one of these ‘home use’ compressors, it’s necessary to jack up the car so that the wheel being inflated is off the ground and not taking the weight of the car.

Makes sense, but is it a fact ? ... I wouldn’t even know how to jack up the car!

Please straighten me out before I buy a small compressor that’s a waste of time and money. What they’re saying is, a small home use compressor doesn’t have
the power to lift a car. I’ll appreciate some opinions.

Dave

Would be very funny at the gas stations ; everybody jacking up their cars for inflating their tyres !
At least good for one thing : more jobs created - "jacking guys"

Dave Young · 11-11-2017, 08:53 AM

Well, I told you I was a newbie ... how you gonna learn if you don’t ask questions?

Seriously, though, thanks for the info. I’m off now to buy my compressor.

By the way, I had just assumed that the big compressors you find in garages and some gas stations had more power than the $20. one you plug into your cigarette lighter. Like I said,
I’m just a newbie ...

History · 11-11-2017, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Young

Well, I told you I was a newbie ... how you gonna learn if you don’t ask questions?

Seriously, though, thanks for the info. I’m off now to buy my compressor.

By the way, I had just assumed that the big compressors you find in garages and some gas stations had more power than the $20. one you plug into your cigarette lighter. Like I said,
I’m just a newbie ...

They do have more power but the thing is, a larger unit can provide the volume needed to run air tools which needs more air.

3.6rs · 11-11-2017, 10:00 AM

No offense. Everybody has to learn. But inflating a tyre isn't this something they learn you when you go to do your tests for your driver's license ? At least that's what they teach you over here in Europe.
By the way : don't buy the Les Andrews books because I don't think that this is something that is explained there.

1930-Pickup · 11-11-2017, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Young

Well, I told you I was a newbie ... how you gonna learn if you don’t ask questions?

Seriously, though, thanks for the info. I’m off now to buy my compressor.

By the way, I had just assumed that the big compressors you find in garages and some gas stations had more power than the $20. one you plug into your cigarette lighter. Like I said,
I’m just a newbie ...

Dave-

Don't feel bad about asking a Newbie question. Everyone was a Newbie at one time.

I think there is a cautionary tale here that some people are passing on to you, and it's based on the statement you made in your opening post:

... "A couple of folks have stated that when using one of these ‘home use’ compressors, it’s necessary to jack up the car so that the wheel being inflated is off the ground and not taking the weight of the car. ..."

Use care who you listen to the advice of others. There are many self-proclaimed experts and Know-It-All's out there and you will almost certainly run across several of them in your tenure with the Model A.

I wish the Internet existed when I was a Newbie. You have it easy!

CHuDWah · 11-11-2017, 03:02 PM

I've had a couple of the cheap cigarette lighter compressors. They didn't last long and I couldn't get more than 30 pounds out of them. That's not full Model A pressure but it's enough to get you to a better compressor. Course they're useless in an A anyway because the compressor is 12-volt and there's no cigarette lighter to plug it in.

Most any 120V compressor should pump up your tires and no, you don't have to jack up the car. If you're running air tools, you'll probably need a more powerful compressor.

11-10-2017, 05:23 PM	#1
Dave Young Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Womelsdorf, PA Posts: 47	Tire Inflation Another dumb newbie question ... sorry guys, but cut an old man a little slack. All four of my tires can use some air. Tomorrow, I’m planning to buy a (probably a Ryobi) compressor. Like everything else I’m trying to learn about my new model A, I check things out on YouTube. A couple of folks have stated that when using one of these ‘home use’ compressors, it’s necessary to jack up the car so that the wheel being inflated is off the ground and not taking the weight of the car. Makes sense, but is it a fact ? ... I wouldn’t even know how to jack up the car! Please straighten me out before I buy a small compressor that’s a waste of time and money. What they’re saying is, a small home use compressor doesn’t have the power to lift a car. I’ll appreciate some opinions. Dave

11-10-2017, 05:36 PM	#2
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 756	Re: Tire Inflation Dave, I've never heard this one. I have a small compressor in my garage that seems to handle the job with the car on the ground. Think about the tiny units that they sell that plug into the cigarette lighter so you can inflate a tire on the road. They seem to work without jacking up the car. They take a while but I guess they work. Just sayin'. Marty

11-10-2017, 05:40 PM	#3
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,823	Re: Tire Inflation Jack up a Model A by the axels. Small compressors? Thay may not be able to handle the weight. You are not just pumping air. 35 psi needed. Look at compressor rating. Enjoy.

11-10-2017, 05:46 PM	#4
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Tire Inflation If a manual tire pump can put air in a tire a small compressor can also...................... Paul in CT

11-10-2017, 05:57 PM	#5
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,098	Re: Tire Inflation You most certainly do not have to lift the car before filling with air. I think the person that told you that is full of hot air!

11-10-2017, 06:05 PM	#6
slammin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Fruita, CO Posts: 281	Re: Tire Inflation Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) You can inflate a tire with one of those small portable air tanks. Sounds like those folks were blowing a little smoke! They didn't try to convince you the earth was flat too did they?

11-10-2017, 06:11 PM	#7
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Tire Inflation When on long distance tours, I carry a 12 volt compressor that runs from a cigarette lighter socket. I have a couple of those for accessories like refrigerator, pump etc. If one of those Chinese 12 v compressors can inflate a tyre from dead flat, I'm sure your Ryobi one will be just fine. BTW, it it were necessary to jack up the car to inflate the tyres, how do they get away with those air hoses at service stations? __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

11-10-2017, 06:13 PM	#8
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	Re: Tire Inflation As stated no need to raise the car to inflate tires, to 35 psi. The important aspects are to fill the tires when they are cold, not after a drive . Hot tires can add 3-5 psi after driving. We make our own gauges from a stock air pressure gauge that reads 0 to 60 # with a rt. angle fitting on it and some brass connectors to allow easy access to the stem. Most store bought pencil and other gauges are not found to be too accurate.

11-10-2017, 06:55 PM	#9
1930-Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern California Posts: 725	Re: Tire Inflation Lift in the air?? LOL! I agree with the others. No need to lift the wheels. I've used a 12v hand held pump, and a 20 HP compressor. No worries. __________________ *"That's my wild unsubstantiated guess, and I'm sticking to it regardless of the facts!"*

11-10-2017, 07:24 PM	#10
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: Tire Inflation You can put 35 psi in a tire under a train engine if you want. It will still be flat but have 35 psi. John

11-10-2017, 08:15 PM	#11
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Tire Inflation Maybe putting it in the air just makes tire rotation easier!?

11-10-2017, 08:34 PM	#12
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Tire Inflation Don't buy a direct drive oiless compressor. They have a short lifespan, and are a waste of money. I buy the small lighter socket compressors for $5 at garage sales and secondhand stores. I buy belt driven smaller one or two cylinder oil filled compressors for $25 to $50 at garage sales or on Craigslist.

11-11-2017, 01:25 AM	#13
History Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: NC Mountains Posts: 689	Re: Tire Inflation I have a craftsman battery powered compressor that will do it easily and fairly fast. I've had to jack a few things up that were tubeless just so the tire bead would contact the rim but other than that it will pump it to the correct psi.

11-11-2017, 08:53 AM	#16
Dave Young Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Womelsdorf, PA Posts: 47	Re: Tire Inflation Well, I told you I was a newbie ... how you gonna learn if you don’t ask questions? Seriously, though, thanks for the info. I’m off now to buy my compressor. By the way, I had just assumed that the big compressors you find in garages and some gas stations had more power than the $20. one you plug into your cigarette lighter. Like I said, I’m just a newbie ...

11-11-2017, 10:00 AM	#18
3.6rs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium) Posts: 573	Re: Tire Inflation No offense. Everybody has to learn. But inflating a tyre isn't this something they learn you when you go to do your tests for your driver's license ? At least that's what they teach you over here in Europe. By the way : don't buy the Les Andrews books because I don't think that this is something that is explained there.

11-11-2017, 03:02 PM	#20
CHuDWah Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Kritter Krick, Flaw-duh Posts: 1,158	Re: Tire Inflation I've had a couple of the cheap cigarette lighter compressors. They didn't last long and I couldn't get more than 30 pounds out of them. That's not full Model A pressure but it's enough to get you to a better compressor. Course they're useless in an A anyway because the compressor is 12-volt and there's no cigarette lighter to plug it in. Most any 120V compressor should pump up your tires and no, you don't have to jack up the car. If you're running air tools, you'll probably need a more powerful compressor.