Received this today and it appears to be well-constructed and a good deal. People have complained of lack of instructions, but they are now included. So, I have included them for reference. Note that this does not come with any kind of cement. Instead there is a grease lubricant used to make insertion of the plugs easier.
I noticed that the setscrews holding the tools to the handle were not quite as tight as they should be, so I tightened them using the enclosed Allen wrench.
If I get even a single repair out of this kit, it will pay for itself. But I am expecting many uses.
I will update this review as I use it.
Update 7-8-2020
Today I used the kit for the first time to repair a leak caused by a small sheet metal screw on a pretty large tire on a Kia Van. This hex-headed screw neatly screwed itself into the tire resulting in a small leak. It still had the 1/4" hex head on it, so it was easy to just back out, leaving a very small hole.
I've never done one of these - only watched the gas station attendant do a few for me. The biggest part of the job was removing the rear wheel from the van. If this had been a front wheel, I would have turned it facing out and tried doing the repair with the wheel on the car. But that would have been too awkward for the rear wheel. Because the hole was so small, using the enclosed reamer from the start was just too hard, even with lube. This reamer is pretty smooth with very non-aggressive cutting action, so I put a 3/16" bit in a portable drill and used that first to enlarge and smooth the hole. I then used the reamer to finish, which was very manageable. Once an open hole is made in the tire, it will deflate pretty rapidly, so you need to keep your finger on the hole and work quickly. You need to have the plug preinstalled in the insertion tool before starting. Being an amateur, I did make a user error, by inserting the initial plug too far it, so not enough was showing when I was done. So, I did a second plug pushing the first one into the tire, leaving about 1/2" showing. I off the excess flush with the tire with a razor. It was all very easy. I did position the retainer part of the insertion tool on top of the plug to prevent pulling the plug out, but that really was not necessary. The enclosed lube in the package is indicated as being for use with the plug, to make insertion easy. After I was done, I inflated the tire to full pressure and checked for leaks with a soap bubble solution. Will need to keep an eye on it for a few days just to be sure it is sealing.
I think the tools are well made and pretty sturdy, maybe not professional shop sturdy, but plenty good enough for the backyard mechanic. The t-handles on both tools are fairly heavy cast pot metal. They would only break through abuse or some kind of incorrect use. The reamer is quite robust while the plug insertion tool is a bit on the light side. I see one picture of someone who bent an insertion tool, but I am relatively sure that was caused by either not using the lube when installing the plug or not reaming out the hole sufficiently.
I feel like I paid for this kit with this one leak repoair and still rate it as a good deal.
| Manufacturer | Tooluxe |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 50003L |
| Item Weight | 2.82 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 12 x 8 x 2.5 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 50003L |
| Size | 57 Piece Repair Kit |
| Color | Red |
| Style | 57 Piece Tire Repair Kit |
| Material | Polyurethane |
| Power Source | Hand Powered |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Included Components | tire repair kit |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
