Cat eye pressure monitors. Good or bad?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Elroythekid, Nov 23, 2013.

  1. RedForeman

    RedForeman Momentum Conservationist

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    Re the leaks.. I think any of these systems are going to introduce one or more new places for possible leaks to occur. You really can't just put them on and forget them. I have the cats eyes on both trucks and trailers. Each truck has spare seals and hose ends in the tool kit.

    On that note, I did have one of them fail after 2+ years. When you remove them for tire service, you re-install the inner hose first then the outer. I guess the way they're constructed, there must be some kind of flow restriction to enable you to connect the outer hose without losing too much air from the inner. Anyway, that wasn't working. Hooked the inner hose and it started deflating while connecting the outer one. No harm since it was during service. On the other hand, I'm not sure if that would or wouldn't have affected a safety shut off after both ends were pressurized. I didn't wait to find out and just replaced that one, since it wasn't working as expected.

    I also had a RFI drive tire blow out on my truck this week. The sidewall just let go, and it went flat in about 2 seconds. I had just under 33k on the drives when it happened. The cats eye did it's job. I rolled over to the shoulder to stop and good tire held, the flat was intact. It was one of a set of Bandag Megatreks that were on the truck when I bought it 100k mi ago. The cap did not come off. Probably a pavement bruise from who knows when. Maybe even before the casing was capped. In any event, when I stopped, the outer tire was at 70 psi (I have 90 psi cats eyes). It was a little lower than I expected it to go, as they usually drop to the high 70's when we've had flats before. But good enough to get off the road nonetheless. Blowouts are very rare for us. Usually slow leaks from nails or valve stems and the like that are easily caught during a pretrip. I disconnected the cats eye and aired the good one up to 110 in case I needed to move and called road service.

    20160313-blowout.jpg
     
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  3. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    I also have the cat eye's and have had to same set for years. Only had to replace the seals.

    I put the tire pressure monitors on top of the cat eye's.
    Before I had the little low pressure led lights on top of the cat eye's. Might got back to them if I can't get the in cab monitors working right.

    In any case I think the cat eye's are one of the best investments a owner could make. Just love them.
     
  4. Sly Fox

    Sly Fox Road Train Member

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    Just purchased crossfires from Joplin Petro. But haven't installed them yet (either too cold or too windy to be doing non-required work to the truck). I'll be home for a few days. Will do it then. My friend has had them for two years, and he loves them. His tires wear much better than mine. Especially inside-to-outside. So, will finally see if that solves my problems. He never rotates his tires inside/outside (just front to back). So, if they work, I may get them for the tandems as well.
     
  5. Caterpillar Cowboy

    Caterpillar Cowboy Heavy Load Member

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    Have Cat's Eye's on both of my dump trucks, so they're getting used in the worst conditions possible here! Have had them on one truck for probably 4 or 5 years now and the other for 3 years (as long as I've owned it). Seem to help avoid the 'lazy truck driver syndrome' of not checking pressures, especially on inner duals. Haven't had any proper blow outs running them, but have gotten flat tires, mostly due to nails, screws or small chunks of rebar, where the affected tire will be bead broke off the rim flat, and the other tire is holding pressure strong.

    My biggest concern is that one day I'll rip off the hose catching a strangley shaped rock or tree branch, etc in my duals.

    ALL IN ALL though the track record the Cat's Eyes have with me is good. A+
     
  6. LBZ

    LBZ Road Train Member

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    What did you think of the LED's? Ran across those on youtube somehow awhile back, but had not seen or know anyone running them.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_Gk4LASWk
     
  7. razor1983

    razor1983 Medium Load Member

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    I dont get...I understand how it equalizes pressure in duals but some of you seem to claim that it can inflate a flat tire on its own?
     
  8. RedForeman

    RedForeman Momentum Conservationist

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    I don't think anyone said that. If one tire in the pair gets a slow leak, both will go down due to the balancing action until the safety shutoff closes, usually around 10% below the pressure setting of the cats eye.
     
  9. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

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    I like the LED lights. It goes on the valve stem and give a bright blinking red led light if the pressure drops below a set pressure. But you have to be on the outside of the truck to see them. Where with the tire monitor, I can see the pressure and temp. going down the road.
     
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  10. KyleTexas

    KyleTexas Bobtail Member

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    I ran Cat Eyes and they worked well for me..

    1. Single point inflation.. this feature alone worth it's weight in gold.. no more reaching in between the tires getting filthy and hot trying to keep your tires at proper level.

    2. Reduction in blow outs.... Get a nail in one tire and it deflates.. when it deflates enough it gets hot.. when it gets hot enough it blows. The Cat Eyes saved me $1000s in new tire cost over time.

    3. Pressure Monitoring- Perhaps where they had some limitations that could be adjusted to.. the best thing to do if you get some is to inflate, then see what the pressure on the Cat Eyes says vs what a hand held tire gauge says.. and adjust your evaluation accordingly... Alot of people wanted the Cat Eyes to be dead on accurate, when I had mine, they weren't ..but I knew that "Rear passenger tandem".. runs about 5lbs off on low side when Eyes closes... I got to know my monitors and adjusted from there. Even without perfect pressure monitoring I felt they were close enough that I could make up any difference..

    I loved my Cat Eyes... saved me time, tire money, and were close enough on pressure that I didn't feel gipped about making up any difference... get some, you will like them. Cheers ..
     
  11. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    I think systems that you do not see in cab while driving are waisted money.
    Better to spend a little more and get a decent system,meaning in cab monitoring.
     
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