- 691
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- Location
- La Crosse, WI
Replaced all my CTIS wheel valve assemblies with these: https://midwestmilitaryequipment.com/replacement-ctis-wheel-rim-valve-air-hose-assembly/
From the outside they looked like NOS units and I didn't inspect too closely. They certainly looked good, the hoses were the correct length, high pressure, USA made. The wheel valve looked the part with the color correct corrosion coating, as well as the fittings. I did have some difficulty on two of the banjo fittings (out of 7) where they were a little tight but was able to make it work by just turning the bolt. I did also find it a little odd the o-rings had a little mold flash on them but since everything else looked good I continued.
Unfortunately on our trip I learned the details of how this was some poorly engineered copy. Upon arriving at our campsite, I heard air coming from the QRV (quick release valve). Took a little bit of poking around was able to stop the leak by removing the Philips head screw on the valve body and pushing on the aluminum cup. Taking it apart, I noticed it has these half assed backing features that are ramped and push the aluminum cup into a binding situation. Also saw that every part of the OEM has a part number...not a single one of these new components does. This is not the first time I've been screwed by crappy midwest's "engineering" and had to fix their issues. Thankfully I had just enough tools to limp home. I ended up flaring out the cup with a pair of pliers, then airing up and disconnecting the CTIS controller once it was at acceptable pressure.
OEM on left. Notice the part numbers and the large backing lugs on the aluminum outer cap on the OEM one, rubber diaphragm on OEM also has part numbers. Spring constant on OEM is slightly lower.
OEM on left.
Good design of backing protrusions:
Total crap design of backing protrusions. You can see the aluminum that's been deposited on the ramped surfaces:
Wife took a few pictures of me stressing out about possible solutions to avoid getting stuck.
From the outside they looked like NOS units and I didn't inspect too closely. They certainly looked good, the hoses were the correct length, high pressure, USA made. The wheel valve looked the part with the color correct corrosion coating, as well as the fittings. I did have some difficulty on two of the banjo fittings (out of 7) where they were a little tight but was able to make it work by just turning the bolt. I did also find it a little odd the o-rings had a little mold flash on them but since everything else looked good I continued.
Unfortunately on our trip I learned the details of how this was some poorly engineered copy. Upon arriving at our campsite, I heard air coming from the QRV (quick release valve). Took a little bit of poking around was able to stop the leak by removing the Philips head screw on the valve body and pushing on the aluminum cup. Taking it apart, I noticed it has these half assed backing features that are ramped and push the aluminum cup into a binding situation. Also saw that every part of the OEM has a part number...not a single one of these new components does. This is not the first time I've been screwed by crappy midwest's "engineering" and had to fix their issues. Thankfully I had just enough tools to limp home. I ended up flaring out the cup with a pair of pliers, then airing up and disconnecting the CTIS controller once it was at acceptable pressure.
OEM on left. Notice the part numbers and the large backing lugs on the aluminum outer cap on the OEM one, rubber diaphragm on OEM also has part numbers. Spring constant on OEM is slightly lower.
OEM on left.
Good design of backing protrusions:
Total crap design of backing protrusions. You can see the aluminum that's been deposited on the ramped surfaces:
Wife took a few pictures of me stressing out about possible solutions to avoid getting stuck.
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