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Review: BlackJack Tire Repair Kit

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Rebound, Sep 30, 2016.

  1. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    My Prius Plug-in doesn't come with a spare tire, so I keep a tire plug kit and an air pump in the car.

    Today I upgraded to the $50, professional BlackJack KY-340 Tire Repair Kit, recommended by Luscious Garage. It is amazingly better than my BrandX kit. It's clearly professional: They provide forty tire plugs, which is way more than a lifetime supply for me.

    The probe and needle tools are much larger and sturdier than my BrandX tools. They are solid steel, with the handles covered in plastic and rubber. The probe and needle are removable and they include a spare needle, a pressure gauge, utility knife, screwdriver and a lubricant intended to help the probe tool conform to the angle of direction of the puncture.

    I'm not looking forward to getting a flat tire, but I definitely feel better prepared for one. Here are some photos, including a size comparison between the BrandX and the BlackJack.

    Image1475212883.477802.jpg
    Image1475212902.854915.jpg
     
    #1 Rebound, Sep 30, 2016
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Here here, that's what I got. It's a real ego boost too, and I need all the help I can get, lol.

    One problem I have with a lot of cheap products these days: their "packaging" is designed to hang and display on a pegboard, nothing more. Which leaves it up to you to cobble together something to keep all the bits together. This kit is NOT like that.

    I've used it a couple of times on our car, and once just recently with our son's car. The first repair was from a very thin finishing nail or brad that got in the tread, I opted to use one of the thinner plugs for that. Very nice kit. Theoretically you can repair the flat on the vehicle, but I've always taken the wheel off, much easier.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Oct 1, 2016
  3. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    That is a nice kit.

    I would recommend keeping a water bottle with just a little bit of dish soap and an empty spray bottle (Dollar store), to help find nails/screws that are not readily visible. Keep the soapy water in the bottle until needed, b/c a spray bottle will leak out if it is not upright.
     
    #3 exstudent, Oct 1, 2016
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  4. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    You're right. I got a flat yesterday. The kit worked perfectly, but it took a long time to find the puncture. I'm going to add the soap and bottle to my repair kit.

    Otherwise, the Blackjack kit worked wonderfully, along with the set of disposable gloves, pliers and 12V pump. The BlackJack was the easiest part by far.
     
    #4 Rebound, Dec 19, 2016
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  5. Neohippy

    Neohippy Active Member

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    I would keep a pair of side cutters also known as dykes. They work great to pull the screw or nail out of your tire. Otherwise you can't plug it in a emergency.
     
    #5 Neohippy, Dec 19, 2016
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  6. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I mentioned the pliers. Sears sells a nice set of three small Craftsman pliers -- needle-nose, stubby and cutters -- they're small and they work well.
     
    #6 Rebound, Dec 19, 2016
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    i like those side-cutter pliers, they're good at grabbing and levering the nail.

    Maybe more for northern climes: insulated work gloves are good to have, it's brutal changing tires in near-freezing conditions. Also a reflective vest, safety triangle, wheel chocks.

    Last but not least: a big plastic bag, tire sized. Say one you got with a tire purchase, just to keep the hatch clean if you're for example just swapping to temp spare and driving home to do the plug repair.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Dec 19, 2016
  8. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    #8 ETP, Dec 23, 2016
  9. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    #9 ETP, Dec 23, 2016
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Nice to see a case. So many products are in bubble packs, designed for hanging on a display, hopelessly disorganized once you bust it open.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Dec 23, 2016
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