October_2021 - 51

Thexton
Manufacturing
Relay Bypass
Kit, No. 927
Reviewed by John Baumgardt, owner of
Baumgardt's Auto Repair in Fillmore, Indiana.
THE REVIEW:
Q: How did the tool function as far
as saving you time?
A: This is a great time saving tool. The
adapters take the place of the circuits relay
and with the push of a button you can
test the wiring and the component. It's
a simple tool that simplifies a potentially
complicated task.
Q: How has using this tool impacted
your shop's profitability?
A: Time is money as the saying goes.
Any tool that saves time in diagnostics and
repairs is good for profitability. I would put
this tool in that category.
Q: What kind of setup was involved
before using the product?
A: Setup was fast and painless. Just pull
the relay for the component you're testing
and replace it with the correct adapter,
then connect the switch to the adapter and
you're ready to test.
Q: How was its packaging?
A: The packaging was simple, but not
cheap. It came in a nice little plastic case
that has latches to keep it closed. The case
was large enough to hold a few extra additions,
but small enough that it doesn't take
up a lot of space.
Q: Was there a manual included?
A: The manual that's included is easy
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
The Thexton Manufacturing Relay Bypass
Kit, No. 927, allows technicians to bypass
relays to test and activate components. It also
tests circuitry to determine faulty wiring. The
extended 5' cord allows the technician to test
the component visually or audibly when activated.
Custom molded relays eliminate the
need to determine which circuit is the power,
ground, or signal. The kit includes four different
tools, covering the majority of foreign and
domestic relay applications.
113
to read and understand. It only takes up
the front side of a single piece of paper;
Thexton is keeping everything simple
with this kit.
Q: What features did you like?
A: I liked the simplicity of the tool. The
button has a rubber boot to keep moisture
and dirt out of the switch. I also like the fact
that the connector between the button wire
and the connector is readily available so if
you need to make an adapter to test something
else, it's easy to make the connection.
Q: Is there any way you could think
to improve or add to this tool?
A: The switch is not replaceable, so if
it goes bad you would have to replace the
set. I would add a circuit breaker, or a fuse
holder, for a mini fuse to protect the switch
from getting overloaded. I would also like
to see another 3' or 5' extension for those
jobs where just a little more length is needed.
Also, it'd be nice to include an adapter
to be able to hook up a multimeter to test
current draw when the circuit is energized,
and an adapter with small spade connectors
so you can hook it up to a fused circuit
or an uncommon relay type socket.
Q: What types of jobs did you use
this tool for?
A: I used it to test a fuel pump circuit. I
needed an assistant because I couldn't operate
the button and be close enough to the tank
to hear the pump operate (perfect time for
an extension cord). I thought about the multimeter
adapter while testing here because
the pump stopped working after it ran for a
few minutes. It had a large current draw even
when it was cold. I also used it to test cooling
fans and a couple A/C compressors.
JOHN BAUMGARDT III is the
owner/operator of Baumgardt's
Auto Repair in Fillmore, Indiana.
He has been a professional
auto tech for about 20 years.
He attended the two-year Auto
Mechanics program at Lancaster Vocational High
School. Previously, Baumgardt worked at AAMCO
Transmissions and earned about a dozen
AAMCO certificates.
www.VehicleServicePros.com OCTOBER 2021 PROFESSIONAL TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEWS 51
http://www.vehicleservicepros.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
October_2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October_2021
