Nitrogen Tire Inflation

The three kinds of equipment in this category

Automatic inflation: the Blockhead

The Blockhead (40-0075) replaces the stick gauge. You set the target pressure, connect the chuck, and the unit inflates or deflates to that number and beeps when the tire is ready. Its page lists auto-inflate and auto-deflate, a large digital display, a high-flow valve, individual testing and calibration, and a safety feature for high-pressure tires. It ships with an air chuck and fill hose. Its stated accuracy is plus or minus 0.7 psi with 1 psi increments, maximum operating pressure 145 psi and maximum inlet pressure 218 psi.

The Blockhead page describes several ways to install the same unit: directly on the wall from any air supply, on an existing hose reel, on a manifold to serve 4 to 6 tires at the same time, or on a tire safety cage. That flexibility is why the same 40-0075 shows up inside both airstations in this category.

Airstations: Model 155 (wall) and Model 145 (floor)

The Model 155 Blockhead Wall Mount Airstation (00-0160) is the four-hose version. Its four 25 ft hoses with lock-on chucks reach every wheel from one mounting point, so the technician stops moving a single hose from wheel to wheel. The page does not state whether the four fill at the same time, so call 800-562-4791 and we will confirm the sequence with Branick before you order. The mounting plate doubles as hose storage, so the hoses are off the floor between jobs, and the whole station needs only 20 in. x 12 in. of wall space. The Model 155 is the only listing on this page that publishes a warranty term: its description states it comes with a one-year warranty. For the other items on this page, ask us and we will confirm Branick's warranty with the manufacturer before you order.

The Model 145 Blockhead Stationary Airstation (00-0159) is the floor-standing version, described as suited to sit between bays. It has a single 16.5 ft hose with a lock-on chuck on a stand whose features list gives 36.5 in. of height and a 10.25 in. x 6.5 in. floor-mount base. Note a small inconsistency on that page: the marketing paragraph rounds those figures to a 36 in. working height and 10 in. x 6 in. of floor space, while the specification bullets give 36.5 in. and 10.25 in. x 6.5 in. Use the bullet figures when you lay out the bay. Both stations carry the same inflator specification as the stand-alone Blockhead: plus or minus 0.7 psi, 1 psi increments, 145 psi maximum operating and 218 psi maximum inlet.

Because both stations are built around the same 40-0075 Blockhead named in their titles, they share its behavior. The nitrogen conversion-ready statement, however, is made on the 40-0075 page and not on the station pages, so confirm the conversion with us for a station configuration before you order.

Hand-held BK4 inflators

There are four BK4 hand-held inflators here, split by gauge type and pressure range, then split again by hose and chuck. Branick markets both families as the AirHead; the listings separate them as BK4 Digital (4 to 250 psi) and BK4 Heavy Duty (0 to 174 psi, analog).

The BK4 Digital AirHead models read 4 to 250 psi with plus or minus 2 psi accuracy. Branick describes an aluminum body with a rubber protector and a large backlit display readable in bright and dim light, and both units inflate and deflate without leaving the valve stem. You choose between the 21 in. hose with twin-angled chuck (60-0351) and the 6 ft hose with single lock-on chuck (60-0358).

The BK4 Heavy Duty AirHead models cover 0 to 174 psi with the same plus or minus 2 psi accuracy, but use a magnified linear spring gauge in a sealed housing rather than a display, so shop debris cannot affect the reading. The body is high-strength aluminum. The same two hose options apply: 21 in. twin angled (60-0243) and 6 ft single lock-on (60-0244). These are the only listings in the category that publish a minimum supply pressure and a connection size: 80 psi minimum, 220 psi maximum, through a 1/4 in. NPT female fitting. The Blockhead-based products publish only a maximum inlet pressure of 218 psi.

Brackets and shop accessories

The Blockhead Mounting Bracket - Tire Cage (04-0143) lets you mount a Blockhead auto-inflator on a Branick cage. Read the exception list before ordering: its page states it fits any Branick cage except the 2010, 2220, 2260 and 2264. Listed dimensions are 8 x 8 x 5 in. Its page lists a 1 lb weight and dimensions of 8 x 8 x 5 in.

Four more Branick items appear in this category but belong to the tire spreader line rather than to inflation, and it is better to say so than to let you order the wrong part. The Model 502 Base Plate Kit (05-0139, 15 lbs, 16 x 16 x 3 in.) mounts to the base of the 5025 so the spreader can be moved instead of floor mounted. The Riser Platform (05-0121) adds 3 in. of lift to a Branick 5045, bringing the working surface to 39.25 in., in all-steel construction with pre-drilled floor mount holes. The Storage Cabinet (05-0056) is steel and attaches to either side of the spreader. The LED Light Fixture (40-0090) is a replacement for CFL lamp 376-016 on the 5045. None of these four is an inflation component.

Pressure range: how to pick the right number

Three ranges exist in this category and they do not overlap the way people assume.

If you are setting passenger and light truck pressures all day, the Blockhead and both airstations are the tightest instruments here at plus or minus 0.7 psi in 1 psi increments, an accuracy band close to three times tighter than the plus or minus 2 psi of the hand-held BK4 units. That difference is the argument for an automatic station in a shop that sets recommended pressures all day: you set the number once, connect the chuck, and the unit inflates or deflates to it and beeps, instead of a tech reading a stick gauge on every wheel.

If you work on tires that finish above 145 psi, read the Blockhead limit carefully. Its maximum operating pressure is 145 psi, and 218 psi is the maximum inlet pressure of the incoming supply, not a fill target. Those are two different numbers on the same spec table. For fills above 174 psi, the only units in this category rated for it are the BK4 Digital models at up to 250 psi.

Between 0 and 174 psi the BK4 Heavy Duty analog units cover the range and start at zero, which the digital units do not: their stated operating pressure begins at 4 psi.

What you need to install one

Space is the first constraint. The Model 155 needs 20 in. x 12 in. of wall space. The Model 145 needs a 10.25 in. x 6.5 in. floor-mount footprint and stands 36.5 in. tall. A stand-alone Blockhead can go on a wall, an existing hose reel, a manifold, or a Branick cage with bracket 04-0143.

Reach is the second. Four 25 ft hoses on the 155 versus a single 16.5 ft hose on the 145 is the real decision between those two models, not price. Measure from the mounting point to the far wheel of the longest vehicle you service before you choose.

Air supply is the third. The BK4 Heavy Duty pages state 80 psi minimum and 220 psi maximum supply through a 1/4 in. NPT female connection. The Blockhead-based products state a 218 psi maximum inlet. No listing in this category states an SCFM requirement, an electrical supply, or a ceiling height, so for those figures consult the spec sheet for the specific model or call us and we will pull it.

Certifications and testing

No listing in this category declares an ALI, ETL, ASME or OSHA certification, and we are not going to imply one that the manufacturer does not publish. What the pages do declare is instrument accuracy and per-unit verification. All four BK4 units are described as certified and calibrated to plus or minus 2 psi, and the BK4 Heavy Duty pages add that each is individually tested to that tolerance. The Blockhead and both airstations are described as individually tested and calibrated, with a published accuracy of plus or minus 0.7 psi; their pages do not state a per-unit calibration tolerance. If your program requires documented gauge calibration on a schedule, ask us before ordering so the paperwork question is answered first.

Model comparison

Frequently asked questions

Does this equipment fill tires with nitrogen?

Not by itself. These are shop-air inflation products. The only nitrogen statement published on any listing in this category is on the Blockhead page, which says the unit is nitrogen conversion ready. There is no generator, no purity analyzer and no cylinder cart in this category. Call 800-562-4791 with the model you have in mind and we will tell you what the gas side of the setup would require.

What actually separates the Model 145 from the Model 155?

Hoses and where the unit lives. The 155 mounts on a wall, uses 20 in. x 12 in. of wall space and comes with four 25 ft hoses with lock-on chucks, so a technician can hook all four tires and walk away. The 145 stands on the floor on a 10.25 in. x 6.5 in. base at 36.5 in. of height with one 16.5 ft hose, and its page positions it between bays. The inflator specification is identical on both.

I set truck tires above 174 psi. Which unit do I need?

The BK4 Digital models (60-0351 and 60-0358), rated 4 to 250 psi. The BK4 Heavy Duty units stop at 174 psi, and the Blockhead and both airstations state a 145 psi maximum operating pressure. Do not read the Blockhead's 218 psi as a fill capability; that figure is the maximum inlet pressure of the supply.

What air supply does a hand-held BK4 need?

The Heavy Duty pages specify 80 psi minimum and 220 psi maximum supply pressure through a 1/4 in. NPT female connection. The Digital pages publish only operating pressure and accuracy, so for their supply figures check that model's spec sheet before you plumb the drop.

Can I mount a Blockhead on the tire cage I already own?

If it is a Branick cage, the 04-0143 bracket is made for that and fits any of them except the 2010, 2220, 2260 and 2264 models. For a cage from another manufacturer, send us the make and model and we will check fitment rather than guess.

Can one automatic inflator serve more than one tire at a time?

The published simultaneous-fill claim in this category belongs to the stand-alone Blockhead page, which describes mounting on a manifold to handle 4 to 6 tires simultaneously. The Model 155 ships with four 25 ft hoses with lock-on chucks and a set-and-walk-away sequence, but its page does not state a simultaneous fill. If filling four at once is the requirement, call 800-562-4791 and we will confirm the configuration with Branick before you order.

Do these come with a warranty?

Yes. Only one listing on this page publishes a warranty: the Model 155 Blockhead Wall Mount Airstation (00-0160), whose description states it comes with a one-year warranty. The other eleven listings do not publish warranty terms. Call 800-562-4791 and we will get Branick's current warranty statement in writing for the model you are considering. It does not cover ordinary wear and tear, abuse, misuse, overloading, accident including shipping damage, improper maintenance or alteration. We do not publish Branick's warranty exclusions or service procedure here. Ask us for the manufacturer's current warranty text and return procedure before you order and we will get it for you in writing.; call 800-562-4791 and we will start it for you, or ask us for the full text before you order.

All equipment on this page is new and sold by JMC Automotive Equipment. Order online, or call 800-562-4791 and we will help you match pressure range, hose reach and mounting to the bay you actually have.