Repair-It

I wish the forum admins would come up with a category for shop equipment, but cest la vie. Posting where I thought best.

I think I may finally need to buy the first "real" air compressor for my shop. The one that I have there now is probably a ~2hp, TBD CFM, 25ish gallon horizontal tank unit that I inherited from one of my dad's commercial shop closeouts. I think it's probably from 1992-1994 or so. The guys that worked for him had twisted one blade of the 240VAC plug sideways, tried it in a 110V outlet and declared it dead. Someone had stripped the belt and belt guard off it and left it in a field for a couple years. I think I rescued it sometime in early 2008.

I changed the oil, sourced a belt, replaced the reed valves in the compressor head, replaced the outlet fittings and have done nothing else to it since (maybe I changed the oil again once?) in about 17 years.

Last week I was using it and suddenly heard a pop and it was making a cyclic hissing/whooshing sound that I assume is a blown head gasket. I can probably repair or replace the compressor head, but the AC motor has been sparking badly on startup and I'm thinking it's time to pony up for a real compressor.

I thought Harbor Freight would have some 240V models, but they don't appear to. I do like the idea of quiet, but 120V seems odd for comparable CFM. I'll try to read the info off the one I have when I'm back home to try to figure out where to start from. I don't think I want to go smaller/less CFM.

Maybe one to consider:
https://www.harborfreight.com/26-gallon ... 57336.html

That seems like their best compressor and they have a sister version with 27 gal that has more flow but is louder. Same price. Probably the quieter one. I don't like the oil free ones but I'd make an exception if this is actually quietish.

Apparently I was way off on sizing of the ancient one. I think it says 9.1 SCFM at 90 psi and 30 gallon tank.

Perhaps I should consider a replacement motor and compressor head:

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-175- ... 59672.html

https://www.vevor.com/single-phase-air- ... 3eEALw_wcB



I think this is the same one I have, just updated:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Campbell-Hausf ... 5013192291

Turns out it was just a plastic blow off relief valve line for compressor starting to the pressure switch

Ordered a "Condor" brand pressure switch to replace the condor on there for $24. Looks like there heavier duty rated switches used a metal 90 deg fitting with compression fitting instead of plastic-push in that mine had.

Looks like the switch contacts have some wear and tear so I figured I'd upgrade to a new switch while I have it off.

I also finally ordered an inlet air filter for it since it hasn't had one since I got it.

https://www.solbergmfg.com/collections/fs-ps-series
Solberg Mfg, PS-10-075

It was the cheapest that I think had a high enough CFM rating? I have a 1/2" NPT inlet on the unit, had a 90 deg elbow. This new filter is a 3/4" connection, so I need to get an adapter.

I'll change the oil and maybe it'll be good for another 31 years? 1994 model.