Broke a rod on my compressor/time for a new IR, install piping?

[76zimmer]

I have a Craftsman Professional (?) unit that broke a rod.

Cheapas s stuff right here.
I bought this thing about 10 years ago, paid about 500$ for it, but have used it quite a bit. It broke one rod and that took out the fan, and the tin cylinder in which the piston travels. The piston has some type of fiber/teflon? sealing disc on top of it, held in place by a tin plate with a screw in it. Top notch stuff????
I replaced both piston/rod/cylinder assemblies, and the fan, and the spacer washers between the crankpin, and the 2 rods. Simple stuff.
The replacement parts were about 110$ to my door in 3 days, and it took about an hour to put back together.

I'm so happy to have air again.

The compressor:

The carnage:

Tore down for inspection:

The crank counterweight and crankpin were both tight still, just replaced the spacer washer on the crankpin:

Ready to run:

 

[sled_dog]

Well that is an interesting design... I will have to take the pictures you have here and show them to a shop I go to. The foreman commented this week they could use a new compressor. Their current one is a 7.5HP Craftsman "Professional" that is 10 years old as well.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Appears to be an oilless which are junk compressors.

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

Appears to be an oilless which are junk compressors.

What he said. We locked up our oil type at work twice this summer. Let it cool down and fired back up. I don't think its doing as well as it used to....

 

[76zimmer]

Appears to be an oilless which are junk compressors.

So I have found out. I was in a crunch when my 20 gal 2 stage broke years ago. Right in the middle of redoing my Vette, and I needed one now. So I guess I got what I paid for.

 

[Jason4x4]

The craftsman professional I have is an oil filled, and I blew a head gasket on it after 3 years of heavy use.

 

[76zimmer]

time for a new IR two stage

...I've put a couple rods in this oiless thing now, might as well cut my losses with a bunch of body/paint work to do in the next couple years I need a more reliable unit.

So what does anyone know about using soldered copper line for air lines on a 175# system?
It has worked great for me for the last 14 years with this compressor, but its only a 125# single stage unit.

Comments?

 

[79rustyk10]

Would it be possible to adapt a different compressor unit onto the tank you already have?

 

[m4]

Would it be possible to adapt a different compressor unit onto the tank you already have?

You could if there's enough room between the pump and motor, also how the pump connects to the tank etc.

 

[76zimmer]

Would it be possible to adapt a different compressor unit onto the tank you already have?

Been looking at that...this motor is 14yrs old now, as is the tank.
the compressor I've been looking at comparable to the IR unit is almost $700. Take that + a new electric motor, pressure switch, and a 14 yr old tank rated at 135psi, not 175+

so overall I think 1200 for a new unit ready to go is a better deal.

Any comments on using the copper lines for air lines?

 

[ryoken]

as long as it's thicker wall L or K tube you should be fine... I'd be a little leary of the extra pressure if you have the thinwall M stuff...

 

[76zimmer]

hmmm, I didn't know there were different grades/thickness'...I'll research that some.
Looks like the K and L are both listed for use with compressed air. I'll have to look at my existing tubing to see what I got.

 

[sweetk30]

add the old tank in to the system for extra storage capacity . or make a nice roll around tire fill tank from it.

i know few shops doing the copper line stuff.

 

[ryoken]

hmmm, I didn't know there were different grades/thickness'...I'll research that some.
Looks like the K and L are both listed for use with compressed air. I'll have to look at my existing tubing to see what I got.

I know that from work... MANY of the older big boats run copper water lines, susceptible to freeze bursting...

 

[76zimmer]

add the old tank in to the system for extra storage capacity . or make a nice roll around tire fill tank from it.

i know few shops doing the copper line stuff.

Trying to sell the unit on c/l for $300. I think I paid 500 for it 14 yrs ago.


Everything I work with @ work is mostly stainless, until you get into 6"+ diameter.

 

[76zimmer]

I got type M right now, so I'll have to be switching all my piping in the shop to upgrade to the higher pressure of the new compressor.

 

[ARAMP1]

I've got a very similar Craftsman Professional compressor. It's a twin cylinder oil type. I figure if anything gives out in a big way, I'll just replace that sub-assembly with something better.

 

[76zimmer]

that should be a much better unit than my oiless one!

 

[76zimmer]

I got type M right now, so I'll have to be switching all my piping in the shop to upgrade to the higher pressure of the new compressor.

checking specs for type M rigid .028 wall tubing...800psi, and up to 400*... I guess I'm good!

 

[76zimmer]

Here is what I'm thinking for setting up the new compressor and lines/filter/regulator/traps...

This is for one bay...the other bay will come off the header and go to another filter/regulator about 30' from the compressor, that is where I do most of my painting.
I've always run my old compressors at full pressure, but have read to dial down to 100# for the line pressure, any thoughts on that?