My poor air compressor

37chief · Feb 28, 2017

My air compressor has faithfully provided me with air for years now. I turn it on and it starts making air. I hardly ever check the oil. It has been operating on one belt for years, where two is needed. I just finished a sand blasting job and blowing off a part. Then a sound it has never made. The belt came apart. I ordered two, and in a few days I should be back in operation. This could have happened in the middle of a painting job. With a pot of catalized paint. Has anything ever happened where you depend on your air supply, and something happened, like in the middle of a paint job? Stan

Buddy · Feb 28, 2017

I think a shop air compressor has got to be the most neglected piece of equipment a man owns except a lawn mower. LOL. I have a old US Curtis compressor, used when I bought it, been in a little building behind my shop for almost 20 years. 15 years in my first shop before that. I go back their and drain the water every Friday, well most Fridays, and check the oil in it maybe twice a year maybe. Belts , think I put new ones on it when I moved it , well I think it did. LOL.. Poor old thing has always had air when I need it and I cant remember ever hearing it run when I wont using it.

300jk · Feb 28, 2017

We have a large saylor Beale in the shop at work. Not sure on the spelling. But it is big. Supplies 4-5 mechanics and the welding bay. End of last week one of the guys went to turn it on and it started knocking bad so we haven't been using it. We have been using a diesel tow behind compressor since run through the the shop air dryers and plumbing. The kind used with Jack hammers ect. Doesn't make nearly the air the old shop compressor did and the guys are complaining. Shop foreman is working on either fixing the old one or replacing it. I thought I overheard the replacement would cost over 10,000. Ouch ! A lot of people took that one for granted until it just didn't want to work anymore. It was cared for but got a lot of use.

RBoots · Feb 28, 2017

Saylor Beall air compressors are made in a little factory here in Saint Johns MI, my hometown, 10 miles away from where I live. They are a very good compressor, I have one in my shop that is probably 40+ years old. I put a new head on it, and new piston rings on it with a new gasket kit last year. The original electric motor burned up, so I figured when I replaced that, I should probably tune up the compressor as well. Nice thing is, I can drive right to the factory to get parts. Good company.

Ross

dzc3 · Feb 28, 2017

Hey Buddy I agree with you. People need to be very concerned about old tanks, which can explode. They rust from the inside out. You are very likely at the end of the life of the tank. Good new is that new tanks are readily available.

Bill in IL · Feb 28, 2017

I burnt up the motor on my compressor a couple of years ago in the middle of painting a trailer. I wasn't using catilized paint but had to borrow a compressor for a day or so till I could fit another motor to it. The old compressor and motor combination are still going strong.

Andy Martin · Feb 28, 2017

There are very good automatic water drain valves available on the internet now fro $25. That's too cheap to risk a rusted tank explosion.

K Effective · Feb 28, 2017

Dad worked for a compressor manufacturer, but they made only smaller stuff. I bought a 60 gallon vertical from the traveling gypsy HF-lite tool sales guy in the bowling alley parking lot about 25 years ago. Figured it would last about five years, then I'd get a new, better quality one, but she still sucks and blows! Motor has had a new start capacitor, but the biggest issue has been the head gaskets, breaking the little strip that separates the intake side of the cylinder from the exhaust side. One cylinder will leak through this special spot, then the other cylinder has to work almost twice as hard, fighting each other.

Janicholson · Feb 28, 2017

Air Compressor failure burned down Verso Paper in Sartel MN.

Patsdeere · Feb 28, 2017

That would be cheap. At my work I did the contract for one that is $55k (compressor, dryer and 700 gal storage tank).

Stephen Newell · Feb 28, 2017

I had three compressor fail last year. One was a 5hp Ingersol Rand compressor I had been using for about 25 years which developed a hole in the tank. Then because it was running too much the pressure switch burned up so I turned it off until I can get a new tank and switch. Then I started using a 1hp portable compressor I've had for 30 years and the head gasket blew so I got another gasket. Then after fixing that it quit compressing air so I've retired that one. Then I started using a little smudgepot compressor I carry on my work truck and in about a week it burned up. I bought a 2hp Campbell Hausfeld compressor to use temporarily but I've got a real bad feeling about it. When I drain the water out of the tank there is a lot of rust in it. I don't think the inside of the tank is coated with anything. When I get the time I'm going to my inspection camera inside it.

ericlb · Mar 1, 2017

ive had them give up, or just refuse to build air, usually at the worst possible time, what i have now is 2 smaller compressors feeding into a large air tank, that way i have air that lasts longer for sand blasting or running my da sander ect but if one compressor goes down i can close its valve and the other one will continue to work, slower for sure but im still going

My poor air compressor

37chief

Well-known Member

Buddy

Member

300jk

Well-known Member

RBoots

Well-known Member

dzc3

Member

Bill in IL

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Andy Martin

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K Effective

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Janicholson

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Patsdeere

Well-known Member

Stephen Newell

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ericlb

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