Is Old Compressor Worth Rebuilding???

[1FZj80]

My compressor is a circa 1940s McCormick Deering International Harvester which is blowing the crankcase oil into the compressed air stream. I havn't torn it down yet.

Are old compressors like this worth repairing?? I can't find anything online about it, so I have no idea if repair is even possible or if parts are available.

Any input appreciated.

 

[-Spike-]

I don't know anything about it, but to me the age factor would make it more appealing, and if parts were available I'd rebuild it whether or not it made financial sense.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Old stuff like that was designed to be rebuilt when worn out and were far better made than stuff you can buy today (unless you spend LOTS of cash). I highly recommend rebuilding what you have. Even if the manufacturer is no longer around most of the parts can still be found.

My brother is rebuilding a Champion compressor that is probably older than your compressor. Pics of some of his work were posted in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/workshop-h...-anyone-who-knows-insides-air-compressor.html under the user name "icesoft". He also posted links to a couple of the places he found parts for his compressor. Though he didn't mention it a lot of the generic compressor parts came from www.McMaster-Carr.com He isn't quite finished yet but he got distracted by other projects.



Nick

 

[Pin_Head]

All oil lubricated compressors blow some oil into the air stream so the question is if it is abnormal or not.
I would also be concerned about the condition of the tank. They can corrode to the point where they may be dangerous.

 

[1FZj80]

Thanks for the input.

After reading the post from icesoft, I'm motivated to get it working agian.

The oil in the air stream is so severe the it can't be used because everything just gets covered in oil. Even with air tools it is too much and it seems to create a oil like foam that just fills all the air hoses and makes a mess.

I also have the original motor and may have it rewound if I can get the pump working.

I have attached a few photos. The tank is remote mount and originally it was as refrigerant compressor but has been used for air since my dad was a kid in the late 30s-40s.

 

[-Spike-]

Yeegads, sounds a bit wimpy for air tool use.

 

[Dirtsquirt]

that unit is designed to pump oil

that is refrigerant compressor. it is built with rudementary attention spend on oil control.

most unit dont even have an oil control ring.

Truly a poor choice for compressed air.

 

[1FZj80]

works great for air tools, it out performs the Craftsman compressor I am using now. just need to get it working again!

 

[1FZj80]

that is refrigerant compressor. it is built with rudementary attention spend on oil control.

most unit dont even have an oil control ring.

Truly a poor choice for compressed air.

well, that may be... but it has been used for compressed air for over 70 years and has worked great until this past year when the crankcase oil began leaking into the air stream.

i will open it up this weekend and check out the innards.

 

[haryv]

I would say yes rebuild it

Chances are it will out live any modern day chinese built compressors. Plus if the parts for it are made in the US, you are helping the us economy.

 

[Pin_Head]

Since it is a refridgeration compressor, it is designed to blow oil into the outlet stream. There is nothing you can do to stop it.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Since it is a refridgeration compressor, it is designed to blow oil into the outlet stream. There is nothing you can do to stop it.

Yeah, but... We use York REFRIGERATION compressors all the time for on-board compressed air by plugging an oil port. This might also be possible for the OP. Or he needs one killer oil separator on the outlet side of the compressor.

Nick

 

[Pin_Head]

Yeah, but... We use York REFRIGERATION compressors all the time for on-board compressed air by plugging an oil port. Nick

Yes, but they still blow out a lot of oil. By design, the pistons have no oil control rings.

You can use a refrigeration compressor for air, but you have to put up with the oil blow by.

 

[1FZj80]

Yes, but they still blow out a lot of oil. By design, the pistions have no oil control rings.

You can use a refrigeration compressor for air, but you have to put up with the oil blow by.

For many years this compressor did not blow a lot of oil and worked great for compressed air.

I started taking it apart this weekend and found that the suction line is connected to crankcase via an internal port. The crank uses a rod dipper like Briggs engines so that atomized oil is drawn into the intake suction through a specially designed screen.

I can plug this port, but then the valves will get no lube.

I discovered I overfilled the crankcase lube oil, by a lot. This alone may solve the problem which seems to coincide with my last oil change.

I mistakenly assumed that I should fill oil to the top of the oil fill port. But, this buries the whole crank and dipper in oil and may be creating the oil problem. Before I pull the pistons, I’m going to put it back together and run it with oil level below the crank at the dipper level.

Fingers crossed………..

 

[Pin_Head]

The port is commonly plugged in York compressors used for on board air. I don't think that plugging it will be a problem for oiling the valves.

 

[-Spike-]

For many years this compressor did not blow a lot of oil and worked great for compressed air.

I started taking it apart this weekend and found that the suction line is connected to crankcase via an internal port. The crank uses a rod dipper like Briggs engines so that atomized oil is drawn into the intake suction through a specially designed screen.

I can plug this port, but then the valves will get no lube.

I discovered I overfilled the crankcase lube oil, by a lot. This alone may solve the problem which seems to coincide with my last oil change.

I mistakenly assumed that I should fill oil to the top of the oil fill port. But, this buries the whole crank and dipper in oil and may be creating the oil problem. Before I pull the pistons, I’m going to put it back together and run it with oil level below the crank at the dipper level.

Fingers crossed………..

I'd bet that fixes it.

 

[Trollhole]

Congrats.

My grandfather had one very similar. Was a great compressor.

 

[se2000]

Nostalgia doesn't cut it when it comes to tools. I have an old converted refrigerator compressor that was old when my old man got it in the 60's. I only use it to pull a vacuum nowadays.
went up to a 2 stage 5hp to work with. big difference.
Reality is if your old man could have gotten what is available today, he would have jumped on it and call you a fool for wanting that old thing.

 

[1FZj80]

I am not using it for nostalgia. I'm using it because I need a second compressor.

I have a Craftsman compressor (25 gal), but I bought a compressor like most everyone else that is designed for 120/240v. That way I can wheel it to the back yard and use air tools to assemble my kids play structure.

The problem with these compressors is that 120v compressors can only produce about 2HP (usually a little less). And 2HP can only produce about 6 cfm at 100 psi (regardless of what is stamped on the side). Even when wired to 208v the output cfm is not much greater. Many times 6 cfm is not enough, so…. my trusty International Harvester Sulfur Dioxide condensing unit piped in parallel gives me another 6 cfm and I get a true 12 cfm Now I can sandblast or uses air tools at a reasonable duty cycle.

When I win the lottery I will buy a 2 or 3 stage designed specifically for 208/240-3 phase, 30 amp (for the shop only) like your monster 5HP that probably puts out 20 cfm and sell the International Harvester to American Pickers for nostalgia.

 

[se2000]

I must have forgotten about winning the lottery as I have a big compressor. But I used a little compressor for decades. The trick is to have lots of hose. And I had several old freon containers tied together to give me more air time.