Puma 12V Compressor

[Enigma]

Has anyone had a PUMA failure?

My 1st PUMA was purchased in 2007 and has been run monthly since then without issue

Best Chinese product even purchased by me

Yeah, mine seized up awhile ago. It's still apart on the bench, I'll get around to it one of these days....

Nothing I could see as to why it seized, it just "did".

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Yeah, mine seized up awhile ago. It's still apart on the bench, I'll get around to it one of these days....

Nothing I could see as to why it seized, it just "did".

That sucks but curious -
24v or 12v?
where was it mounted?
Estimated hours?

 

[Enigma]

That sucks but curious -
24v or 12v?
where was it mounted?
Estimated hours?

12v, mounted inside the back of my 80. had it for a few years, not a lot of hours on it though, probably not even 10. Never seemed to be any water in the tank whenever I checked. Was working fine, went to use it one day and the power leads were smoking hot and it wouldn't do anything.

 

[80t0ylc]

12v, mounted inside the back of my 80. had it for a few years, not a lot of hours on it though, probably not even 10. Never seemed to be any water in the tank whenever I checked. Was working fine, went to use it one day and the power leads were smoking hot and it wouldn't do anything.

Do you advance the throttle on your rig so it's putting out the required voltage? At idle, most rigs don't put out what the compressor needs and that'll fry it if done enough times. I'm seem to remember 14.7 volts at a minimum. I have an ice scraper that is just the right length to hold the throttle at about 1500 rpm. If you check with a voltmeter you can see the difference between idle and approx 1500 rpm. Edit: Also measure voltage at the compressor, not the battery. You could be suffering from a serious voltage drop if your power cables aren't able to handle the load. 12v is what the Puma needs and that is what you should see, minimum, at the compressor.

 

[trint99]

Ok. I'm in. (Long time lurker, first time poster.)

I bought a used Puma already divorced from tank (no tank included) for CH-CH-CHEAP! Now I have to figure it all out.

It's got some custom copper that I think I can replace with braided line. I'm going to get a small-ish tank (2 gal? hoping to run horns eventually), and mount the compressor under the hood with the tank under the bed (2nd gen Tacoma).

You guys have had plenty of time to burn in these things. Looking for some answers based on real experience. (And yes, I read all 24 pages of this thread today.)

1) Will it be too hot under the hood? It's already used and I don't want to cut it's life even shorter.
2) Will braided lines handle the heat right out of the head?
3) If I put a gauge in the cab, I'll have miles of line crisscrossing the truck. Will that be a problem?
4) I only saw one mention of an in-cab switch and the recommendation was a continuous duty solenoid. Why this and not a relay?
5) Where is the air filter and where can I buy a new one (assuming it's used up)?

 

[Tapage]

I would never put a compressor in the engine bay .. ( personal opinion )

 

[Dragos80]

Why not?
This factory thought it would be a very good idea.

 

[Tapage]

Why not?

why adding more heat to the already hot compressor working condition .?

I'm pretty sure Mercedes engineers thought in the heat and noise part not being par of what a Mercedes owner would like to have inside the cabin .. since I don't mind that and mind the heat for the compressor .. I put it inside ..

 

[alia176]

Ok. I'm in. (Long time lurker, first time poster.)

I bought a used Puma already divorced from tank (no tank included) for CH-CH-CHEAP! Now I have to figure it all out.

It's got some custom copper that I think I can replace with braided line. I'm going to get a small-ish tank (2 gal? hoping to run horns eventually), and mount the compressor under the hood with the tank under the bed (2nd gen Tacoma).

You guys have had plenty of time to burn in these things. Looking for some answers based on real experience. (And yes, I read all 24 pages of this thread today.)

1) Will it be too hot under the hood? It's already used and I don't want to cut it's life even shorter.
2) Will braided lines handle the heat right out of the head?
3) If I put a gauge in the cab, I'll have miles of line crisscrossing the truck. Will that be a problem?
4) I only saw one mention of an in-cab switch and the recommendation was a continuous duty solenoid. Why this and not a relay?
5) Where is the air filter and where can I buy a new one (assuming it's used up)?

View attachment 1622129

I really like these relays from Amazon, not too expensive and uses lug terminals vs spade terminals for a tighter connection: http://a.co/c3mmDYw

You can use a solenoid as well, just more HD and a little more $$.

I didn't install this air comp but installed an Air Zenith in the 4Runner engine bay and it's been working out nicely. When it's time to air up, I prop the hood open to help out the air comp and to suck in cooler air. HTH.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Has anyone had a PUMA failure?

My 1st PUMA was purchased in 2007 and has been run monthly since then without issue

Best Chinese product even purchased by me

They are made in Taiwan with a Japanese motor.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

My experience has been so positive, I am considering a 60 gallon puma for my garage

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

They are made in Taiwan with a Japanese motor.

OK Best Taiwan/Japanese product ever purchased by me.
Mine turned 10 years old last August 2017, runs as good today as day one and it gets a lot of use.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

I brought in 12 special order 24vdc units for the older diesel cruisers - they are great quality- better than Viar for price.

 

[LC4LIFE]

My main garage compressor crapped out a couple weeks ago and so my Puma has been getting extra duty lately. Used my air chisel to help another 80 guy get his steering damper off, and its run my finishing nail gun a few times. No complaints by me or the compressor, it just needs a bit more rest than my big compressor. I am a huge fan.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Question...What's a good replacement pressure switch for the Puma. Every once in a while I blow a 60 amp fuse, sometimes the pump doesn't shut off, so I'm going to start with a new pressure switch. Seems every one I find is a LeFoo ? seems cheap, any better out there?

 

[scrapdaddy]

So, the pressure switch I looked at is for 120 volts AC. Is there a replacement for the Puma switch?

 

[Dharma Dude]

So, the pressure switch I looked at is for 120 volts AC. Is there a replacement for the Puma switch?

Aren't pressure switch just pressure activated relays? I would think that the 120 volt AC version will work, as long as it fits.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I'm not sure, but you might be right. I'll make some calls tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Aren't pressure switch just pressure activated relays? I would think that the 120 volt AC version will work, as long as it fits.

Not exactly, they are a switch. A relay (AKA solenoid) is a device which uses an electromagnet to control a valve or switch. A pressure switch uses pressure to control a valve or switch.

A 120 VAC pressure switch should work fine, as long as the current rating is higher than the requirement for the pump everything will be hunky dory.

 

[80t0ylc]

Attached is the parts list I saved from the box the Puma came in:

Item 29; Pressure switch; 2E21-AA276AP