The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Air compressor rehab

I am a pround owner of one of those oil-less compressors.It is taking longer and longer to build up air.I am planning on saving the tank and replace the compressor and motor. Any ideas on where the best place to buy them???

Not Sears. My oiless unit needed a $80 part
after 1 year and very little use. That was a
few months ago. Now its doing the same thing.
Slowly loseing air pressure. I know its only
a matter of time and I'm going to have to get
another part. Cecil.........

It is a sears. :mad: I hate the thought of having to go a buy another compressor. Then I was thinking I could just up grade the compressor and motor and bolt them to the tank. :confused: Sounds good, but is it worth it?

My educated guess is NO. It's probably not worth it. The oil-less compressors are not made for a lot of work - they are "consumer" grade - great for filling up an occational tire or spritzing the dust off something (and noisy!).

Save your time, money and energy and buy a belt drive, oiled crankcase compressor. Not that more expensive and much better performance for your hard earned dollars.

Paul

That is what I plan on doing, changing over to a oiled compressor and a drive motor. I'm looking for a place that sells just the compressor pump and motor.

I'm NOT reccomending them, but Harbor Freight has pumps and motors.

As you search for a compressor set for your existing tank, remember that the oiless units operate at a lower pressure then the oiled units. Check the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) on the tank and make sure you do not exceed that pressure with the new compressor.

Bad things happen when compressor tanks fail.

Yes I to have a Sears 3.5 hp oilless compressor. I'm not sure if all the oilless compressors are made as it is anymore or not. What happens to mine is that the graphite ring wears in on the piston. As it wears away the compressor takes longer and longer to pump up till it gets worn to where it can not develope enough compression to pump up. I do have an old Campbell-Haustfelt compressor (1985) that is still going strong. I had to replace the reed valves (actually wore them out), while it was apart I looked to see how the piston was on it. On it they made the ring on the piston so that the ends over lapped, so has the ring wears it the overlap moves out and keeps it sealed. I will say this compressor has alot of hours on it and hopefully it will have a few more years to go. Wish I could find another like it.
So my recommendation to anyone asking is to go with an oil type pump anymore. Actually one time while at Sears a salesman was trying to sell a woman an oilless compressor. I told her they were no good and if she wanted a longer lasting compressor she'd be better off looking at the oil type pumps. Salesman probably didn't appreciate this butr I didn't want her to end up flushing 269 down the drain like I did!! LOL

I was given a Craftsman compressor (oil less). I think 6.8CFM @90 psi. My neighbor gave it 2 me 2 years ago and told me it was about 10 yrs old. These things get blasted all the time for being a piece of ( ). It is noisy for sure, and I wouldn't buy one if I was buying new, BUT it works to run my impact gun and die grinder and assorted other air tools including a air sander (got to wait a lot for it to catch up). I post this because these things always get bashed, and to be sure I would not by another one particulary when I saw an upright 60 gal cast irn belt driven Comp at a local farm store on sale for $369.00. But it still works and does my simple tasks. Whenit dies, I'll buy a beter compressor, but I got to give it a little credit.

I should have realised the oil-less was not the way to go. They are good for air tools, but not sand blasting. I blasted the frame, most of the cab and doors and it's already slowing down. Not sure if it will live for the rest of the truck.

Anybody looking for a good air compressor should contact North Central Air at 785-454-3409. My company buys 150 - 250 air compressors from them each year. We have not found a better value. He imports containers of compressors and has the best prices we can find in North America. Tell him Phil from Oil Vac sent you to him.

Thanks for the info. I think I will scrap the idea of trying to salvage this oil-less compressor and go out and buy a good one. Does your salesman have a web site we can check out and see what he has?

They do not have a website that I know of. They are a mom and pop shop, but I have had their competitors tell me that North Central Air sells more air compressors in the US than any other company.
Here is one of his competitors websites: http://greenvalleycompressor.com/mi...&Store_Code=PT&Category_Code=ACP
They both carry the Puma brand that we buy so much of.

Phil

If you change your mind you can get pumps and motors here
http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?UID=2005051400142138&catname=air&keyword=APBP
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...CMID=osclrp101ln&N=87+90145&Ne=2

When it comes to buying an air compressor do like the women folks do.....Shop Till You Drop. So many different models and so closely matched you won't catch the little subtle differences until you take it home if your not careful. I shop all the stores a couple years ago and ended up with a Sears 7hp,80gal vertical, 175 psi that runs my shop and bead blaster like a top. Got it all on sale and with Craftsman club for $805. I'm not sure what they sell for now but again....shop, shop shop. Know what your looking for and the rule of thumb is to get about half as much MORE that you expect to do!!

You guys got me thinking.I have an old compressor,vintage 1956.2 stage 80 gal.tank.works very good,but it is getting slow,to build up pressure.At 49 years old I guess that is to be expected.I have been toying with the idea of buying a new one,but maybe I will price a new pump.I contacted the co.that made it and parts are no longer available for it.Champion Compressor Co.

Surpluscenter.com has pumps and motors. They have all sorts of stuff for the do-it-yourselfers.

I don't have the address handy but TPTool company has a nice site and a good bit of reading/facts about air compressors and how to figure just what you need. it would be worth the time to check it out. I think it is tptool.com????? My skat blast bead cabinet came from there and now I wish I had sprung for the Quincy Compressor. Pricey but the best there is...even according to the local Total Compressor shop guys who sell several brands.

The old compressor is getting slower and louder. Waiting to fit it in the budget before I do anything. The surplus center is looking good so far. For around $500 I can have a new compressor.