Junkyard air comprossor

[PrerunnerRob]

I was at the local wrecking yard yesterday and scored a air compressor off a school bus. I was wondering why no-one runs one of these type of compressors, but run a converted a/c compressor instead?

[63sbssbbw]

Don't know what type/make of compressor you scored or why,AC or air tank,but factory AC compressors sap too much power from the motor

[Dadsredwagon]

would like mor einfo, could use it on my jeep?

[PrerunnerRob]

I grabbed this compressor because it is made to pump air, has a seperate oil inlet for the bearings, and unloader to make it stop compressing once it reaces a desired psi. I am an HVAC service tech and deal with refrigeration compressors daily, I can tell you a converted A/C compressor is not the ideal choice due to the fact it is designed to pick up oil with the compressed medium, be it air or refrigerant, to travel the piping loop. When you convert an A/C compressor to pump air, this is why the air coming out is a slimy mess, and you have to continually add oil on a reular basis. Normally it the oil would travel the refrigernt loop and come back to the compressor, but with converting it, it ends up in the tank, valves, etc. Also refrigeration compressors rely on cool refrigerant to maintain internal temperatures. If anyone wants more info on this, or shed some light as to anyone else who has tried this before, please let me know.

[ChiefRocka]

Most people use the "york" compressors. These have a seperate crankcase with oil in them.

They usually run @ 200 psi...I've seen guys push the limits to 300-350 psi.

They don't last too long at that point.

I plan on running a pair of York's on the Rock-a-Billy in the future.

So you picked up a air-brake compressor. What is that rated for ? I know air-brakes run @ 90-120 or something ??

John

[PrerunnerRob]

John, i know what you mean by the seperate oiling system , but it is not really seperate, refrigerant and oil are made to mix together to a certain degree, so oil consumption is not a thought to the person who engineered(is that spelled right?) the refrigeration cycle for that compressor. It will consure a certain ampunt of oil, but it is made to cycle the oil and refrigernt mix back to the compressor with out an serious side effects.

I hope I am not trying to come ass as a smart-ass or holier-then-thou attitude to anyone, I just would prefer to help more then hinder anyone in their quest for unlimited air!

[Walts_restoration]

ha, i have tons of these. They are kinda like what is found on nonair cars in the mid 60's that were rigged up to be like air cars with the under dash units correct?

[PrerunnerRob]

Sweet, you have a ton of these! Are you talking about AC compressors, or Air compressors?

[Walts_restoration]

there basicly air compressers that were used like ac compressors. Ive seen a guy rig them up for compressed air. ill get a pic on one as soon as i locate one, i think there all down at my farmhouse.

[gostranger]

Prerunnerrob could you take a picture of the air compressor that you scored i think we are all interested to see what it is we are talking about. as far as the ac compressor i know what you are saying about the oil going throught the lines but if you use a seperator this cuts it down for the cost you cant beat the 8-9 cfm out of the sanden 508 you get that is alot!! most of the other compressors only put out 2-4 cfm definatly get us some pics and see how much that thing will put out

[PrerunnerRob]

No problem, i will post some in a day or 2 when I have a chance!

[gostranger]

great cant wait to see the pictures!!

[PrerunnerRob]

ok, I don't know if this will work, but here is one picture of it. I will post more as I finish my mount for it

[gostranger]

wow that looks like a serious compressor!! keep us posted when you get it hooked up are you going to run a clutch drive on it or a pressure relase valve and run it all the time? i cant wait to hear the fill times thanks for the picture!!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Walts_restoration

ha, i have tons of these. They are kinda like what is found on nonair cars in the mid 60's that were rigged up to be like air cars with the under dash units correct?

Yeap

[PrerunnerRob]

That little silver deal on the back is a control regulator for a thing called an unloader in the cylinder head. The unloader allows the compressor to turn all the time without the need for a clutch like an ac compressor has. I figure the less complicated of a system the better, and these have been used forever on large equipment. I can't wait to try it out!

[ChiefRocka]

I'm assuming your gonna run a smaller pulley...Keep in mind the max. operating RPMs of that compressor.

Make sure that your pulley ratios are correct...you don't want to 'over-rev' that compresssor.

Sorry....You probably knew that already....

[PrerunnerRob]

Thanks John, i made sure to check out the rpm output of the engine it came off of, it was a gasoline enigne with a redline of 4000 rpm, but good looking out. I guess it wouldnt matter how many cfm it could pump if I exploded it!

[Woogeroo]

Hmn. That is a serious looking unit... is it gonna fit under the hood?

Very neat tho'...

-W

[PrerunnerRob]

I hope so, it doesnt stick up any higher then my air cleaner does, and that had several inches before it touched the hood. As the engine is out of the truck right now, all I can do is hope!