Saylor-Beall Compressor What should be done to this?

[capehoorn]

Just found this forum, glad I did. Hello everyone. Just bought this Saylor-Beall compressor off Craigslist For $250.00, hope I didn't pay to much. I live in Grand Rapids, MI and this was manufactured in St Johns, MI which is about 60 miles form me. Didn't know that when I bought it, kinda cool! The tag which is wired on says it is Model 735-60, with Marathon Electric 5hp, 3 phase motor. The tank label says "Pressed Steel Tank Co., Milwaukee, WI 1963". I am guessing from the date on the tank that this was manufactured in 1963. The seller said it came from his place of employment and was used as a backup Compressor. This will be for personal use at home, which means the Motor will need to be replaced. I am considering this BALDOR, CAT# L1430T, 5HP, 230V, 60HZ, SINGLE PHASE, 20.6AMPS, 1725 RPM, 184T FRAME, OPEN ENCLOSURE, RIDGED BASE, SHAFT DIAMETER 1.125", SHAFT LENGTH 3.56". Will this be a good choice or should I look for something else? What else should I do to this,if anything? Should I take the compressor pump cover off and inspect? I will change the oil, but not sure on what to use since this will be in an unheated garage in the winter. All suggestions much appreciated.

 

[EOC_Jason]

The great thing about SB is they are a solid American made pump. You can download the PDF manual from their website: http://www.saylor-beall.com/

When draining the current oil, check how good / bad it is. Hopefully there won't be any chunks of metal coming out.

That Baldor seems a good choice. But check to make sure the frame is the same as your existing if you want a bolt-in swap... Also make sure the shaft size & length are the same. Otherwise you will have to buy a new pulley... Probably a good time to replace the belt while you are at it.

Does it have a magnetic starter box? If so you will probably have to change the contactor since you are going from 3-phase to single phase...

Before you pull the heads off, I would get some new gaskets first. I don't know if this company is close by, but this guy has said very good things about them, click the picture and you will see their business card.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3142739&postcount=143

Good luck and post pics when you can.

 

[capehoorn]

Here is the magnetic starter box, will it work with a single phase motor?

 

[OccupantRJ]

It will work, but you will need a 240 volt coil, and the proper overload heaters for the new motor. You would use two of the main terminals instead of three. You could eliminate two of the heaters and use a solid link in place of one of them. When one heater trips, it would shut down a 240 single phase motor anyway, since there are two wires feeding it. Read up on motor starters so you will understand how they work. See the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_starter

 

[Grounded Ken]

The 215 dim. is 4-1/4 x 14 with a 1-1/8 shaft dia. with a 3" length.
The 184T dim. is 3-3/4 x 11 with a 1-1/8 shaft dia. with a length of 2-3/4" length.
There should be multiple slots for different motors on the tank base.
The 184T should bolt on. The motor pulley should be a 2 pc. unit and you can make up the 1/4" playing with that.
If your looking for cost effective motor you might want to check into the WEG, I know when I price them they come in about $100 less than the Bladors and the Leesons.
Been selling them for at least 10 years with no problems.

 

[capehoorn]

Is the WEG build quality equal to Baldor?

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think WEG's are made in Brazil. However, I've seen some Quincy compressor's @ Northern Tool with them. Also a buddy of mine has a couple compressors with them. All I can say is they run, I don't know about long-term quality. If you can find one for a good price I would go for it.

 

[cnc-me]

It will work, but you will need a 240 volt coil, and the proper overload heaters for the new motor. You would use two of the main terminals instead of three. You could eliminate two of the heaters and use a solid link in place of one of them. When one heater trips, it would shut down a 240 single phase motor anyway, since there are two wires feeding it. Read up on motor starters so you will understand how they work. See the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_starter

Don't believe that size 1 is big enough for 5HP single phase.

Some old Square D's used to have 4 contacts, 3 mains
and a holding contact. The holding contact was the same size and
quality as the mains, so you could parallel them out and these would
handle a 5hp single phase.

 

[cnc-me]

Is the WEG build quality equal to Baldor?

Don't know if they are equal or not, but I have heard that they are a good motor to use for an air compressor.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Don't believe that size 1 is big enough for 5HP single phase.

Some old Square D's used to have 4 contacts, 3 mains
and a holding contact. The holding contact was the same size and
quality as the mains, so you could parallel them out and these would
handle a 5hp single phase.

Although I bought the unit used, I have a Saylor Beall 5 hp, 240 volt single phase that has been running on a size 0 starter for at least 25 years. I just went and checked as I was curious what size it was. I was surprised, but hey, it's been going all this time. Think I will check the amp draw next time it's run.

 

[cnc-me]

Although I bought the unit used, I have a Saylor Beall 5 hp, 240 volt single phase that has been running on a size 0 starter for at least 25 years. I just went and checked as I was curious what size it was. I was surprised, but hey, it's been going all this time. Think I will check the amp draw next time it's run.

I don't doubt it, the contacts are probably as big as a 5 H.P. IEC rated starter.
Just don't like to hand out "iffy" advice on the net.
One problem you could have is that you will not be able to get heaters (overloads) large enough for the motor's amp draw for an "undersized" starter.