Emglo Air compressor pump any good?

[sld961]

Hi, I'm looking at buying an air compressor pump. The guy says it's an Emglo. The only markings I can find on the pump are K30 on the case and L50 on the heads. Is this a good pump? What motor would I need to run it? What cfm would it put out? What's it worth?

 

[md21722]

That looks like a single stage G pump. You can run it at 480, 770, or 1020 RPM with a 2, 3, or 5 HP 1725 RPM motor to generate 9.1, 14.0, or 17.8 CFM @ 125 PSI.

On the side opposite the flywheel there should be an Emglo tag with a part number and serial number so you can positively identify it.

I have an old Emglo K2E-30 and it my favorite single stage compressor. It has the smaller 2 cylinder inline K pump.

I'm going to guess the one you're looking at came off an old wheel barrow compressor as they were very popular in smaller sizes for running nail guns, etc. on work sites. I'd want to know what happened to the rest of the compressor because you are paying money for something you can't test.

 

[sld961]

That looks like a single stage G pump. You can run it at 480, 770, or 1020 RPM with a 2, 3, or 5 HP 1725 RPM motor to generate 9.1, 14.0, or 17.8 CFM @ 125 PSI.

On the side opposite the flywheel there should be an Emglo tag with a part number and serial number so you can positively identify it.

I have an old Emglo K2E-30 and it my favorite single stage compressor. It has the smaller 2 cylinder inline K pump.

I'm going to guess the one you're looking at came off an old wheel barrow compressor as they were very popular in smaller sizes for running nail guns, etc. on work sites. I'd want to know what happened to the rest of the compressor because you are paying money for something you can't test.

Thanks for the info. He said the tank blew up, the relief valve didn't work and the tank blew up.

What would the compressor be worth? Assuming it's in good running order? What is it worth as a gamble? Is there anything I can do to check it's condition? When I spin the flywheel, it builds compression against my thumb...

 

[md21722]

Around here in Colorado, entire working Emglo compressors with the G pump and a Honda gas engine list on Craigslist for $500-750. The smaller K pump electric models sell for around $100-300. I don't think I'd pay more than $100 for it. I'm not sure how you can test it completely without a tank and motor. Lots of stories of people selling compressors Home Depot, etc. that only build 30 psi. Not sure you can tell the difference with the finger test. The Emglo pumps are pretty solid though. If you have the rest of the parts or can get them reasonably to build a complete compressor I'd go for it.

 

[sld961]

He's asking $50 for it. I don't have a motor for it. I'd try to find one cheap down the road on CL, and a bigger tank too, I only have a 30gal.

Is it worth the gamble for $50?

 

[md21722]

I'd pick it up for $50 if I ever thought I could use it. I don't see them come up used very often. Do note that some or many of the Emglo pumps are designed to run CW rather than CCW so you'd need a reversible or CW motor. Many of your consumer grade compressor motors are CCW only.

 

[mikegt4]

For $50 I'd get it unless there is an obvious terminal failure. Rebuild parts are still available.
http://www.aircompressorpartsonline.com/emglo-pump-parts-lc-lu-lcu-pump-emglo-parts-p-2253.html

 

[sld961]

Would this motor work? I assume I would have to get an appropriate pulley? What cfm would I be looking at. He'll sell the motor for $50. Is it worth it for $100 for motor and pump?

 

[sld961]

Looks like it wouldn't work because of the rpms? I need a 1725rpm motor and this one is 3475?

 

[redmondjp]

Looks like it wouldn't work because of the rpms? I need a 1725rpm motor and this one is 3475?

The lower-speed motor is better-suited for a compressor, but the motor pictured above most certainly will work with the right pulley size. Here is a good calculator to use:

http://www.blocklayer.com/pulley-belteng.aspx

Enter the diameter of your compressor pump (large) pulley, put in '3475' for the speed of the motor pulley, select "RPM small", and then calculate to see how close the pump (large) pulley speed is to 770RPM.

The "pulley centers" is the distance between the centers of the two pulleys - for your initial purposes, the exact number doesn't matter.

Play around with this calculator with the various motor pulley sizes that are available. There is no hard and fast rule on the precise pump RPM, but assuming that the pump specifications listed in a post above are correct, for a 3HP motor you want to spin the pump at no faster than 770RPM. So if you end up turning the pump slightly slower, that is perfectly fine. The motor RPM will be at its nameplate rating so consider that a fixed value.

 

[sld961]

I bought the pump. The tag says L with a number that I assume is the serial number. I assume that means is an L pump instead of a G pump. Is the L as good as the G?

 

[sld961]

 

[sld961]

I'm kicking myself for not buying the motor for $50. It was a very large heavy duty motor. He had someone lined up after me to buy it for $200.

 

[mikegt4]

I bought the pump. The tag says L with a number that I assume is the serial number. I assume that means is an L pump instead of a G pump. Is the L as good as the G?

All of those Emglo pumps share design features. It is the combination of parts that make the different models somewhat like small block Chevys, 265, 283 302, 305, 307, 327, 350, 400 etc.

The "L" has a 2.5" bore, 2" stroke with 4 cylinders, it shares the B/S with the well respected 2 cylinder "K" pump.

The "G" and "GT" pump has 2.5" bore/ 2.375" stroke w/4cyl.

The "L" seems to be an older pump no longer in production but parts are still available.

 

[md21722]

It may very well be an L pump which is closely related to the G pump. I'd called Jenny/Emglo and ask them directly (814) 445-3400. You might also try one of the online compressor parts shops like Mastertoolrepair. Recently the GC pump was rolled into the G pump as well. In some cases the only difference is the flywheel where they changed from 10" to 10-3/8" with a better fan pattern and narrower belt, which I think applied to both the G and K series pumps. I have a 1995 K pump and 1982 K pump and those are the differences. They are both good pumps. I would be happy to own either (and I own two K pumps). The GT pumps are dual stage which this pump shows no indication of being. And yes, you should've bought that motor because it was likely ideal for this pump. Remember that Jenny/Emglo pumps generally run CW whereas many commonly available consumer compressor motors run CCW. The pump will run either way, but won't get the cooling it was designed for if run backwards. Most of the Emlgo's have an easily discernible build date out of the serial number. Your may have been made in 1981. I would not let it bother me, as these are long lasting pumps that have changed little over the years. If you do find out more about this particular pump please share it with us so we can expand our knowledge.

 

[sld961]

Thanks for the replies. I did call Jenny and got a spec sheet on the L pump. It's definitely an L pump. The motor size range for the L pump is 2-3hp. Now I'm really kicking myself for not getting that motor. I thought I would hold out for a 5hp when I thought it was a G pump, but that 3hp would have been perfect, and only $50!

Looks like it'll put out some good air with a 3hp pump.

The arrow on the flywheel indicates CCW rotation.

When picking a pulley for the correct pump rpms, should I go off of the low pressure rpms or the high pressure rpms?

 

[md21722]

That's good information from Jenny. It looks like you'd want to run that pump at 900 RPM. You might try using a 3HP 3450 RPM motor & 4" motor pulley. The 3HP 3450RPM pumps are commonly found on big box store 3HP/10.3CFM 60 gallon compressors which can be somewhat frequently found on craigslist cheap with blown pumps. NAPA also sells compressors and sells 3HP motors for about $200. No discounts are likely to apply.

 

[sld961]

Will it do any harm to put a 5hp motor on this pump? I assume that it would just be "wasted" power, but if I find a cheap 5hp before I find a 3hp, is there any reason not to use the 5hp?

 

[md21722]

Nope. As you state, you're just using unnecessary power to drive it.

 

[ez-duzit]

It really looks like a pile of junk. Why do you think someone took it apart?

 

[sld961]

It really looks like a pile of junk. Why do you think someone took it apart?

Because the tank failed and he bought a new compressor.

 

[redmondjp]

You won't be wasting that much more energy by using a 5HP motor with only a 3HP load on it - your load current will be well under the full-load ampere rating. You're heating up a bit more copper, that's all. The motor will live long and prosper.

 

[sld961]

Got a text this morning. The guy with the motor didn't sell it and offered it to me again for $50. I went right down and bought it. It's a big motor. 69lbs.