Which way does this Air compressor flywheel go?

[jcobra99]

Im Putting my compressor together that im building. Im just double checking im putting the flywheel on the correct way. Is picture one correct?

 

[akdiesel]

I may be wrong but I don't think it matters. One way would be to blow on a cooler or the other way is to cool the pump.

 

[fury9]

You want it blowing towards the pump

 

[DocsMachine]

It blows the same direction either way. The vanes don't reverse when turned around, any more than screw threads reverse when a bolt is turned around.

But the "correct" way to mount that flywheel is with the center pinch bolt on the "outside"- away from the compressor- where you can more easily access it during assembly.

Doc.

 

[akdiesel]

It blows the same direction either way. The vanes don't reverse when turned around, any more than screw threads reverse when a bolt is turned around.

But the "correct" way to mount that flywheel is with the center pinch bolt on the "outside"- away from the compressor- where you can more easily access it during assembly.

Doc.

Ah, yes. Thank you for correcting me.

 

[Cyberbear]

Try this: you don't spin the flywheel 180 degrees, pivoting at 6 and 12 o'clock. You flip the flywheel at 3 and 9 o'clock to reverse the vane air flow.

 

[pattenp]

Also if the blades are concave there is a difference which way the wheel goes on. You want the concave side pushing the air.

 

[930dreamer]

Some have an arrow cast into the flywheel, showing direction.

 

[Techie1961]

The second photo looks like the right way. The little tail on the vanes is usually pushing the air, not grabbing it. Due to centrifugal forces, the air will build up on the perimeter more and this helps to push it faster.

 

[jcobra99]

ok thanks everyone. Whats the best method to get the flywheel on the pump?

 

[Techie1961]

ok thanks everyone. Whats the best method to get the flywheel on the pump?

Loosen up the bolt and then drive in a wedge for the expansion/clamp gap. A big screwdriver usually does the job nicely. Make sure the shaft and bore are clean and no burrs of nicks. It should slide right on.

 

[nadogail]

How does the flywheel go? It goes round and round.

 

[FTG-05]

Question about compressor flywheels:

Are they cast iron or cast steel, typically?

Thanks,

 

[Ironhorse74]

How does the flywheel go? It goes round and round.

You beat me to it.

 

[DocsMachine]

But I think he wanted to know which way the blades should face. The fan can be set up to blow air towards the motor or the fan can be set up to draw air over the motor and then through the fan.

-No, it can't.

Flipping the wheel around doesn't change the direction of the blades. At worst it might put the less efficient edge leading, if we assume the makers actually put any aerodynamics in the fan blade shapes.

But the only way to reverse the direction of the air flow is to reverse the direction of the motor itself. (If there's an arrow cast into the wheel, it's indicating which direction the compressor is supposed to spin.)

Doc.

 

[radrush]

-No, it can't.

You're correct...as usual.