I'm always on the lookout for projects , Snap On Consumer grade direct drive air compressor . decent, and junk at the same time

[The Cobbler]

I'm often on the lookout for a project. Not that I don't have enough already, but I guess the hunt is part of the deal too .
I found this Snap on air compressor on Kijiji ,listed as manifold broken needs replacement or for parts.
messaged the seller and made an offer ( it was already very fairly priced, but he agreed to $40 . went to pick it up today and met this really nice guy , we looked at the compressor and ran it. I was satisfied and know what I was getting . it's in overall good looking condition cosmetically . We spent about 15 minutes just chatting , he's one of us, he'd fit in here nicely .
Do I need a compressor? nope Do I need another project ? nope .
seems to be a weak part of these units, the manifold that holds the regulators and pressure gauges is made from cheap thin aluminum casting . they break & seems there's no replacement . the nice thing is each outlet can be adjusted independent of each other so you can have 2 pressures right off the tank
I am contemplating building a new manifold to replicate the original but the cost would rise dramatically due to needing 2 reg's . I'll probably just lose all that dashboard and build a single port manifold . I plan to give this to a friend ... unbeknownst to him. He's helped me a lot with different things & I can never repay him . He would take this tho, and be very happy to have it.
Below is a representative picture .
I think they may have been special to Cosco from what I read somewhere and sold for $700 ish

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Nice compressor, if anyone can pull this off you are the man. Have to admit I almost tossed my oiless Craftsman without your assistance. Now it is doing its share of work at the lake. My Sanborn is still functioning great as well since you talked me out of a tweak a neighbour suggested.
Your buddy will get some good use out of that compressor. . Good on ya.

 

[CGarage]

Very nice gesture for your friend.
What size tank?

 

[The Cobbler]

20 gallon

 

[The Cobbler]

and the plot thickens

here is a picture of the broken manifold . I suspect the compressor got laid on it's back and this took the weight. the handle is designed to be behind the manifold, if it was outwards more it would take the weight . the handle looks to be original, doesn't appear to be bent from a fall .


I bypassed the manifold and installed a gauge & a coupler to test the pump & tank.
over the motor sound I could hear air hissing, out came the soapy water . virtually every connection was leaking, some more some less...
took the shroud off & snugged all the connections .
tried it again, the soft start valve ( circled in blue ) wouldn't close so a large amount of air was escaping from there . took it off & plugged it .
it seems to be working as it should now, but I got a phone call that I had to take, got me sidetracked.
Some other stuff pressing right now, probably get back to it tomorrow.
I realize this is a consumer grade compressor, but with the snap on name on it, I think I would have expected better .
Like I said before, in some ways it's decent , other ways it's total **** .

 

[The Cobbler]

functioning great as well since you talked me out of a tweak a neighbour suggested

what tweak was that ? I vaguely recall something we talked about

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

what tweak was that ? I vaguely recall something we talked about

Following is my question to you. You told me not to screw around with it. And honest to Pete I have done just that.

A fellow is telling me I can under the black pressure cap there are 2 screws which have 2 screw heads glued to prevent tweaking. The compressor fills to about 120 lbs pressure. The tank says 135. Should I tweak the screw(s) (I think there were 2) a little at a time to hit 135 lbs or leave it alone.

 

[The Cobbler]

Jeez, even the unloader valve is stuck open . not sure when this was used last, but it sure couldn't have performed very well.
now that I have all the leaks sorted out, I can start to put it back together.
my tag line ( that I stole from a post, with permission of course...) comes true once again , thanks @Citation

 

[Beerhippie]

I can't recall many times I wished I had two different pressure outputs. Might come in handy for a blowgun one and a tool on the other, I guess.

I'm surprised that SO put their name on something that obviously consumer-grade.

 

[The Cobbler]

I'm surprised that SO put their name on something that obviously consumer-grade.

yeah, but @$700 it was overpriced too. I wonder if the bean counters looked at it as a good profit margin while we **** in all the DIYers with our name. " Look, I have a Snap On Compressor in my garage"
I'm surprised Costco sold it too, if that's actual fact ...

 

[Beerhippie]

Yeah, for a company reputed to have ( or have had) a sales policy of "professionals only--DIYers need not apply" selling through Costco seems off-brand.

 

[The Cobbler]

and a tamper resistant screw in the pressure switch cover

 

[MileHighRover]

Snap-on allows their name to be slapped on all kinds of complete garbage. Obviously it's for monetary gain, but I would expect so much more from that company.

 

[Beerhippie]

and a tamper resistant screw in the pressure switch cover

At least that's easily fixed with a cut-off wheel. Or just a new screw.

 

[The Cobbler]

here's the guts of the unloader valve. from right to left , the housing, the seat , the valve pin, the spring, and missing is the retainer that is a light press fit to hold it all together . I didn't get it in the picture
the bottom of the picture to the left side is a small pc of copper that was lodged in the seat . the needle or valve pin is the size of a dressmaker's pin for reference

 

[The Cobbler]

easily fixed with a cut-off wheel. Or just a new screw.

no room to get at it so I had to use a bit... but it won't be going back in LOL

 

[yatg]

yeah, but @$700 it was overpriced too. I wonder if the bean counters looked at it as a good profit margin while we **** in all the DIYers with our name. " Look, I have a Snap On Compressor in my garage"
I'm surprised Costco sold it too, if that's actual fact ...

Name recognition licensing.

It was sold in 2017 for 199.99

Snap-On 20 Gallon Air Compressor

Work on DIY projects or get stuff done around the house with the Snap-On 20 Gallon Air Compressor (item no. 917895) available at Costco for $199.99.

www.costcoweekender.com

comment from 2021:
"I bought one thinking that if it was a snap on that it would be of good quality, however I found out it is made in china. I have had it for some time now and it is junk."

Costco used to sell Snapon cargo straps, then they sold Goodyear, then they sold Cat. Maybe others too.
All pretty much the same except for strap color. Probably made in the same overseas factory too.
They would last a few years, then they start fraying and jamming.

 

[The Cobbler]

SO I have it all operational and working as it should with no leaks . all I have to do now is build an air manifold for it. I am thinking on that how/what to do.
All I know right now is that I have come the conclusion I won't be replicating the original. I'll be losing that and building a single regulated port .
I'm doubtful this ever worked properly from new in that there were so many leaks