A big blowhard followed me home!

OccupantRJ · Mar 11, 2016

Saw an ad on craigslist for a Smith 110 cfm tagalong compressor with a Ford 302 engine that runs on 4 cylinders of one bank and pumps air on 4 on the opposite bank. I previously had a large similar unit and sandblaster about 25 years ago that I sold and always regretted it, so I am treating myself to a future retirement gift.

Will use it for sandblasting and also to hook up to my outside air piping connection to air up the shop when doing extensive blasting in my two blasting cabinets. Unit needs a little TLC, but it works.

OccupantRJ · Mar 11, 2016

Engine pic

ADSR · Mar 11, 2016

Oh man! I like!

sberry · Mar 11, 2016

Ya, good deal. With blasting the faster the better. At 800 a guy ain't got to do a whole lot to make it back. Worth some fix up.

fourjeepin · Mar 11, 2016

How many CFM is it good for? 5? 6?

Richard Cranium · Mar 11, 2016

nice find, sounds like it is going to work out great for you

ddawg16 · Mar 11, 2016

RJ.....what are we going to do with you?

I know....bring beer and borrow it...........

Jarhead0408 · Mar 12, 2016

Nice! Looks like a score to me man. Congrats!

ADSR · Mar 12, 2016

RJ, are you going to do a little resto on it? I would love to see more on this and how that engine operates. Must have a custom cam and valves.

OccupantRJ · Mar 12, 2016

LORDDiESEL said:
RJ, are you going to do a little resto on it? I would love to see more on this and how that engine operates. Must have a custom cam and valves.

Yes, I will be performing a do over on it to make it a little nicer. Some of the sheet metal is bent, and my son has access to all kinds of sheet metal press brakes and such to replace a few panels rather than try to beat out the damaged areas.

Take a look at this link, focusing on Gordon Smith's grandson starting in post #12.

http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=toolt&th=306594

Here is a link to a manual on the basic machine.

http://download1447.mediafire.com/2uhy8gpw68ag/3m7s7mi9m0l3xix/Smith+compressor+manual.pdf

golferguy · Mar 12, 2016

Love seeing the compressors and have learned alot on the YT website. Here's a pic of my 2 finds.

OccupantRJ · Mar 12, 2016

Another reason I bought the portable is that right now my shop only has a 60 amp sub panel to provide for everything including a 2-1/2 ton heat pump. I have another electrical compressor that draws around 22 amps sitting idle due to this. Two compressors at 22 amps along with heat pump, lights, welder, and other machine tools has to be dealt with judiciously.

sberry · Mar 12, 2016

Even the a electrics are only 1/3 or less than the 302. 110 is pretty respectable, not huge but not small either. Blasting is something I want done fast.

ADSR · Mar 12, 2016

OccupantRJ said:
Yes, I will be performing a do over on it to make it a little nicer. Some of the sheet metal is bent, and my son has access to all kinds of sheet metal press brakes and such to replace a few panels rather than try to beat out the damaged areas.

Take a look at this link, focusing on Gordon Smith's grandson starting in post #12.

http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=toolt&th=306594

Here is a link to a manual on the basic machine.

http://download1447.mediafire.com/2uhy8gpw68ag/3m7s7mi9m0l3xix/Smith+compressor+manual.pdf

very cool! I'll be watching this one for sure. :beer:

Monkey Milk · Mar 13, 2016

golferguy said:
Love seeing the compressors and have learned alot on the YT website. Here's a pic of my 2 finds.

Wow those are a nice find. :beer:

ADSR · May 13, 2016

Updates?

TAMPAGT07 · May 13, 2016

A big blowhard followed me home!

Com'on, who else thought this was a thread about Strouty?

ddawg16 · May 13, 2016

TAMPAGT07 said:
A big blowhard followed me home!

Com'on, who else thought this was a thread about Strouty?

But why did it get your attention? :lol:

Side note....RJ....it looks I'll be out your way in a few weeks. Beer? :beer:

TAMPAGT07 · May 13, 2016

ddawg16 said:
But why did it get your attention?

I only came here to bash Strouty..... :evil:

OccupantRJ · May 13, 2016

ddawg16 said:
But why did it get your attention?

Side note....RJ....it looks I'll be out your way in a few weeks. Beer?

I don't see why not! You can meet my new English Bulldog pup if you end up at the shop.

OccupantRJ · May 13, 2016

LORDDiESEL said:
Updates?

Nothing yet. Got to get some time to deal with it. Going to do some tuning and maintenance on it first, then run it a little under load to check it out. Bought it while the getting was good. Got three bandsaw restores going on, just got the big blast cabinet complete, and just finished restoring a pot blaster. I can use the compressor to power up my shop also when complete, as that will let me run a large air jet in the cabinet suction gun. The first air jet I tried about sucked the bottom out of my 20 cfm compressor tank, so I settled on a 1/8" for now. Big difference with alox, a large air jet, and 100 psi when stripping paint.

jkherd · May 13, 2016

Great find!

OccupantRJ · Jun 11, 2016

LORDDiESEL said:
Updates?

Just for you.

Had a few minutes to spare this afternoon, so I took the effort to remove the air pressure control valve off the compressor to disassemble and make sure it was not gummed or clogged up, and to make sure the air entry screen in it's threaded base was clear.

After measuring the stem setting with a pair of calipers, I took the valve apart being sure to not lose the spring and check ball inside. After cleaning every thing up, I screwed the valve into my portable shop air regulator to test it's proper pressure set point.

After adjusting the setting stem to 105 psi pressure shift as recommended by the compressor manual, I tested the valve several times by adjusting the regulator up and down in pressure to simulate the compressor operation.

Back on the compressor it went until I get a battery for the unit and have more time for testing. At least now I feel better about the valve's operation. More info as I find time to tinker on the unit.

ADSR · Jun 11, 2016

Very cool.

I've also been reading your blasting media thread. Lots of good info!

Dennis Leigh Henry · Jun 13, 2016

Neat thread.. The guys at Plant 1 Cummins said we use to make air compressors with half the cylinders pumping and the other half powering.. V903 CI and V28 (liter) or 1710 CI... Now those are blow hards.... I have never seen a new one (so they must be pre 1990

OccupantRJ · Apr 16, 2017

I had a little time to tinker with the Smith compressor some more and to try to learn more about it's sequence of operation. Some things I have learned in no particular order.

Engine is a basic Ford Industrial 302 with a special air compressor head and unloader valves on one side.

There is a 15 psi pressure switch attached to the compressor head to prevent the starter from operating if there is pressure present.

There is a low oil pressure cutoff switch in the ignition circuit.

Outside air feeds both the compressor side and carburetor through the same air intake tube and filter system.

Unit has a filter restriction indicator device to alert that the filter needs service or replacement.

Carburetor is a Holley 1940 list series. Several makers supplied basically the same carb style. Autolite, etc.

A very small air cylinder by Clippard is used to actuate the carb linkage.

I replaced the mechanical fuel pump on my unit with a Carter unit for a Ford F-100 truck designed for a 1972 model, which has the filter canister built onto the bottom of the pump.

Unit weight is around 1450 lbs.

There are two water condensate drains, one on the receiver tank, and one on the after cooler.

I will add more facts and part numbers as I can to help others with these units.

MikeF2316 · Apr 16, 2017

One thing that surprised me is it keeps the original crankshaft. So the "motor" is not even firing. Even the 8 cylinder ignition is kept, and half the sparks are just grounded. But it sure is a cool piece. :thumbup:

dkmc · May 8, 2019

I came here from the Shop Piping thread.
Nice compressor, and interesting to hear some details about them I didn't know.
RJ, have you gotten this unit in shape and operating well at this point?
I'd like to see an update to this thread with more info on the unit and it's operation.

ChrisLS8 · May 8, 2019

TAMPAGT07 said:
A big blowhard followed me home!

Com'on, who else thought this was a thread about Strouty?

I was thinking Wam

A big blowhard followed me home!

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