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1954 Brunner Air Compressor

J

JEdA

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May 2, 2008
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Arkansas
I'm shopping for a used air compressor. I need it because the 33 gallon Craftsman I have isn't going to live a long life running constantly when hooked to the plasma cutter on my torchmate.

My father in law's friend has a 1954 Brunner that he would sale. I looked at it last night (no picture unfortunately). It's an 80 gallon supposedly 5hp motor with a large single cylinder pump. It seemed in good shape. It ran smooth and quiet (impressively quiet especially compared to the airless I'm used to) other than a slight knock. The knock was pretty slight and has supposedly been happening for as long as any of them could remember.

The problem is that it seemed to take a long time to build pressure. I didn't time it, but probably 15+ minutes to build up to the 150 psi we turned it off at. I'm not sure what pressure the switch is set at and he couldn't remember. Is this normal? I don't really have a feel for how long it should take to fill an 80 gallon tank, but I worry that this compressor doesn't have the cfm to keep up with my plasma cutter (6ish), although it could probably handle running continuously better than my current compressor.

What do you guys think?
 
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mdub

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I have a 40's model brunner, got it off craigslist for cheap. It too takes a while to fill up the tank, its either a 40 or 60 gallon cast iron horizontal job. The thing looks like an atom bomb. I had to add a muffler-intake filter but other than that it is fantastic.

do you think the fill time is going to slow you down? what are you planning to run with it? for me, i just run it occasional to push an air ratchet, and impact. I have never had to "wait for it" for what i have done. It seems the tank has been big enough to handle my needs.

I am definately happy with mine.... Here's a couple of pics.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tNoRwkboPsCTCVla_RshnQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sc2zjN4mlgg/Tkqw4FvP-mI/AAAAAAAACqg/jk13BGjVd-A/s144/comp2.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/mattwebster77/Share?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Share</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bafsWtF7c_dpxckwCo0uog?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ddePXuhXXxQ/Tkqw4GAGr0I/AAAAAAAACqc/vmXYnLGZePs/s144/comp1.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/mattwebster77/Share?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Share</a></td></tr></table>
 
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K

kams1973

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Amarillo, TX
mdub said:
I have a 40's model brunner, got it off craigslist for cheap. It too takes a while to fill up the tank, its either a 40 or 60 gallon cast iron horizontal job. The thing looks like an atom bomb. I had to add a muffler-intake filter but other than that it is fantastic.

do you think the fill time is going to slow you down? what are you planning to run with it? for me, i just run it occasional to push an air ratchet, and impact. I have never had to "wait for it" for what i have done. It seems the tank has been big enough to handle my needs.

I am definately happy with mine.... Here's a couple of pics.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tNoRwkboPsCTCVla_RshnQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sc2zjN4mlgg/Tkqw4FvP-mI/AAAAAAAACqg/jk13BGjVd-A/s144/comp2.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/mattwebster77/Share?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Share</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bafsWtF7c_dpxckwCo0uog?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ddePXuhXXxQ/Tkqw4GAGr0I/AAAAAAAACqc/vmXYnLGZePs/s144/comp1.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/mattwebster77/Share?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Share</a></td></tr></table>
Click to expand...

That looks like a Champion pump to me.
 
K

kc-steve

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Kansas City
JEdA said:
. . .The problem is that it seemed to take a long time to build pressure. I didn't time it, but probably 15+ minutes to build up to the 150 psi we turned it off at. . . .

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

If it helps any, I bought a new Campbell-Hausfeld (USA) 60-gallon, 3-cyl, 4hp. a while back and took about 10-15 minutes brand new, and still takes that long today. In fact, I think it is just now broke in after 1-year since it finally started holding pressure for weeks at a time. In the beginning it leaked down between use. I don't use it much and the oil is Mobil 1.

Steve
 
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J

JEdA

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May 2, 2008
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Location
Arkansas
mdub said:
do you think the fill time is going to slow you down? what are you planning to run with it? for me, i just run it occasional to push an air ratchet, and impact. I have never had to "wait for it" for what i have done. It seems the tank has been big enough to handle my needs.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pictures. This one is an 80 gallon upright. It's going to be used on small CNC plasma table, so eventually the tank will run out of volume and the compressor will need to be able to keep up.

kc-steve said:
If it helps any, I bought a new Campbell-Hausfeld (USA) 60-gallon, 3-cyl, 4hp. a while back and took about 10-15 minutes brand new, and still takes that long today. In fact, I think it is just now broke in after 1-year since it finally started holding pressure for weeks at a time. In the beginning it leaked down between use. I don't use it much and the oil is Mobil 1.

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks. the 60 gallon Husky/Kobalt/Campbell-Hausfeld seems to be what I'm looking at new. They all seem about the same. That is good to know.
 
K

kc-steve

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JEdA said:
Thanks. the 60 gallon Husky/Kobalt/Campbell-Hausfeld seems to be what I'm looking at new. They all seem about the same. That is good to know.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. I think a lot of compressors are re-badged CHs. Mine is actually labeled a Farmhand, bought from Tractor Supply. It is a discontinued model, 3-cyl, built in 2006 or '07 I think, so I got it for $560 last year. It does the job and I'm happy with it. :)

Steve
 
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mdub

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Hey, thanks for the info on the pump, i had no idea. the tank said brunner and i didn't really know what i was looking for to identify the pump.

what's the consensus on the champion r15 pump?
 
Z

Zrexxer

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Pflugerville, TX
mdub said:
what's the consensus on the champion r15 pump?
Click to expand...
Oh, I guess you could say I like 'em alright, I've got two of them ;)

ChampionFamily-1024.jpg
 
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J

JEdA

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Location
Arkansas
The tag said A212, so I guess that is what it is. I didn't really know what I was looking for at the time. I didn't know the make until I saw it.
 
S

Skin

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Boston
The 212 is a 2 stage pump. Parts have long been discontinued since the Brunner division shut down decades ago [they were part of Dunham-Bush]. The knock you're hearing is most likely the journal and connecting rod. Spin it over by hand and if you can find the point where it knocks thats what it is. The pumps are dead simple but its got a very very stupid design for the journal lubrication where it depends on these brass pick-up tubes which are threaded into the bottom of the connecting rod. I say its a stupid design because the damn things back out and eventually end up on the bottom of the case depriving the journal and rod bearing of oil. This is why i have one boxed. There is no needle bearings or sleeve to replace, its metal on metal destruction. The reed valves are also probably worn down quite a ways and i'm sure the pressure chambers are filthy. So basically unless its free i wouldnt bother with it. I can take pictures of it if you like.

The most common tank size is about 50 Gallons and the healthy 212 takes about 5 minutes to fill that capacity @ 135PSI. The motor size can be anywhere from 3-5hp.
 
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J

JEdA

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Messages
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Arkansas
Thanks guys. I'm going to pass. It's certainly a cool old compressor, but right now I need one that works, not one I'll have to mess with.
 
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