taumac
Well-known member
has anybody tried making a air compressor pump out of a old lawn mower engine? I have 2 air compreesors just thought it would be a cool project.
4 cycle engine to air compressor
- Thread starter taumac
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bad_idea
Well-known member
i have heard of vw bug engines being turned into an air compressor.
I have seen quite a few of these, and to get one that will work well will take more parts and machining that a new compressor would be worth. Also, to make an effective compressor you would (in my opinion) need a fairly new gas engine. A worn out, low-compression engine is going to make a worn out, low-compression compressor.
There are different ways you can do it; most of the ones I have seen have a hose and check valve coming out of the spark plug hole, with the exhaust valve closed off and a very light spring on the intake valve. It would have to be light enough to be pulled open by vacuum. These mostly get used for stuff like filling tires, etc (no tank). A WHOLE lot of screwing around for no benefit if you ask me. Others I have seen scrap the head all together and fabricate a plate w/ check valves in it plumbed to a homemade tank.
Then you are going to have to find a way to drive it. You could pull the flywheel off and fit a pulley to the crankshaft w/ an electric motor I guess, but all that screwing around kind of negates the purpose. If you are doing it for a conversation piece more power to you, but for a useable compressor that ideas not very practical. Don't forget your shutoff pressure switch, pop of valve, and gauges. Pictures if you do it.
The way kv501 describes was the common way in the 40's and 50's
Most often without a tank.
You could grt about 80, maybe 90, PSI.
It is a fun little project.
My last homemade compressor used a 1993 Plymouth AC compressor.
I made it in the 70's and it is still in casual use.
But I just got a little 3 gal tank compressor at HF for $40.00
And it will get to 100 PSI.
Most often without a tank.
You could grt about 80, maybe 90, PSI.
It is a fun little project.
My last homemade compressor used a 1993 Plymouth AC compressor.
I made it in the 70's and it is still in casual use.
But I just got a little 3 gal tank compressor at HF for $40.00
And it will get to 100 PSI.
If you had the room in your garage to display something like that it might be neat if you did a fancy job and chromed/painted everything. Only in a Rube Goldberg-esque way, though.
Maybe if you made the electric motor drive the homemade compressor, which blew up a balloon full of confetti, which pushed the button on an air horn, and then popped every time your football team scored or something.
Sorry, I'll quit now.
Maybe if you made the electric motor drive the homemade compressor, which blew up a balloon full of confetti, which pushed the button on an air horn, and then popped every time your football team scored or something.
Sorry, I'll quit now.
djjsr
Well-known member
I've heard that you can use a V6, use 4 of the cylinders to run it and 2 of the cylinders as a compressor. Haven't done it and I've never seen it but I've been thinking about it for years every time I think I need a bigger compressor.
djjsr
Well-known member
MScott
Well-known member
My brother has a large compressor which was made from a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 engine. Essentially, one head was replaced with a custom-made collector and the engine runs on the other 4 cylinders. Much to large for shop use, but the idea has been used commercially.
Spareparts
Well-known member
KV501 the way the Chiefs are playing the ballons would dry rot before being used.
lsrx101
Well-known member
I've seen one of those in use (actually a "Windsor" motor, likely a 302) some years ago when there was construction going on at my place of employment. It's a very cool setup.
I mentioned it in a thread here on GJ, maybe 2 years ago, that I started about automotive engines adapted for industrial use. I can't seem to find it now, though.
I've seen adapters advertised in magazines from the 20-40s (Maybe even later? JC Whitney?) that screwed into a spark plug hole on your engine for emergency tire inflation!
Nothing like a nice, fuel rich combo to surprise the old time tire jockey who breaks it off the wheel with a smoke hanging from his mouth.
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I got 2 air compressor tanks laying around a 4 gallon twin tank and a 8 gallon and a bunch of spare parts off compressors guages, regs. etc , got electrial motors but missing a pump. I see lawn mowers toss out all the time. (LOL That s how I built the 3 I have)I was thinking 4.5 or 5 hp B&S are common.
funny you say that. Ive seen some vertical to horizonal conversions lately on youtube. Im thinking there are 2 ways 1 take cam out and replaced head with a steel plate with some vains made from feeler guages for intake and exhaust or take cam out cut it and reweld it so intake and exhaust are right. Ive seen one guys make like 12 videos of a gas powered compressor with 2 engines but think he going about it wrong in my opinion.