Air compressor help please!

[jpkerley]

I bought a 2000 model speedaire recently off of cragis list. 80 gallon two stage 7.5 hp, 17.1 cfm at 90 psi for $250.00. I thought I new a little about air compressors. Supposedly the guys grandad died and he was selling all of his tools. The compressor is in good shape it needs a pressure swith which I have ordered. Also I replace the belt. While replacing the belt I noticed it looked like themotor had been changed out. The motor is a dayton but only 1740 rpm and says 2 hp drive. Did i get screwed. Shouldnt the motor also be 7.5 hp or is the pump rated at that. If it is a lower hp what will it do to my output. Seems like it takes a long time to get to 50 psi which is as high as ive had it due to pressure switch. If the motor is a problem what motor should I buy. the Dayton 5 hp I have looked at are like 450.00 which makes my air compressor not such a good deal. Thank you all in advance for your advice.

 

[rburke65]

I would have thought the motor would have been 7.5 hp like it was stated.

 

[Gary S]

If the compressor was originally a 7.5hp unit, it needs a 7.5hp motor to deliver the rated air. A 2hp motor will deliver less than 1/3 of what the compressor is capable of, and it would have to be geared down correspondingly to keep from overloading the motor.

Take the model number off the compressor and look it up. Once you know the original specs, you can get the proper motor and pulleys to make it work like it was intended.

And, yes, that might cost more than a new compressor. Sometimes it works that way.