Air compressor maintenance

[rattle_snake]

Received parts and disassembled further to replace rings. One piston overheated to the point of cylinder wall contact and damage to the ring lands. The oil rings were seized and hence poor oil control.
I decided to turd polish and continue with refurb. The piston was not cracked, so I polished the damaged area and repaired the ring lands with a small file. Used ring pliers to install the new rings and honed the cylinder bores. The bore area corresponding with the damaged piston wasn't any worse than the rest. Preped surfaces and installed the new gaskets, pump is ready to reinstall. I refrained from painting anything.

After getting cylinder jug off, I could see that bottom of bores has large chamfer to allow the rings to compress themselves and allow piston to enter bore. I was wondering how to get ring compressor in there but not needed like single piece block where piston goes in from top at head mating surface.

 

[brownbagg]

grainger has compressor parts too

 

[Jswain]

Nice, hard to beat that for $57. Retorque your head bolts after its been run for an hour or two then cooled back down. Let us know how it works!

 

[rattle_snake]

installed the refurb'd pump and a new belt. Flow through drain valve was insufficient to prevent pressure build up, so vented through main riser drip leg for 20 min break-in. Changed oil and fiddled with pressure settings. Appears to perform as expected, no blow-by. Calling it a success for now. Need to pressure test discharge tube and re-torque head bolts.

Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions. Kept it out of land fill for now and saved $600 that can be spend on other tools.

 

[Jswain]

Kept it out of land fill for now and saved $600 that can be spend on other tools.

That's what its all about, nicely done!

 

[nadogail]

Congrats

 

[rattle_snake]

That's what its all about, nicely done!

Congrats

Thanks guys.

Got the pressure switch dialed in for 105-130 so I can have regulated air at 100 psi, on the drops that have regulators.

The discharge tube compression nuts were both loose, like a few turns loose. I tightened them up and tested for leaks with spray bottle before it got hot enough to boil it off. The upper fitting on pump head has a small leak I can't quite stop, so I may have to plumb in an after cooler 'while I'm there'.

 

[Jswain]

Good excuse for it, with the money you saved it won't hurt as much to spend a few dollars on it