Air Compressor Sitting for Years

[Tony B]

Hello,

I have the opportunity to purchase an 80 gallon, 5.2 HP, cast iron pump, Kobalt air compressor from my place of work for pretty cheap and my concern is that it has been stitting, un-used for around four years in a large shipping (sea) container outisde in a southern climate. It appears the tank has been drained of air before storage. I was wondering what, if any, concerns or problems I should be thinking about before attempting to purchase this thing. It appears to be in great shape, but I'm not sure if I'm missing anything. Any concerns that you can think you would have with this thing that you can share with me would be greatly appreciated !
Thanks !!!!

 

[gabeancounter]

They just had the 80 gallon on sale a couple months ago. I think around $700.

Being you work there , I would assume they would atleast give your money back if it was DOA? $250 if you have to buy untested as is - since it was used in commercial area.

 

[bad_idea]

i bought a 80 camaro that had been sitting for a couple years in a guy's backyard. fresh gas and it ran like a champ.

if that compressor has been stored in out of the rain, i wouldn't worry too much. just do the routine maintenance when you get it home.

 

[PsRumors]

Put oil in it and spin it a few times by hand just to move some oil around
Open the tank's air valve, let it run for 10 minutes and then let it cool
Close valve and put it to work

 

[Tony B]

Great !!! Thanks for the advice !!!

 

[rsanter]

remove the belt and spin the compressor by hand
this will allow you to feel the movement and the amount of compression
there should be no crunch-crunch feeling and it should not spin too easy

when you spin it put you hand over the inlet to feel the suction and if you can disconnect the putlet put a finger over that to feel the output

connect to electricity and run the motor if you can

if all looks good then buy it cheap and put it to work (after changing the oil)

bob

 

[G_P]

Did any water come out of the drain when he got it? If it was dry then run it. If a bunch of water came out I would be suspicious of the tank integrity.

I got a 30gal that was in a shed for over 10 years that had a tiny pinhole in it but had no water in the tank. I brazed the hole shut and have run it for a couple years with no issues.

 

[01ssreda4]

Any update on this?

 

[Shadowdog500]

Those shipping containers can get like giant humidors. Just last week I went to a local high school to look at four lathes that were stored in a shipping container for two years. When the guy opened the door to the shipping container there was a heavy coat of condensation all over everything. The ways were starting to rust and everything in the headstock had a solid coating of rust. Its sad because the auctions sale pictures were taken before they went into storage and showed everything was in perfect shape.

I would look that compressor over real good before buying it.

On a side note: The machine equipment was being sold because the shop teacher retired and they couldn't find anyone qualified to teach shop.

Chris

 

[CARS]

On a side note: The machine equipment was being sold because the shop teacher retired and they couldn't find anyone qualified to teach shop.

That's sad. Our H.S. is the same way. Fully equipped shop collecting dust.

 

[imperialman67]

On a side note: The machine equipment was being sold because the shop teacher retired and they couldn't find anyone qualified to teach shop.

Chris

That is a sad story ...Having been in high school in the mid 70's I had a choice of graphic arts, wood, metal , electricity, or auto shop courses . All available at different skill levels, Sophomore through Senior year.
Also all were solid classes meant to send you to the next level of trade school or ?? should you choose that field as a career.

Of the shop courses I took in High School , metal class was the one that interested me the least.

Little did I know I would spend the next 37 years as a Machinist

 

[pro machine Engineering]

did the company you work for take it out of service to install a bigger unit or was there another reason it was moth balled.

 

[Chris Adams]

did the company you work for take it out of service to install a bigger unit or was there another reason it was moth balled.

Whatever happened, happened last summer.
Dead thread walking.

 

[Zeke]

A question. Say the tank had some water in it. After some time, wouldn't any rust activity cease? I'm thinking rust needs O2 and it would be depleted over time.

Most tanks have s little oil in them from bypass. Again, oil breaks down in water over time with O2 present, right or wrong? If so, another element consuming O2 to the point of no activity.

If you aren't a chemist or physicist, don't bother. I'm only looking for a scientific explanation.

 

[DekeT]

A question. Say the tank had some water in it. After some time, wouldn't any rust activity cease? I'm thinking rust needs O2 and it would be depleted over time.

Most tanks have s little oil in them from bypass. Again, oil breaks down in water over time with O2 present, right or wrong? If so, another element consuming O2 to the point of no activity.

If you aren't a chemist or physicist, don't bother. I'm only looking for a scientific explanation.

Try this http://www.chemicalformula.org/rust

Presence of carbon is the culprit for iron going to rust. Yes there is probably a limit of the amount of rust that can form but at first glance it would appear that limit is the amount of iron.

A calculation could be made using the equations from the attached site and presuming an amount of water, air and iron in your tank to decide if a reaction will continue or cease. The molecular weights applied through the balanced equations can do this. I do this stuff with my kids homework (8th grade) but it is a tedious process even with simpler equations.

Typical homework questions asked about the process include if pressure or temperature will increase or inhibit the reaction. What I am saying is my kids are learning way more than I did in school. Good thing I went to college so I could keep up with them.

 

[01ssreda4]

Whatever happened, happened last summer.
Dead thread walking.

You make it sound like it was years ago.

 

[Chris Adams]

You make it sound like it was years ago.

Doesn't need to be. A post about something they are going to buy right now, like an E-bay auction or a CL post, is deader than a doornail in a couple weeks.
Even this, the OP made his decision three or four months ago.
That's pretty dead.

Yeah, I know that sometimes the ideas are still fresh, the questions still good.
My meaning was, people were asking questions etc. treating as if the OP was still making up his mind.
Don't think so...