Air compressor... What do you suggest?

[rodder98]

I have an older 5 hp Campbell-Hausfeld belt driven compressor on a 60 gal tank. It got some broken valves, so I removed the aluminum head off of the compressor to replace them. Two steel bolts broke off, leaving small studs sticking out of the head. And, on one side of the head, I cannot get the tiny screws out to replace the reeds.
I cannot buy a new valve head or a new C-H compressor, (not available).
I may be able to get a machine shop to fix the head in a month or 2, if lucky.
Do you know where i can buy just a new compressor, (not the whole unit)?
What would you do in this situation?

 

[redmondjp]

There are plenty of places online that sell bare pumps at pretty good prices - here's a place that often has good deals:

Air & Pneumatics - Air Compressors & Vacuum Pumps - Belt Driven Compressors - Surplus Center

www.surpluscenter.com

You are probably better off buying a brand new pump at this point. You just need to match up your existing pump's specs. Check your motor amperage - if it's under 20A, you don't really have a 5HP unit; It's more likely about 3.3HP actual. True 5HP motors draw 22-28A at 240V single phase.

 

[u2slow]

Harbor Freight may have pumps by themselves.

Can't really go my amperage to define the true HP.... Capacitors are used in many compressor motors to reduce the line current. That's why they don't correlate to NEC motor table values.

 

[PsRumors]

Find a Saylor Beall 705 and don't look back, new or used. I bought a 705 pump that dates to 1973, it was no longer pumping air, replaced the valves and springs in the head and it is back and service pumping at its rated capacity.

 

[Xcursion88]

What's an acceptable amount to you to have an air compressor?

Size limitations?

How hard do you use it?

If you can part with a little over a grand...


This thing is damn good for the money!!
Dual stage 80 gallon 5hp
Single phase 240


12 mos no interest @ tractor supply

 

[redmondjp]

Harbor Freight may have pumps by themselves.

Can't really go my amperage to define the true HP.... Capacitors are used in many compressor motors to reduce the line current. That's why they don't correlate to NEC motor table values.

You actually can relate amperage to HP - the primary variable is motor efficiency. 80-85% is a good starting point, with some of the higher-efficiency ones being upwards of 90%.

 

[Citation]

I have an older 5 hp Campbell-Hausfeld belt driven compressor on a 60 gal tank. It got some broken valves, so I removed the aluminum head off of the compressor to replace them. Two steel bolts broke off, leaving small studs sticking out of the head. And, on one side of the head, I cannot get the tiny screws out to replace the reeds.
I cannot buy a new valve head or a new C-H compressor, (not available).
I may be able to get a machine shop to fix the head in a month or 2, if lucky.
Do you know where i can buy just a new compressor, (not the whole unit)?
What would you do in this situation?

First I would figure out if your motor is a true 5hp. If the motor plate says 5hp then it's 5 hp. If blank or "special" then look at the amperage. If the amperage is 15-18 it's not. If it's around 22 then it's likely a true 5hp.

Harbor Freight has pump heads and the 20% of coupons do work. They aren't heavy duty but if your needs are part time and you are happy with 145psi max you should be good. The "3hp" model is good for 10cfm. The bigger 5hp was something like 16cfm. I think the 3hp was something like $140. Very much worth a look.

 

[LXCam]

Check Zoro too and if you don’t already get discounts from them, check the thread on GJ for a discount code.

 

[dnschmidt]

My go to on air compressors is Champion. Not cheap but still very good. The best of the best IMO is Saylor-Beal. Really not cheap $$$$ but a lifetime buy meaning you'll die before it does.

 

[rodder98]

Thanks to all of you guys that replied, I sold the tank and bought a little smaller setup. I am now 76 and figured I probably won't need more than a 30 gallon open drive setup anymore.